Chap. XXX Fourth Rule, at Convenient Times
Though one must not get drunk every day, one may, notwithstanding, on certain occasions. One must sometimes unbend the mind.
Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo.a
And when a man puts on the air of a philosopher, it is then he turns fool in affecting to be wise.
There is a time for all things, and so there is in getting drunk, that is, getting drunk with decency and decorum; and there are some times which are not convenient to do so. As for example, (for I love to illustrate what I advance,) it does not suit with decorum for a judge to be drunk on the bench; nor a crier in the court exercising his office, [hiccup, ki—— book;] a parson in the pulpit; an experimental philosopher in shewing of his gimcracks; nor a freemason on the top of a church-steeple.
But it suits very well with strict decorum, to get drunk at a public rejoicing after a signal victory.
When the proud Gaul sustain’d an overthrow
By the immortal MARLBOROUGH,
Ever invincible! then you and I,
My Thirsis, shar’d the common joy.
Blenheim and Ramillies were then our song,
The day tho’ short, the night was long,
Till both with mighty claret glow’d,
And tipsy, to our beds were shew’d.
We may also very decently get drunk with a friend we have not seen a long while.
Here ’tis——O welcome, flask divine,
How bright does thy vermillion shine!
Thou charming native of Dijon1,
At thy approach my cares are flown,
Sad melancholy is no more,
Which rack’d and plagu’d my soul before.
Whether thy influence incites,
(Sweet influence) to soft delights;
Or else dost other measures keep,
And gently urge to peaceful sleep.
O may’st thou still such streams bestow,
Still with such ruddy torrents flow.
Damon, this bottle is your due,
And more I have in store for you
Under the sun the faithfullest friend;
I’ve kept them for no other end.
Drink then a bumper, ’tis a folly,
Dear Damon, to be melancholy.
However rigorous the Roman laws were against drunkenness, they permitted it nevertheless on their festivals; witness what a young man said to his father in presence of the people. “2No father,” says he, “I have no reason to be ashamed for having taken a little more wine than ordinary at a feast with my companions.” Non est res qua embescam, Pater, si die festo inter æquales largiore vino fui usus.
The Persian soldiers, who otherwise lived very soberly, were permitted to get drunk once a year3.
In Georgia, he who did not get quite drunk at their principal holidays, as at Easter and Christmas, was not looked upon to be a christian, and ought to be excommunicated. 4So that, according to this, getting drunk at certain convenient times amongst these christians, was so far from being unlawful, that a man was not looked upon to be orthodox, without he did so. Getting drunk is therefore very orthodox.
a. Horace, Odes II.x.19-20.
1. Dijon, chief city in Burgundy.
2. Tit. Liv. lib. iv. ch. 14.
3. Alex. ab Alex, lib, ii. ch. 11.
4. Voyag. de Chard. t. ii. 129.