The Roman Traitor (Vol. 1 of 2) - The UK Mirror Service

THE MEASURES 27
the master—for they dared trust no slaves—bore in two earthen
vases, one of strong Chian from the Greek Isle of the Egean,
the other of Falernian, the fruitiest and richest of the Italian
wines, not much unlike the modern sherry, but having still more
body, and many cyathi, or drinking cups; but he brought in no
water, wherewith the more temperate ancients were wont to mix
their heady wines, even in so great a ratio as nine to one of the
generous liquor.
"Fill now! fill all!" cried Cataline, and with the word he
drained a brimming cup. "Rare liquor this, my Marcus," he
continued; "whence had'st thou this Falernian? 'tis of thine
inmost brand, I doubt not. In whose consulship did it imbibe the
smoke?"
"The first of Caius Marius."
"Forty-four years, a ripe age," said Cethegus, "but twill be
better forty years hence. Strange, by the Gods! that of the two
best things on earth, women and wine, the nature should so differ.
The wine is crude still, when the girl is mellow; but it is ripe,
long after she is——"
"Rotten, by Venus!"—interposed Cæparius, swearing the harlot's
oath; "Rotten, and in the lap of Lamia!"
"But heard ye not," asked Cataline, "or hearing, did ye not
accept the omen!—in whose first Consulship this same Falernian
jar was sealed?" [33]
"Marius! By Hercules! an omen! oh, may it turn out well!"
exclaimed the superstitious Lentulus.
"Sayest thou, my Sura? well! drink we to the omen, and may
we to the valour and the principles of Marius unite the fortunes
of his rival—of all-triumphant Sylla!"
A burst of acclamations replied to the happy hit, and seeing
now his aim entirely accomplished, Cataline checked the revel;
their blood was up; no fear of chilling counsels!
"Now then," he said, "before we drink like boon companions,
let us consult like men; there is need now of counsel; that once