Book 1
51
The Persian king used to drink no other wine but that called the Chalybonian, which Posidonius says is made in Damascus of Syria, from vines which were planted there by the Persians; and at Issa, which is an island in the Adriatic, Agatharchides says that wine is made which is superior to every other wine whatever. The Chian and Thasian wines are mentioned by Epilycus; who says that the Chian and the Thasian wine must be strained. And also,— For all the ills that men endure, Thasian is a certain cure; For any head or stomach ache, Thasian wine I always take, And think it, as I home am reeling, A present from the God of healing. Clearchus speaks of Lesbian wine, which Maro himself appears to me to have been the maker of. And Alexis says— All wise men think The Lesbian is the nicest wine to drink. And again he says— His whole thoughts every day incline To drink what rich and rosy wine From Thasos and from Lesbos comes, And dainty cakes and sugarplums. And again— Hail, O Bacchus, ever dear, You who from Lesbos drove dull care With sparkling rosy wine; He who would give one glass away, Too vile on cheerful earth to stay, Shall be no friend of mine. And Ephippus sings— Oh how luscious, oh how fine Is the Pramnian Lesbian wine! All who 're brave, and all who're wise, Much the wine of Lesbos prize. And Antiphanes— There is good meat, and plenteous dainty cheer; And Thasian wine, perfumes, and garlands here; Venus loves comfort; but where folks are poor, The merry goddess ever shuns their door. And Eubulus— In Thasian wine or Chian soak your throttle, Or take of Lesbian an old cobwebb'd bottle. He speaks too of Psithian wine— Give me some Psithian nectar, rich and neat, To cool my thirst, and quench the burning heat. And Anaxandrides mentions a jar full of Psithian wine.
