3, 475.] The worst state of man is that wherein he loses the knowledge and government of himself.

And 'tis said amongst other things upon this subject, that, as the must fermenting in a vessel, works up to the top whatever it has in the bottom, so wine, in those who have drunk beyond measure, vents the most inward secrets: "Tu sapientum Curas et arcanum jocoso Consilium retegis Lyaeo." ["Thou disclosest to the merry Lyacus the cares and secret counsel of the wise."-- Horace, Od., xxi.

1, 114.] [Lyacus, a name given to Bacchus.] Josephus tells us that by giving an ambassador the enemy had sent to him his full dose of liquor, he wormed out his secrets.

And yet, Augustus, committing the most inward secrets of his affairs to Lucius Piso, who conquered Thrace, never found him faulty in the least, no more than Tiberias did Cossus, with whom he intrusted his whole counsels, though we know they were both so given to drink that they have often been fain to carry both the one and the other drunk out of the Senate: "Hesterno inflatum venas ut semper, Lyaeo." ["Their veins full, as usual, of yesterday's wine." -- Virgil, Egl., vi.

15.] And the design of killing Caesar was as safely communicated to Cimber, though he would often be drunk, as to Cassius, who drank nothing but water.
[As to which Cassius pleasantly said: "What, shall I bear a tyrant, I who cannot bear wine ?"] We see our Germans, when drunk as the devil, know their post, remember the word, and keep to their ranks: "Nec facilis victoria de madidis, et Blaesis, atque mero titubantibus." ["Nor is a victory easily obtained over men so drunk, they can scarce speak or stand."-- Juvenal, Sat., xv.