"Wine ripens especially for us old folks, and not for you young people."

"That you must explain," cried a voice from the table of the military
officers.

"It makes young men of the old," laughed the octogenarian, "and children
of the young."

"He has you there, you youngsters," cried Gagabu. "What have you to say,
Septah?"

"Wine is a poison," said the morose haruspex, "for it makes fools of wise
men."

"Then you have little to fear from it, alas!" said Gagabu laughing.
"Proceed, my lord of the chase."

"The rim of the beaker," was the answer, "is like the lip of the woman
you love. Touch it, and taste it, and it is as good as the kiss of a
bride."

"General--the turn is yours."

"I wish the Nile ran with such wine instead of with water," cried the
soldier, "and that I were as big as the colossus of Atnenophis, and that
the biggest obelisk of Hatasu were my drinking vessel, and that I might
drink as much as I would! But now--what have you to say of this noble
liquor, excellent Gagabu?"