CAPPING VERSES.
- logies. They preferred such plays as these;—when the first
person had recited a verse, the others were bound to quote the verse following; or if any one had quoted a sentence from some poet, the rest were bound to produce a sentence from some other poet expressing the same sentiments. After that, every one was bound to repeat an iambic. And then, each person was to repeat a line of such and such a number of syllables precisely; and so on with everything that related to any acquaintance with letters and syllables. And in a similar manner they would be bound to repeat the names of all the commanders in the army which attacked Troy, or of all the Trojan leaders: or to tell the name of some city in Asia beginning with a given letter; and then the next person was to tell the name of a city in Europe: and then they were to go through the rest according as they were desired to give the names of Grecian or barbarian cities; so that this sport, not being an inconsiderate one, was a sort of exhibition of the ability and learning of each individual. And the prizes given were a garland and applause, things by which love for one another is especially sweetened."
87. This, then, was what Clearchus said; and the things which he says one ought to propose, are, I imagine, such as these. For one person to quote a line in Homer beginning with Alpha, and ending with the same letter, such as—
[Greek: Anchou d' histamenê epea pteroenta prosêuda.
All' age nyn mastiga kai hênia sigaloenta.
Aspidas eukyklous laisêaï te pteroenta.]
And, again, they quoted iambics on a similar principle—
[Greek: Agathos anêr legoit' an ho pherôn t' agatha.
Agathos an eiê kai ho pherôn kalôs kaka.]
Or lines in Homer beginning and ending with [Greek: e], as—
[Greek: Heure Lykaonos huion amymona te krateron te.
En polei hymeterê epei ouk ar' emellon egôge.]
And iambics on the same principle—
[Greek: Eukataphronêtos esti penia, Derkyle;
Epi tois parousi ton bion diapleke.]
And lines of Homer beginning and ending with [Greek: ê] as—
[Greek: Hê men ar' hôs eipous' apebê glaukôpis Athênê;
Hê d' en gounasi pipte Diônês di' Aphpoditê.]
And iambics—
[Greek: Hê tôn philôn soi pistis estô kekrimenê.]
