during the earlier period of their history, were as remarkable for their temperate habits and bodily vigor, as in after ages, they were enervated by their luxury and excess. The history of these nations, presents many curious facts, in the annals of intemperance. The victories of the Greeks and Romans, unfortunately proved in the end their ruin. Their intercourse, in particular, with the Asiatic nations which they had conquered, was the occasion of their acquiring habits of dangerous indulgence. Thus, their morals and patriotism became gradually corrupted, and the foundation of future decline was but too securely laid. The bodily prowess and warlike achievements for which the Greeks and Romans were most highly esteemed, gradually gave way to an increasing taste for animal gratifications and effeminate luxury. To attain these objects no expense was spared. The culinary occupations which had formerly been considered exceedingly degrading, became the most important of the household; so much so, that Pliny remarks, that the expense of a cook was equal to the cost of a triumph. Incredible sums of money were expended in the purchase of rare and unnecessary articles of diet. Immense sums were lavished in the erection of baths, which, though at first used for cleanly purposes, became eventually an important means of gratifying their effeminate propensities. But on no caterings for luxury did they expend so much money and time as in the preparation of various kinds of wines, of which ancient writers specify at least 200 varieties. Some of the most remarkable scenes recorded in Grecian and Roman history are more or less connected with the drinking habits of the people. Archias, a chief magistrate of Thebes, was engaged in drinking at a feast, surrounded by his dissolute companions, when a messenger arrived in great haste, with letters informing him of a conspiracy against his life. "My lord," said the messenger, "the person who writes these letters conjures you to read them immediately, being serious things:" "Serious things to-morrow," replied the infatuated Archias, in a gay tone, placing the letters under the pillow of the couch on which he was reclining. The delay proved fatal. The Patriots, who had conspired for their country's weal, made every necessary preparation, rushed that evening into the banquet-room, and slew Archias and all his guests. Sumptuary laws were enacted by Roman legislators for the purpose of restraining these luxurious habits. Those laws, however, were more or less infringed by characters high in public estimation; and it cannot, therefore, excite much surprise that the people generally imitated their example. Many of the kings, and other rulers of these nations, were notorious for their intemperate habits. Innumerable instances of tyranny, rapine, and confusion, are recorded. Vitellius obtained possession of the Roman throne by means of his notorious vices. By pandering to the vicious propensities of the preceding emperors, he attained to those dignities and powers which eventually enabled him to accomplish his object. After gaining the celebrated victory over Otho, he conducted himself in the most odious and degrading manner. Regardless of the dead, he held several feasts of the most extravagant description on the field of battle, where himself and his debauched companions gratified their intemperate lusts. Such conduct soon disgusted the people, who conspired against the obnoxious tyrant, and put him to a disgraceful death. Lucius Vitellius, brother of the Emperor of the same name, gained possession of the city of Terracina, in consequence of the intemperance of its inmates. The garrison was under the command of Julianus and Appolinaris, "two men," says Tacitus, "immersed in sloth and luxury; by their vices, more like common gladiators than superior officers." "No sentinels stationed, no night-watch, to prevent a sudden alarm, and no care taken to guard the works, they passed both night and day in drunken jollity. The windings of that delightful coast resounded with notes of joy, and the soldiers were spread about the country to provide for the pleasures of the two commanders, who never thought of war except when it became the subject of discourse over the bottle."* Vitellius, acting under the direction of a renegade slave, surprised the city. A most dreadful slaughter ensued, and one of the commanders was put to an ignominious death. In the civil dissensions which soon afterward took place, the most dreadful scenes occurred. The city of Rome was the arena of all the calamities attendant upon slaughter and dissipation. While the soldiers of Vitellius and Vespasian were butchering each other, the people were at one time savagely exulting in the bloody exhibition; and at * Tacitus, b. iii. sect. 76. another, actively engaged in riot and debauchery. "The whole city seemed to be inflamed with frantic rage, and at the same time intoxicated with bacchanalian pleasures." Tacitus further remarks, that "Rome had thrice seen enraged armies under her walls, but the unnatural security and inhuman indifference that now prevailed were beyond all example." At a later period, we find the same attachment to strong drink existed among the Roman people. Ammianus Marcellinus, in the life of Constantius and Gallus, relates that seditions not unfrequently took place in the city during a scarcity of wine.