Crit. And what do those drink who mix no water with their wine?
Dem. Pure, unmixed wine.
Crit. That is, if the wine-dealer did not first water it himself.
Pol. They call that baptising it, so that the wine should be Christian. This was in my time a fine, philosophical way of speaking.
Dem. They baptise the wine, and themselves are unbaptised (i.e., unwatered or unwashed).
Pol. They do worse to wine who add chalk, sulphur, honey, alum, and other more noisome things than which nothing is more pernicious to one’s body. Against such people the state ought to proceed as against robbers or assassins. For thence are incredible kinds of diseases and especially gout.
Crit. By conspiracy with physicians they can do this. Then both share the profit.
Dem. The cup you reach to me is too full. Empty it a little, I beg, so that there may be a space for water.