Whenever something unpleasant happens as a result of someone having shown up at the wrong time, we are accustomed to call it an “Abydene dessert.” This is because the people of Abydos, whenever they entertain a fellow-citizen or a foreigner, bring their children around to be admired after the ointments and the crowns. Those in attendance are disturbed by both the nurses clamoring and the children screaming. Hence it has become customary to say the foregoing.

(Ἀβυδηνὸν ἐπιφόρημα: ὅταν ἀκαίρως τινὸς ἐπιφανέντος ἀηδία τις ᾖ, εἰώθαμεν λέγειν Ἀβυδηνὸν ἐπιφόρημα. διὰ τὸ τοὺς Ἀβυδηνοὺς, ὅταν τινὰ τῶν πολιτῶν ἢ ξένων ἑστιῶσι, μετὰ τὸ μύρον καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους τὰ παιδία περιφέρειν φιληθησόμενα. τῶν τε τιθηνῶν θορυβουσῶν τῶν τε παιδίων κεκραγότων ἐνοχλεῖσθαι τοὺς παρόντας. ἀφ’ οὗ εἴθισται λέγειν τὸ προκείμενον.)

“Abydene Dessert.” Suda On Line. Suda On Line and the Stoa Consortium. Web.