75
He was by nature extremely sparing in the use of wine. Cornelius Nepos says, that he used to drink only three times at supper in the camp of Modena; and when he indulged himself the most, he never exceeded a pint; or if he did his stomach rejected it. Of all wines, he gave the preference to the Rhaetian, The Rhaetian wines had a great reputation; Virgil says, Ex quo te carmine dicam, Rhaetica. Georg. ii. 96. The vineyards lay at the foot of the Rhaetian Alps; their produce, we have reason to believe, was not a very generous liquor. but scarcely ever drank any in the day-time. Instead of drinking, he used to take a piece of bread dipped in cold water, or a slice of cucumber, or some leaves of lettuce, or a green, sharp, juicy apple.