Chap. 8.] FIFTY KINDS OF WINES. 241 



times, though rarely, rough 67 as well : the Surrentine 68 wines, 

 also, the growth of only stayed vines, which are especially 

 recommended to invalids for their thinness and their^ whole- 

 someness. Tiberius Caesar used to say that the physicians had 

 conspired thus to dignify the Surrentinum, which was, in fact, 

 only another name for generous vinegar ; while Caius Csesar, 

 who succeeded him, gave it the name of " noble vappa." 69 

 Tying in reputation with these are the Massic wines, from the 

 spots which look from Mount Gaurus towards Puteoli and 

 Baia3. 70 As to the wines of Stata, in the vicinity of Falernum, 

 there is no doubt that they formerly held the very highest 

 rank, a fact which proves very clearly that every district has 

 its own peculiar epochs, just as all other things have their rise 

 and their decadence. The Calenian 71 wines, too, from the same 

 neighbourhood, used to be preferred to those last mentioned, 

 as also the Fundanian, 72 the produce of vines grown on stays, 

 or else attached to shrubs. The wines, too, of Yeliternum' 3 

 and Priverna, 74 which were grown in the vicinity of the City, 

 used to be highly esteemed. As to that produced at Signia, 75 

 it is by far too rough to be used as a wine, but is very useful 

 as an astringent, and is consequently reckoned among the 

 medicines for that purpose. 



The fourth rank, at the public banquets, was given by the 

 late Emperor Julius — he was the first, in fact, that brought 



87 See B. xxiii. c. 21. 



68 From Surrentum, the promontory forming the southern horn of the 

 Bay of Naples. Ovid and Martial speak in praise of these wines ; they 

 were destitute of richness and very dry, in consequence of which they re- 

 quired twenty-five years to ripen. 



69 Or " dead vinegar." " Vappa" was vinegar exposed to the air, and so 

 destitute of its properties, and quite insipid. 



70 Excellent wines are still produced in the vicinity of this place. Mas- 

 sicum was one of the perfumed wines. Gaurus itsellproduced the " Gau- 

 ranum," in small quantity, hut of high quality, full-bodied and thick. 



71 For the Calenian Hills, see B. hi. c. 9 ; see also B. xxiii. c. 12, for 

 some further account of the wines of Stata. The wines of that district are 

 now held iu no esteem. 



72 From Fundi. See B. iii. c. 9. 



73 Now Castel del Volturno : although covered with vineyards, its wines 

 are of no account. This wine always tasted as if mixed with some foreign 

 substance. 



74 Now Piperno. It was a thin and pleasant wine. 



75 Now Segni, in the States of the Church. 



VOL. IU. B 



