The Carousal, or the Lapiths

PHILO They say you had all kinds of sport yesterday, Lycinus, at the house of Aristaenetus, at dinner, and that several speeches on philosophy were made, out of which quite a quarrel arose. Unless Charinus was lying, the affair even ended in wounds and the party was finally broken up by the shedding of blood.

LYCINUS Now how did Charinus know that, Philo? He did not dine with us.

PHILO He said that Dionicus, the doctor, told “him. Dionicus, I suppose, was one of the guests.

LYCINUS Yes, to be sure; but even he was not there for all of it, from the very beginning: it was late and the battle was about half over when he came on the scene, a little before the wounds. So I am surprised that he could give a clear account of any of it, as he did not witness what led up to the quarrel that ended in bloodshed.