“Many are your friends, if you have food and wine;
but when you set about hard labor, then friends are ill to find.”
Πολλοί τοι πόσιος καὶ βρώσιός εἰσιν ἑταῖροι,
ἐν δὲ σπουδαίωι πρήγματι παυρότεροι.
Thanksgiving with Theognis, 1.115-16
ΕΥΔΟΞΑ ΑΓΝΩΣΤΑ ΚΑΤΑΓΕΛΑΣΤΑ
Theognis is always a great quote for eating and drinking
And a bunch of maudlin “woe is me” stuff!
Considering the female version of έταΐροι (the έταΐραι) are the Athenian equivalent of geishas, one would understand the voluntarism pervading Symposium culture. You can’t blame your companions for liking you more when you are in good company…