To Antipater, the governor.

Letter CLXXXVI. ²⁶⁰⁵

To Antipater, the governor. ²⁶⁰⁶

Philosophy is an excellent thing, if only for this, that it even heals its disciples at small cost; for, in philosophy, the same thing is both dainty and healthy fare.  I am told that you have recovered your failing appetite by pickled cabbage.  Formerly I used to dislike it, both on account of the proverb, ²⁶⁰⁷ and because it reminded me of the poverty that went with it.  Now, however, I am driven to change my mind.  I laugh at the proverb when I see that cabbage is such a “good nursing mother of men,” ²⁶⁰⁸ and has restored our governor to the vigour of youth.  For the future I shall think nothing like cabbage, not even Homer’s lotus, ²⁶⁰⁹ not even that ambrosia, ²⁶¹⁰ whatever it was, which fed the Olympians.

Footnotes

223:2605

Placed in 374.

223:2606

cf. Letter cxxxvii.

223:2607

The Greek proverb was δὶς κράμβη θάνατος, vide Politian. Miscel. 33.  cf. “Occidit miseros crambe repetita magistros.”  Juv. vii. 154.

223:2608

κουροτρόφος.  Ithaca is ἀγαθὴ κουροτρόφος, because it bore and bred hardy men.  Od. ix. 27.

223:2609

Od. ix. 93.

223:2610

Od. v. 93.