OPSOPHA&Y. 477 



corded of the character of Attic fish-dealers, though their 

 insalencBj trickery, and extortion were not confined to 

 any one place in particular. ' I thought,' says an Athe- 

 nian quoted in Athenseus, 'that our city alone could 

 produce such a set; but a larger acquaiutance with 

 mankind has taught me that fishmongers are alike all 

 over the world.' These hold and insolent general prac- 

 titioners in iuiquity at length found a check ; the vari- 

 ous states interposing to protect each its own public 

 against their exaction and insolence. 



' No legislator after Solon can be compared to Aris- 

 tonicuSj who first made it imperative on salesmen to sell 

 fish standing by the side of their balance,* not sitting at 

 their ease contumeliously to cheat as heretofore : and it 

 will be a stiU further improvement should our legislature 

 require them to treat with their customers suspended to 

 one of those uneasy machines by which the divinities 

 are wont to descend from Olympus to visit us; this 

 would cut short much protracted haggling and alterca- 

 tion.' A second law, which this same Aristonitjus had 

 influence enough with his countrymen to carry out, en- 

 acted, that ' everything should be ticketed and sold at 

 the registered price, so that old men and old women, the 

 ignorant and the young, might all come to market and 



The spear of Mars now resolutely dares, 

 By tlie new quiver of Diana swears ; 

 Pallas and aU lier terrors next lie braves, 

 And his whose trident moves the ^gean waves. 

 Whatever arms the arsenals of hght 

 Prepare for punishment of impious wight ; 

 Invokes them all ; and prays he may be fed 

 On the loved features of his infant's head 

 Soused in Egyptian vinegar, if aught 

 Against his fishes' freshness can be brought. 



* Alexis. 



