Chap. IV. A N T I E N T M E T A P H Y S I G S. 141 



were the Athenians, to whom the feeds of the feveral corns, I have 

 mentioned, were brought by an Egyptian woman, whom the Athe- 

 nians made to be Ceres herfelf ; and perhaps (he might have 

 aflumed that name. She inftituted thofe moft refpedtable myfteries 

 called the Elufinian. From Athens corn v/as fent to the feveral 

 cities of Greece, which was acknowledged by an annual oblation of 

 their firft fruits, fent by thofe cities to Athens *. 



As by Ifis a plant was difcovered which furnlihed bread to man,. 

 fo by Ofiris, her hufbaud and brother, an art was invented of mak- 

 ing a drink for man. This art is what is c&Ued fermentation, which 

 he applied to the juice of the grape ; and fo firft made wine, which 

 though it has been very much abufed, (as almoft every produdion 

 of nature and art has been by man), and therefore is very properlv 

 ftilled by Milton, The/iveet poi/on of mijiifed Wine, may be applied 

 to the moft ufeful purpofes ; for it is the beft cordial of old age, 

 and at all times of life it enlivens the fpirits, and therefore Bacchus 

 is called by Virgil, Letitiis dator, and it cherifhes the ftomach. 

 But it is a great abufe of this liquor in modern times, to drink it 

 pure without mixture of water, which I am forty to obferve fo 

 much pradifed in Britain, where port, a wine full as ftrong as the 

 beft Greek wine, the Chian, (as i am informed by a gentlemam who 

 lias been in Greece, and often drank of that wine), is drunk without 

 any mixture of water, which makes it very inflammatory and in- 

 toxicating : Whereas wine, properly mixed with water, is a much 

 better drink than pure water, for it correds the coldnefs and cru- 

 dity of the water, and i am perfuaded invigorates the ftomach, and 

 makes it more eafily digeft that unnatural diet, as I call it, flefo. 

 It IS therefore true what Solomon has faid. That ivitie nvithout lua- 

 ter is not goodt nor water without ivine j but both together make an, 



excellent 



* IfocratiSj Panegyric. 



