124 Analysis of Scientific Books. 



circumstance of their imitations in paste having zigzag belts of 

 blue and yellow. 



" At the banquets of heroic times each guest had a separate 

 cup, and larger cups and purer wine were presented to the chiefs, 

 or those friends whom the master of the feast desired to honour. It 

 was also a mark of respect to keep their cups always replenished, 

 that they might drink as freely and frequently as they inclined. 

 The wine which had been previously diluted to the requisite stand- 

 ard in a separate vessel {y.qr,rr,q, xj/yxrr/^), Avas served by the 

 attendants, who were either the heralds of the camp, or boys re- 

 tained for that purpose. Besides these cup-bearers, the wealthy 

 Athenians had their butlers, or inspectors of the wine {ohonrxi) 

 whose business it was to watch the movements of the table, and 

 see that all the guests were properly supplied. At the conclusion 

 of the dinner pure wine was handed round ; but before it was 

 drunk a portion of it was poured upon the ground or table, as an 

 oblation to Jupiter and all the gods, or to some one deity in par- 

 ticular ; and the cup was always filled to the brim, as it was held 

 disrespectful to offer any thing in sacrifice but what was full and 

 perfect. Hence the goblets were said to be crowned with wine. 

 The wine used on these occasions was of the red sweet class, proba- 

 bly because it was the richest and strongest, or was the customary 

 dessert-wine. It may be remarked, that the same kind of wine is 

 still employed for sacramental purposes, and the appellation of 

 vino santo, which is given by the Italians to their most luscious 

 growths, is probably allusive to this circumstance." — Pp. 117, 118. 



It vi'ould be departing from our subject to detail the ceremonies 

 generally observed at those feasts of the Greeks and Romans ; 

 but it is curious, as our author remarks, to observe how nearly 

 they coincide with the convivial customs of the present day. The 

 general order and arrangement of our dinners, the manner of 

 pledging our friends, and even of drinking bumper toasts, are all 

 copied from the ancients ; and the festive habits of the French are 

 yet more in unison with the ancient usages. Their common wines 

 they usually dilute with water, while the more choice kinds {yins 

 d' entremets) are handed round between the courses, and the 

 luscious sweet wines are reserved for the dessert. 



We must here, somewhat unwillingly, take leave of our author 

 as the historian of ancient wines : it will be evident from our ab- 

 stract that he has well arranged his subj(ms, and that they are 

 generally treated of in readable and interesting narrative ; there is 

 a good deal of repetition in his details, and nothing very striking 

 or original in his remarks and illustrations, but his sketch of the 

 subject is perspicuous, and his references to authorities sufficiently 

 copious and exact ; and, as we before remarked, he has filled up a 

 chasm in this department of our literature. 



