_An Entertainment of Neats Tongues._
Some few days after the Ratification of This Peace, _Xanthus_ Invited
several Philosophers of his Acquaintance to Supper with him; and
Charges Æsop to make the Best Provision he could think of, for their
Entertainment. Æsop had a Wit waggish Enough, and This General Commission
furnished him with Matter to work upon. So soon as ever the Guests were
set down at the Table, _Xanthus_ calls for Supper, and Expected no less
than a very Splendid Treat. The First Service was _Neats Tongues_
sliced, which the Philosophers took Occasion to Discourse and Quibble
upon in a Grave Formal way, as _The Tongue_ (for the purpose) _is the
Oracle of Wisdom_, and the like. _Xanthus_, upon This, calls for a Second
Course, and after That for a Third, and so for a Fourth, which were
All _Tongues_, over and over again still, only several ways Dressed:
Some Boil’d, Others Fry’d, and some again serv’d up in Soupe, which
put _Xanthus_ into a Furious Passion. Thou Villain, says he, Is this
according to my Order, to have Nothing but _Tongues upon Tongues_? Sir
says Æsop, without any hesitation, Since it is my Ill fortune to fall
under this Accusation, I do Appeal to All These Learned Persons, whether
I have done Well, or Ill, and pay’d that Respect to your Order which I
ought to do.
Your order was, That I should make the Best Provision that I could think
of for the Entertainment of These Excellent Persons, and if the _Tongue_
be the Key that Leads Us into All _Knowledge_, what could be more proper
and suitable then _a Feast of Tongues for a Philosophical Banquet_?
When _Xanthus_ found the Sence of the Table to be on Æsop’s side; Well my
Friends says he; Pray will You Eat with me to Morrow, and I’ll try if I
can mend your Chear; and Mr. _Major Domo_, says he to Æsop, let it be the
Care of your Gravity and Wisdom to provide us a Supper to Morrow, of the
very worst Things You can Think of.