Chap. 15.] WIKES OF THE ANCIENT EOMANS. 
253 
economy manifested at Rome in the use of this article. L. Pa- 
pirius/^ the general, who, on one occasion, commanded against 
the Samnites, when about to engage, vowed an offering to Jupiter 
of a small cupfuU of wine, if he should gain the victory. In fact, 
among the gifts presented to the gods, we find mention made 
of offerings of sextarii of milk, but never of wine. 
The same Cato, while on his voyage to Spain, from which 
he afterwards returned triumphant, would drink of no other 
wine but that which was served out to the rowers — very dif- 
ferent, indeed, to the conduct of those who are in the habit of 
giving to their guests even inferior wine to that which they 
drink themselves, or else contrive to substitute inferior in the 
course of the repast.^* 
CHAP. 15. — WINES DRUNK BY THE ANCIENT ROMANS. 
The wines that were the most esteemed among the ancient 
Eomans were those perfumed with myrrh,^-^ as mentioned in the 
play of Plautus, entitled the ^' Persian,*'^^ though we find it there 
stated that calamus ought to be added to it. Hence it is, 
that some persons are of opinion that they were particularly 
fond of aromatites : but Pabius Dossennus quite decides 
the question, in the following line : — I sent them good 
wine, myrrh- wine and in his play called Acharistio," we 
find these words — Bread and pearled barley, myrrh- wine 
too." I find, too, that Scsevola and L. JElius, and Ateius 
Capito, were of the same opinion ; and then we read in the 
play known as the Pseudolus — But if it is requisite for 
him to draw forth what is sweet from the place, has he aught 
of that?" to which Charinus makes answer, Do you ask 
91 See B. xvii. c. 11. 
92 Over the Celtiberi. 
93 The younger Pliny, B. ii. Ep. 2, censures this stingy practice. See 
also Martial, B. iii. Epig.'60. 
9* That this, however, was not uncommonly done, we may judge from the 
remark made by the governor of the feast, John ii. 10, to the bridegroom. 
9^ Called " myrrhina." Fee remarks that the flavour of myrrh is acrid 
and bitter, its odour strong and disagreeable, and says that it is difficult to 
conceive how the ancients could drink wine with this substance in solution. 
96 As the ^' Persa" has come down to us, we find no mention of myrrh 
in the passage alluded to. 
97 See B. xii. c. 49. This is mentioned in the Persa, A. i. sc. 3, I. 7. 
98 Aromatic or perfumed wines. 99 Murrhinam. 
1 The Cheat or Impostor : a play of Plautus. See A. ii. sc. 4, 1. 51, seq. 
