Οἶνός τοι χαρίεντι πέλει ταχὺς ἵππος ἀοιδῷ·
ὕδωρ δὲ πίνων οὐδὲν ἂν τέκοις σοφόν. [Cratinus, fr. 203]
τοῦτ’ ἔλεγεν, Διόνυσε, καὶ ἔπνεεν οὐχ ἑνὸς ἀσκοῦ
Κρατῖνος, ἀλλὰ παντὸς ὠδώδει πίθου.
τοιγὰρ ὑπὸ στεφάνοις μέγας ἔβρυεν, εἶχε δὲ κισσῷ
μέτωπον ὥσπερ καὶ σὺ κεκροκωμένον.
(Nicaenetus(?), Anth. Gr. 13.29)
‘Wine, you know, is a fast horse for a poet with grace. You’d produce nothing clever by drinking water!’* Cratinus used to say this, Dionysus, and he smelled not of a single wineskin, but stank of the whole jar. Therefore he flourished great under garlands, and just like you he kept his brow yellowed with ivy. (tr. Alexander Sens)
* It is uncertain whether the quote extends to v. 1 or is limited to v. 2.
Crambe Repetita 