CHAP. 53.—HONIED WINE: SIX REMEDIES.
As to honied2731 wine, that is always the best which has been made with old wine: honey, too, incorporates with it very readily, which is never the case with sweet2732 wine. When made with astringent wine, it does not clog the stomach, nor has it that effect when the honey has been boiled: in this last case, too, it causes less flatulency, an inconvenience generally incidental to this beverage. It acts as a stimulant also upon a failing appetite; taken cold it relaxes the bowels, but used warm it acts astringently, in most cases, at least. It has a tendency also to make flesh. Many persons have attained an extreme old age, by taking bread soaked in honied wine, and no other diet—the famous instance of Pollio Romilius, for example. This man was more than one hundred years old when the late Emperor Augustus, who was then his host,2733 asked him by what means in particular he had retained such remarkable vigour of mind and body.—“Honied wine within, oil without,”2734 was his answer. According to Varro, the jaundice has the name of “royal disease”2735 given to it, because its cure is effected with honied wine.2736