Book 6
20
Catullus too, the most graceful of poets, in the following verses, xxvii. 1. Boy, who servest old Falernian, Pour out stronger cups for me, Following queen Postumia is the magistra bibendi, who regulated the proportion of wine and water and the size of the cups, and imposed penalties for breaking her rules. Cf. Hor. Odes, i. 4. 18. Postumia's mandate, Tipsier she than tipsy grape, although he might have said ebrio, and used acinum in the neuter gender, as was more usual, nevertheless through love of the melody of that Homeric hiatus he said ebria, because it blended with the following a. But those who think that Catullus wrote ebriosa or ebrioso—for that incorrect reading is also found—have unquestionably happened upon editions copied from corrupt texts.
21
Why it is that the phrases quoad vivet and quoad morietur indicate the very same time, although based upon opposite things.
