1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

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."