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[38]
Accordingly, the first of them began to speak of the strength of
wine, and demonstrated it thus: "When," said he," I am to
give my opinion of wine, O you men, I find that it exceeds every thing,
by the following indications: It deceives the mind of those that drink
it, and reduces that of the king to the same state with that of the orphan,
and he who stands in need of a tutor; and erects that of the slave to the
boldness of him that is free; and that of the needy becomes like that of
the rich man, for it changes and renews the souls of men when it gets into
them; and it quenches the sorrow of those that are under calamities, and
makes men forget the debts they owe to others, and makes them think themselves
to be of all men the richest; it makes them talk of no small things, but
of talents, and such other names as become wealthy men only; nay more,
it makes them insensible of their commanders, and of their kings, and takes
away the remembrance of their friends and companions, for it arms men even
against those that are dearest to them, and makes them appear the greatest
strangers to them; and when they are become sober, and they have slept
out their wine in the night, they arise without knowing any thing they
have done in their cups. I take these for signs of power, and by them discover
that wine is the strongest and most insuperable of all things."
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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