Deipnosophistae
Athenaeus of Naucratis
Athenaeus. The Deipnosophists or Banquet Of The Learned Of Athenaeus. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854.
Now the author of the Cyprian poems, whoever he was, says—
And Diphilus the comic poet says—
- No better remedies than wine there are,
- O king, to drive away soul-eating care.
And Philoxenus of Cythera says—
- O Bacchus, to all wise men dear,
- How very kind you do appear;
- You make the lowly-hearted proud,
- And bid the gloomy laugh aloud;
- You fill the feeble man with daring,
- And cowards strut and bray past bearing.
But Chæremon the tragedian says, that wine inspires those who use it with
- Good store of wine which makes men talk.
And Ion of Chios calls wine
- Laughter and wisdom and prudence and learning.
And Mensitheus says—
- Youth of indomitable might,
- With head of bull; the loveliest wight
- Who ever rank'd as Love's esquire,
- Filling men with strength and fire.
- Great was the blessing, when the gods did show
- Sweet wine to those who how to use it know;
- But where bad men its righteous use pervert,
- To such, I trow, it will be rather hurt.
- For to the first it nourishment supplies,
- Strengthens their bodies, and their minds makes wise;
- A wholesome physic 'tis when mix'd with potions,
- Heals wounds as well as plasters or cold lotions.
v.1.p.59- Wine to our daily feasts brings cheerful laughter,
- When mix'd with proper quantities of water;
- Men saucy get if one-third wine they quaff;
- While downright madness flows from half-and-half;
- And neat wine mind and body too destroys;
- While moderation wise secures our joys.
- And well the oracle takes this position,
- That Bacchus is all people's best physician.
And Eubulus introduces Bacchus as saying—
And Epicharmus says—
- Let them three parts of wine all duly season
- With nine of water, who'd preserve their reason;
- The first gives health, the second sweet desires,
- The third tranquillity and sleep inspires.
- These are the wholesome draughts which wise men please,
- Who from the banquet home return in peace.
- From a fourth measure insolence proceeds;
- Uproar a fifth, a sixth wild licence breeds;
- A seventh brings black eyes and livid bruises,
- The eighth the constable next introduces;
- Black gall and hatred lurk the ninth beneath,
- The tenth is madness, arms, and fearful death;
- For too much wine pour'd in one little vessel,
- Trips up all those who seek with it to wrestle.
And Panyasis the epic poet allots the first cup of wine to the Graces, the Hours, and Bacchus; the second to Venus, and again to Bacchus; the third to Insolence and Destruction. And so he says—
- A. Sacrifices feasts produce,
- Drinking then from feasts proceeds.
- B. Such rotation has its use.
- A. Then the drinking riot breeds;
- Then on riot and confusion
- Follow law and prosecution;
- Law brings sentence; sentence chains;
- Chains bring wounds and ulcerous pains.
And a few lines afterwards he says of immoderate drinking—
- O'er the first glass the Graces three preside,
- And with the smiling Hours the palm divide;
- Next Bacchus, parent of the sacred vine,
- And Venus, loveliest daughter of the brine,
- Smile on the second cup, which cheers the heart,
- And bids the drinker home in peace depart.
- But the third cup is waste and sad excess,
- Parent of wrongs, denier of redress;
- Oh, who can tell what evils may befall
- When Strife and Insult rage throughout the hall?
v.1.p.60- Content thee, then, my friend, with glasses twain;
- Then to your home and tender wife again;
- While your companions, with unaching heads,
- By your example taught, will seek their beds.
- But riot will be bred by too much wine,
- A mournful ending for a feast divine;
- While, then, you live, your thirst in bounds confine.
According to Euripides,
- For Insolence and Ruin follow it.
From which some have said that the pedigree of Bacchus and of Insolence were the same.
- Drinking is sire of blows and violence.