1869 Cooling Cups and Dainty drinks by William Terrington

163

Cups, 8fc.

Why not ? since through life’s little day Our heads such sad effects produce ? Redeem’d from worms and wasting clay, This chance is theirs — to he of use.

The wits and beauties of the Court of Charles the Second were partial to a toast in their drinks, and pledging each, or toasting each other ; it was also a point of gallantry for a beau to drink as many cups as there were letters in the name of the lady who was toasted, which was similar to the old Romish custom of drinking the health of their Emperor ; for instance, that of Germanicus was celebrated with ten, and Caesar with six, and so on. Another usage at the feasts of ancient Greece and Rome, was to drink the health of absent friends ; it was a proof of the esteem of the one whose health was drunk by the number of cups emptied in their honour. The Jacobite mode of drinking: the Pretender’s health was by first placing a bowl of water on the table, and then giving the usual toast, “ The King !” which meant “ over the water.” Hot compound drinks continued to be in vogue till a recent date. This taste is said to have origi- nated with the Romans, with whom mixed pota- tions were quite a passion, their favourite resort being the house of warm drinks, — places not unlike our coffee and public houses. M 2