and the introduction of Roman customs, we only read of two courses. The first course embraced the whole of what we consider the dinner, namely, fish, poultry, meat, &c.; the second, which corresponds to our dessert and the Roman bellaria, consisted of different kinds of fruit, sweetmeats, confections, &c. When the first course was finished the tables were taken away (αἴρειν, ἀπαίρειν, ἐπαίρειν, ἀφαιρεῖν, ἐκφέρειν, βαστάζειν τὰς τραπέζας), and water was given to the guests for the purpose