1899 The Mixicologist by C F Lawlor

l60

THE MIXICOLOGIST.

j'Oii to caution her on the importance of the office, and this could not be better effected than by using the words of the witty Dr. King:

"O Peggy,Peggy, when thou go'st to brew, Consider well what you're about to do; Be very wise—very sedately think That what you're going to make is—drink; Consider who must drink that drink,and then What'tis to have the praise of honest men; Then future ages shali of Peggy tell, The nymph who spiced the brewages so well."

Respecting the size of the cup no fixed rule can be laid down, because it must mainly depend upon the number who have to partake of it; and be it remem bered that, as cups are not intended to be quaffed ad libitum, as did Bicias, of whom Cornelius A says— "To Bicias shee it gave, and sayd, 'Drink of this cup of myne.' He quickly quafte it, and left not Oflicoure any sygne," let quality prevail over quantity, and try to hit a happy medium between the cup of Nestor, which was so large that a young man could not carry it, and the country half-pint of our own day, which we have heard of as being so small that a string has to be tied to it to pre vent it slipping down with the cider. In order to appreciate the delicacy of a well-com pounded cup, we would venture to suggest this laconic rule, "When you drink—think." Many a good bottle has passed the first round, in the midst of conversation, without its merits being discovered. For Claret Cup see page 25.