244 pltny's natural history. [Book XIV. 



Capua the Cauline, 3 wine, and the wine of Trebula 4 grown in 

 the territory so called, though but of a common sort : Campania 

 boasts of all these, as well as of her Trifoline 5 wines. As to 

 the wines of Pompeii, 6 they have arrived at their full perfection 

 in ten years, after which they gain nothing by age : they are 

 found also to be productive of headache, which often lasts 

 so long as the sixth hour 7 of the next day. 



These illustrations, if I am not greatly mistaken, will go far 

 to prove that it is the land and the soil that is of primary 

 importance, and not the grape, and that it is quite superfluous 

 to attempt to enumerate all the varieties of every kind, seeing 

 that the same vine, transplanted to several places, is productive 

 of features and characteristics of quite opposite natures. The 

 vineyards of Laletanum 8 in Spain 9 are remarkable for the 

 abundance of wine they produce, while those of Tarraco 10 and 

 of Lauron 11 are esteemed for the choice qualities of their 

 wines : those, too, of the Balearic Isles 12 are often put in com- 

 parison with the very choicest growths of Italy. 



I am by no means unaware that most of my readers will be 

 of opinion that I have omitted a vast number of wines, seeing 

 that every one has his own peculiar choice ; so much so, that 

 wherever we go, we hear the same story told, to the effect 

 that one of the freedmen of the late Emperor Augustus, who 

 was remarkable for his judgment and his refined taste in wines, 

 while employed in tasting for his master's table, made this 

 observation to the master of the house where the emperor 

 was staying, in reference to some wine the growth of that 

 particular country: " The taste of this wine," said he, "is 



3 Galen savs that it was very similar to the Falernian. 



4 See B. ii'i. c. 9. 



5 The Trifoline territory was in the vicinity of Curaae. It is possible 

 that the wine may have had its name from taking three years to come to 

 maturity ; or possibly it was owing to some peculiarity in the vine. 



6 They have been already mentioned in c. 4. See B. iii. c. 9. 



7 Twelve o'clock in the day. 



8 See B. iii. c. 4, 



9 In Catalonia, which still produces abundance of wine, but in general 

 of inferior repute. 



10 The wines of Tarragona are still considered good. 



II A place in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, destroyed by Ser- 

 torius. 



12 They still enjoy a high repute. The fame of their Malvoisie has 

 extended all over the world. 



