BOOK XIV. XXVIII. 139 -M 2 



vessels as if to show off their strength, and pour down 

 the whole of the contents, so as to bring them up 

 again at once, and then drink another draught ; 

 and they do this a second and a third time, as if 

 they were born for the purpose of wasting wine, 

 and as if it were impossible for the Hquor to be 

 poured away unless by using the human body as a 

 funnel. This is the object of the exercises that 

 have been introduced from foreign countries, and 

 of rolUng in the mud and throwing the neck back 

 to show^ off the muscles of the chest. It is declared 

 that the object of all these exercises is merely to 

 raise a thirst ! Then again, think of the drinking 

 matches ! think of the vessels engraved with scenes 

 of adultery, as though tippHng were not enough by 

 itself to give lessons in hcentiousness ! Thus wine- 

 bibbing is caused by Ucence, and actuaUy a prize is 

 offered to promote drunkenness — heaven help us, it 

 is actuaUy purchased. One man gets a prize for 

 tipsiness on condition of his eating as much as he 

 has drunk ; another drinks as many cups as are 

 demanded of him by a throw of the dice. Then it 

 is that greedy eyes bid a price for a married woman, 

 and their heavy glances betray it to her husband ; 

 then it is that the secrets of the heart are pub- 

 Ushed abroad : some men specify the provisions of 

 their wiUs, others let out facts of fatal import, and 

 do not keep to themselves words that wiU come back 

 to them through a sUt in their throat — how many men 

 having lost their Uves in that way ! and truth has 

 come to be proverbiaUy credited to wine." Mean- 

 time, even should aU turn out for the best, drunkards 

 never see the rising sun, and so shorten their Uves. 

 TippUng brings a pale face and hanging cheeks, 



279 



