1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

348

the honey of hornets

honey of bees ;

not to be

Is

numbered in the Hst.

In the Tosephoth of Shabbath

it is asked, How do we know that blood is a drink? Because it is said (Num. xxiii. 24), And drink the blood of the slain. How do we know that wine is a drink? Because It is said (Deut. xxxii. 14), And thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. How do we know that honey is a drink ? Because it is said (Deut. xxxll. 13), But He made him to suck honey out of the rock. How do we know that oil is a drink ? Because it is said (Isa. xxv. 6), A feast of fat things. How do we know that milk is a drink ? Because it is said (Judges iv. 19), And she opened a bottle of milk and gave him drink. How do we know that dew is a drink ? Because it is said (Judges And wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl vi. 38),

There is a curious addition, reminding

full of water.

How do we know that

us of Taylor, the water poet.

Because it is said

the tears of the eye are a drink ?

And givest them tears to drink in great How do we know that the water of the

(Ps. Ixxx. 5),

measure.

— but the reader has had

nose is a drink ?

Because

probably enough of the Rabbinical lucubrations. A chapter of this book might, were not space a con- sideration, be devoted to water, which Thales ^ declared to be the first principle of things, and, according to Seneca,^ valentissimum elementum. Iced, it was in- veighed ^ against by the Stoic philosopher, as injurious

* Arist., Metaph., i. 3. 2 Seneca, Nat. Qucest.j iii. 13.

^

Ibid., iv. 13.