And Alexis, in his play entitled The Usurer, or Liar, says—
A. Don't give him wine quite drown'd in water, now;—
Dost understand me? Half and half, or nearly:
That's well.
B. A noble drink: where was the land
That raised this noble Bacchus? by its flavour,
I think he came from Thasos.
A. Sure 'tis just
That foreigners should foreign wines enjoy,
And that the natives should drink native produce.
And again, in his Supposititious Son, he says—
He drank and never drew his breath, as one
Would quaff rich wine, mix'd half and half with care.
And Menander, in his Brethren—
Some one cried out to mingle eight and twelve,
Till he with rivalry subdued the other (κατέσεισε).
And the verb κατασείω was especially used of those who fell down from drinking, taking its metaphor from the shaking down fruit from the tree.
And Alexis, in his Man cut off, says—
He was no master of the feast at all,
But a mere hangman, Chæreas his name;
And when he'd drunk full twenty cups of wine,
Mix'd half-and-half, he ask'd for more, and stronger.
38. And Diodorus of Sinope, in his Female Flute-player, says—