* The inhabitants of Tarentum are celebrated for their excesses in Bacchanalian pleasures. Their frequent intercourse with Greece enabled them to gratify their luxurious desires, insomuch that the "Delights of Tarentum," became a proverbial expression. The Parthians, a celebrated people inhabiting a part of Asia, are described by ancient authors as having been addicted to numerous vices, and to none more so than that of drunkenness.‡ The Tapyrians, according to Elian, indulged to great excess in intoxicating liquors.§ The Illyrians also are said to have been an intemperate people.Il The Carthaginians and Lydians were both, according to Athenæus, much attached to drinking.T The Cambrians were a fierce people, unaccustomed to eating flesh dressed at the fire, or drinking intoxicating liquors. Florus relates, that after their expedition over the Alps, and subsequent to their indulgence in these hitherto unknown luxuries, they lost their ferocity, and became more easily conquered by Marius.** The Byzantins, and other nations of less importance among the ancients, might be here mentioned in the catalogue of those whose habits were intemperate.†† The examples presented in this chapter, sufficiently prove that intemperance existed to a considerable extent among the ancients, and that it was attended with the most deplorable consequences, affecting both individual and national welfare. *Seditiones sunt concitata graves ob inopiam vini. Hist. Aug. Script. ed. 1609, exp. 425. † Vide Elian, lib. xii. Erasm. Adag. Ælian, lib. iii. cap. 13. || Lib. ii. c. 15. T Ibid. x. c. 10. ** Florus, b. iii. c. 3. D CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF INTEMPERANCE CONTINUED. "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." -PROVERBS xiv. 34. A KNOWLEDGE of the manners and customs of the abo riginal inhabitants of the British Islands, can only be acquired from some of the Roman historians, and the well-known practices of other nations, similar in their habits and descent. They have been described as frugal in their diet, possessing much personal beauty, and great hardiness of body. The ancient Britons were not, however, proof against the influence of luxury and refinement. "From using," says Tacitus, "our language and dress, they proceeded, by degrees, to imitate our vices and luxuries; our porticos, baths, and sumptuous entertainments."* It has been seen, that the Celtic nations were in the habit of indulging freely in intoxicating liquors; and it may reasonably be supposed, that the British, who were of the same descent, indulged also in this injurious practice. These barbarous nations, in particular, were in the habit of holding great feasts, on every important occasion. Pelloutier, thus alludes to this practice: "Among these nations, there is no public assembly, either for civil or religious purposes, duly held; no birthday, marriage, or funeral, properly celebrated, no treaty of peace or alliance rightly cemented, without a great feast. These feasts generally lasted several days, and Athenæus records one which continued for the period of twelve months. The most important affairs were transacted at these festivals; and it has already been shown, in the instance of the Germans, that not unfrequently they were the scenes of bloodshed and murder. Diodorus Siculus, describes the Gauls, in particular, as being passionately fond of intoxicating liquors. "Of Tacit., vita Agricolæ, c. 21. † Pelloutier. Hist. Celt. b. ii. c. 2. p. 2277. wine," says he, "which is imported to them by merchants, they are fond to distraction, and drink it to excess, until they are either overpowered by sleep, or inflamed with madness."* At one of these feasts, two British princes, in a state of inebriation, quarrelled, and fought with such virulence, that they both died by the wounds they received. Attila, the cruel King of Hungary, at his marriage-feast indulged so freely in intoxicating liquor, that he was found at night, suffocated. This happened, A. D. 453. the death of Attila, terminated the important empire of the Huns. With The ancient custom of pledging healths, by some writers, is said to have been derived from circumstances which occurred during the invasion of England by the Danes. These haughty conquerors, would not permit an Englishman to drink in their presence, without special permission, death being the penalty of disobedience. Their cruelty so intimidated the English, that even when permission had been given, they would not take advantage of it, until the Danes had pledged themselves not to endanger their lives while partaking of the liquor. The intimate intercourse which, afterward took place between the Anglo-Saxons and Danes, and the frequent festive meetings which they established, became a fruitful source of intemperance. Henry remarks, that the laws of these times, strongly corroborate this fact, for they did not prohibit excess, but rather encouraged it, and only restrained the commission of certain abominable crimes, which were the result of excessive drinking. William of Malmsbury adds his testimony to the excessive drinking habits of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes. "The nobility were much addicted to lust and gluttony, but excessive drinking was the common vice of all ranks of people, in which they spent whole nights and days, without intermission."t Many instances are recorded, of bloodshed occurring at their feasts; it was at one of these that King Edmund I. perished by the hand of an assassin. His courtiers were in such a state of intoxication, as to be unable to render him any assistance. The long continuance of peace, during the reign of Edward the Confessor, was, according to William of Diod. Sicul. lib. v. c. 29, 30. † W. Malmsbury, b. iii. |