Chap. 15.] WINES OF THE ANCIENT EOMANS. 253 



economy manifested at Eome in the use of this article. L. Pa- 

 pirius, 91 the general, who, on one occasion, commanded against 

 the Samnites, when about to engage, vowed an offering to Jupiter 

 of a small cupfull of wine, if he should gain the victory. In fact, 

 among the gifts presented to the gods, we find mention made 

 of offerings of sextarii of milk, but never of wine. 



The same Cato, while on his voyage to Spain, from which 

 he afterwards returned triumphant, 92 would drink of no other 

 wine but that which was served out to the rowers — very dif- 

 ferent, indeed, to the conduct of those who are in the habit of 

 giving to their guests even inferior wine 93 to that which they 

 drink themselves, or else contrive to substitute inferior in the 

 course of the repast. 94 



CHAP. 15. WINES DRUNK BY THE ANCIENT EOMANS. 



The wines that were the most esteemed among the ancient 

 Romans were those perfumed with myrrh, 95 as mentioned in the 

 play of Plautus, entitled the " Persian," 96 though we find it there 

 stated that calamus 97 ought to be added to it. Hence it is, 

 that some persons are of opinion that they were particularly 

 fond of aromatites : " but Fabius Dossennus quite decides 

 the question, in the following line : — "I sent them good 

 wine, myrrh- wine ;" 99 and in his play called " Acharistio," we 

 find these words — " Bread and pearled barley, myrrh- wine 

 too." I find, too, that Scaevola and L. iElius, and Ateius 

 Capito, were of the same opinion ; and then we read in the 

 play known as the " Pseudolus :' n — " But if it is requisite for 

 him to draw forth what is sweet from the place, has he aught 

 of that?" to which Charinus makes answer, " Do you ask 



91 See B. xvii. c. 11. 



92 Over the Celtiberi. 



93 The younger Pliny, B. ii. Ep. 2, censures this stingy practice. See 

 also Martial, B. iii. Epig. 60. 



94 That this, however, was not uncommonly done, we may judge from the 

 remark made by the governor of the feast, John ii. 10, to the bridegroom. 



95 Called " myrrhina." Fee remarks that the flavour of myrrh is acrid 

 and bitter, its odour strong and disagreeable, and says that it is difficult, to 

 conceive how the ancients could drink wine with this substance in solution. 



96 As the "Persa" has come down to us, we find no mention of myrrh 

 in the passage alluded to. 



w See B. xii. c. 49. This is mentioned in the Persa, A. i. sc. 3, 1. 7. 



9 s Aromatic or perfumed wines. " Murrhinam. 



1 The Cheat or Impostor : a play of Plautus. See A. ii. sc. 4, 1. 51, et seq. 



