Nearly all Latin poets sing of wine, but Horace most of all. It is in his writings that we find mention of those varieties of wine which were most in vogue at the beginning of the Caesarean epoch.

In fact, the greater part of the information which we have received respecting the wines of Italy, 2,000 years ago, are found in the writings of Horace. This poet has a good word to say for most of the wines which he was permitted to drink at the houses of the great, while the very common wine which he grew himself, "cheap Sabine," does not escape notice.

Massic was one of the finest of the Italian vintages at that time. It was used especially in celebrations or birthdays, marriages, etc., and was regarded by the poet as the mellowest wine of the time. There was on the other hand a cheap and sour wine which would compare very well with the French " Vin ordinaire." The poor were accustomed to drink this wine on holidays out of a cup of Campanian earthenware. In one case the wine had such a strong effect that the drinker fell into a deep lethargy and was only awakened from his sleep by a doctor on the following day. Falernian was one of the favorites in high-classed wines of ancient times. It is supposed now to have been produced in the neighborhood of Naples though there is some doubt respecting this point. Another wine which had a high reputation was Alban. At a certain dinner party which Maecenas attended he was greeted by the host as follows: "If you, Maecenas, prefer Alban or Falernian to those on the table, we have both." Drinking was carried on to great excess at some of the Roman feasts. Vibidius said to Balatro, a fellow guest, "Unless we drink ruinously, we shall die unavenged:" so they emptied their large cups which were whole bowls of wine; all of the guests followed except two on the lowest couch; they spared the flagons. Apparently in those days, as at the present many of the guests would turn their goblets down at dinner. Chian and Lesbian were also varieties of wine much in repute.

Horace pays quite a tribute to incipient drunkenness. He says: "What is there tipsiness- does not effect? It unlocks hidden secrets, it bids hopes be realized, it impels the coward to the field, it lifts the load from off the anxious mind, it teaches new accomplishments! Whom have not flowing cups made eloquent? Whom have they not made free in pinching penury?

Horace shared the illusions which many people have shared since his days in believing that alcohol produced eloquence and elegance of speech, but in point of fact, it takes off the brakes and allows the vehicle to run down hill.

Horace called a wine which was grown on his famous Sabine farm (only two acres) "cheap Sabine," but he offers it to Maecenas when he was his guest. Cacuban, Calenian, Falernian and For-mian were all superior vintages of Italian wine. These Maecenas undoubtedly had at home. Horace assured Maecenas that his very simple common wine was not even flavored with any of the higher growths. Horace indeed seemed opposed to all adulterations and blending to make a common wine pass for a higher grade. In his ode praising the charms of Glycera on her altar he offers a bowl of last year's unmixed wine.

A wine of high alcoholic content grown in Egypt was used in Rome on certain state occasions. It was called Mareotic. It evidently tended to produce delerium tremens. The wild delusions produced were transformed into real terrors in the case of Cleopatra pursued by Caesars' destroyers.

Horace was opposed evidently to price fixing, at least in so far as wine is concerned. His guests invited to the feasts might be as learned as they liked but they should here neglect to say how much one should pay for his Chian wine, nor set up a food administrator. He tells Maecenas that water drinkers cannot write poems that live according to the theory of Cratinus (an old and dissolute Greek dramatist). As soon as Bacchus entered crazy poets, the dear muses generally had a bad breath in the morning. Homer constantly praised wine and was doubtless a wine bibber. To the sober be given the dry business of the Forum. They shall not write poetry - but drinking wine will not create a poet. Here at least, Horace strikes a logical form. We are loathe to believe that any of his delightful poems save perhaps those in praise of Bacchus were inspired in any way by reason of the wine he drank.