Mead 219 



Pliny also considers hydromel valuable in diminishing 

 "asperities of the mind," adding: — 



"There is no one in whom anger, affliction, sadness, 

 and all the emotions of the mind may not in some degree 

 be modified by diet. It will therefore be worth while to 

 observe what aliments they are which exercise a physical 

 effect, not only upon the body, but the disposition as 

 well." 



A piece of advice which it might be wise to heed in 

 these later days, and, if honey and water are indeed effica- 

 cious in sweetening an acid nature, to apply them where 

 the symptoms suggest the remedy. 



Pliny's hydromel does not differ materially from the 

 mead of other writers, excepting that it is made from 

 purified rain-water, as the following recipe given by 

 him shows : — 



" There is a wine also made solely of honey and water. 

 For this purpose it is recommended that rain-water should 

 be kept for a period of five years. 



" Those who show greatest skill content themselves with 

 taking the water just after it has fallen, and boiling it down 

 to one third, to which they add one third in quantity of old 

 honey, and keep the mixture exposed to the rays of a hot 

 sun for forty days after the rising of the Dog-star ; others, 

 however, rack it off in the course of ten days, and tightly 

 cork the vessels in which it is kept. This beverage is 

 known as ' hydromeli,' and with age acquires the flavor 

 of wine. It is nowhere more highly esteemed than in 

 Phrygia." 



Moffett declares the following recipes for hydromel to be 

 those recommended by the famous physician Galen : — 



" Take sweet pure clean fountain water eight pounds, the 

 best honey one pound, boyl them at a soft fire, in an 

 earthen vessel, take off the skim a top oft times, and boyl it 



