CHAP. 20. (1 7.)—HYDROMELI, OR MELICRATON.
There is a wine also made solely of honey and water. [Note] For
this purpose it is recommended that rain-water [Note] should be
kept for a period of five years. Those who shew greater skill,
content themselves with taking the water just after it has
fallen, and boiling it down to one third, to which they then
add one third in quantity of old honey, and keep the mixture
exposed to the rays of a hot sun [Note] for forty days after the
rising of the Dog-star; others, however, rack it off in the
course of ten days, and tightly cork the vessels in which it is
kept. This beverage is known as "hydromeli," and with age
acquires the flavour of wine. It is nowhere more highly
esteemed than in Phrygia. [Note]
