Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

FOR SHELLFISH. ANOTHER. CHAP. XVI. LASER FLAVOR. ANOTHER. CHAP. XVII. WINE SAUCE FOR TRUFFLES. ANOTHER. CHAP. XVIII. OXYPORUM. CHAP. XIX. HYPOTRIMA. CHAP. XX. OXYGARUM, DIGESTIVE. ANOTHER. CHAP. XXI. MORTARIA. I [1] FINE SPICED WINE _CONDITUM PARADOXUM_ THE COMPOSITION OF [this] EXCELLENT SPICED WINE [is as follows]. INTO A COPPER BOWL PUT 6 SEXTARII [1] OF HONEY AND 2 SEXTARII OF WINE; HEAT ON A SLOW FIRE, CONSTANTLY STIRRING THE MIXTURE WITH A WHIP. AT THE BOILING POINT ADD A DASH OF COLD WINE, RETIRE FROM STOVE AND SKIM. REPEAT THIS TWICE OR THREE TIMES, LET IT REST TILL THE NEXT DAY, AND SKIM AGAIN. THEN ADD 4 OZS. OF CRUSHED PEPPER [2], 3 SCRUPLES OF MASTICH, A DRACHM EACH OF [nard or laurel] LEAVES AND SAFFRON, 5 DRACHMS OF ROASTED DATE STONES CRUSHED AND PREVIOUSLY SOAKED IN WINE TO SOFTEN THEM. WHEN THIS IS PROPERLY DONE ADD 18 SEXTARII OF LIGHT WINE. TO CLARIFY IT PERFECTLY, ADD [crushed] CHARCOAL [3] TWICE OR AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY WHICH WILL DRAW [the residue] TOGETHER [and carefully strain or filter through the charcoal]. [1] _Sextarii._ Tor. _partes XV_; G.-V. _pondo XV_; List. _partes XV ... pondo lib.... qui continent sextarios sex_. One sextarius (a "sixth") equals about 1-1/2 pint English. [2] Pepper. _Piperis uncias IV_--ordinarily our black or white pepper grains, but in connection with honey, sweets, and so forth, the term "pepper" may just as well stand for our allspice, or even for any spicing in general. [3] Charcoal. Still a favorite filterer for liquors. List. Apicius is correct in starting his book with this formula, as all meals were started with this sort of mixed drink. Tor. deviates from the other texts in that he elaborates on the cooking process. [2] HONEY REFRESHER FOR TRAVELERS _CONDITUM MELIZOMUM _[1]_ VIATORIUM_ THE WAYFARER'S HONEY REFRESHER (SO CALLED BECAUSE IT GIVES ENDURANCE AND STRENGTH TO PEDESTRIANS) [2] WITH WHICH TRAVELERS ARE REFRESHED BY THE WAYSIDE IS MADE IN THIS MANNER: FLAVOR HONEY WITH GROUND PEPPER AND SKIM. IN THE MOMENT OF SERVING PUT HONEY IN A CUP, AS MUCH AS IS DESIRED TO OBTAIN