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MORE FRIGHTFUL EXAMPLES ,9
But after all no nation ever did themselves so
well, in the matter of wines, as the inhabitants of
bad old ancient Rome.
','^n
excess of drinking," wrote Whyte
Melville, m The Gladiators, "that the gluttons
of that period looked as the especial relief of
every entertainment; since the hope of each
seemed to be that when thoroughly flooded, and
so p speak washed out with wine, he might
egin eating again.
The Roman was no
drunkard, like the barbarian, for the sake of that
wild exciternent of the brain which is purchased
by intoxication. No, he ate to repletion that he
might drink in gratification. He drank to excess
tJiat he might eat again."
«writer remarks :
Whilst marvelling at the quantity of wine
consumed by the Romans in their entertain
ments, we must remember that it was the pure
and unadulterated juice of the grape, that it was
•" u-t"
mixed with water, and that they
imbibed but avery small portion ofalcohol, which
IS the destructive quality ofall stimulants."
As to the Roman vintages being " in general
freely mixed with water," I have grave doubts.
1 have an idea that Maecenas would have made it
particularly warm for that slave who might have
dared to water his old Falernian ; and, take them
altopther, an amusement-loving, and playgoing
public, for whom the legitimate drama took the
form of certain brave men and fair women being
torn and eaten by wild beasts, would hardly have
been content with such drink for babes as
" claret cold."