188 



Plato, who strictly restrains the use of 

 wine, and severely censures the excess, says 

 that " nothing more excellent or valuable 

 than wine was ever granted by God to 

 man:" the greatest philosophers, legislators, 

 and physicians, give it due praise, when tem- 

 perately taken. 



Amphitryon is said by the Athenians 

 to have been the first who diluted wine with 

 water; and on this account the fable was 

 invented of Bacchus having been struck by 

 a thunderbolt, and, being all inflamed, was 

 presently cast into the nymphs' bath, to be 

 extinguished. 



At what exact period the vine was first 

 cultivated in England is uncertain ; but I 

 conclude it was as early as about the tenth 

 year, A. D., as at that time the Romans 

 had possession of great part of this island, 

 and had introduced the luxuries of Italy 

 wherever they settled. Augustus was then 

 emperor, and it was common to send the 

 sons of the English nobles to Rome to be 

 educated ; from this intercourse it seems un- 

 likely that the culture of the vine should 

 have been neglected at this time, though 

 many authors are of opinion that the vine 

 was not introduced into this country until 

 about the year 280, when Probus, who 



