Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 27
§ 27
ANd what is their diſcourſe? Drunkenneſſe diſcovers all ſecrets.Firſt, they diſcover all ſecrets. For like as when the wine purgeth, (ſaith Plutarch) that which is in the bottome, commeth up to the brimme, and ſwimmeth aloft; or elſe it breaketh the veſſels, and runneth all abroad: even ſo drunkennes diſcovers the ſecrets of the heart. Yea, if diſcretion and moderation bee as hoops to a veſſell, how ſhould theſe hogsheads keepe their liquor, if you take away thoſe hoops?
It is the property of a drunkard to diſgorge his boſome, with his ſtomack; to emty his mind, with his maw; he can ill rule his hands, but worſe his tongue; fat cups oyle that ſo much, that it cannot ſticke; and makes it ſo laskitive, that it cannot hold from bewraying hoth himſelfe and others: and whatſoever is in the heart of a ſober man, is found in the tongue of a drunkard.
Drink diſapparells the ſoule, and is the betrayer of the mind; it turnes the key of the tongue, and makes it unlocke that counſell, which before wiſdome had in keeping; even the thoughts of the heart, which God hath ſecluded from the very Divell, by this do ſuffer a ſearch. He that would anatomize the ſoule, may doe it beſt when wine hath benummed the ſenſes; no ſuch rack for confeſſion as wine, nor could the Divel ever finde a cunninger baite to angle with: even the moſt benighted cogitations of the ſoule, in this flood doe tumble from the ſwelling tongue. For as ſteele is the glaſſe of beauty: ſo wine is the glaſſe of the minde, ſaith Euripides. And experience ſhewes, that when a man is drunke, you may thruſt your hand into him, like an Ele-skin, and ſtrip his inſide outwards. And nothing more common with States-men and Politians, then to make drinke their Dalilah; to draw out of their enemies thoſe ſecrets which nothing elſe will doe.
When any Embaſſadors came unto Bonoſus the Emperor, his manner was to make them drunk, that ſo he might heare all their ſecrets. And Ioſephus ſpeakes of another politick Prince, who uſed when any Embaſſador was ſent unto him from his enemies, to ply him with drink; and thereby he wreſted all his ſecrets out of him. Yea, this was the onelyonly ſauce that Bacchus gave Ceres, when hee fell in love with Venus. And did not Noah being drunke reveale thoſe ſecrets, which lay hid above ſix hundred yeares before?
I confeſſe, there is no generall rule but admits of ſome exceptions; and this rule is not alwayes infallible: for wine makes ſome quick ſpirited, others dull; this man talkative, another dumb; according to the diſpoſition and conſtitution of the party. Yea, I confeſſe the complot and purpoſe to kill Caeſar, was as faithfully committed unto Cimber, who would daily bee drunk with quaffing of wine; as unto Caſſius, that drank nothing but water: neither had Augustus any cauſe to bee diſcontented with Lucius Piſo that conquered Thrace, for all he truſted him with the ſecreteſt affaires he had in hand: nor Tiberius with Coſſus, to whom hee imparted all his ſeriouſeſt counſells; although both ſo gave themſelves to drinking, that they were often faine to bee carried from the Senate, and both reputed notable drunkards: but it is rarely ſeene, that the contrary holds not.
Wherefore I will not tell a bibber what I would not heare againe, leſt I heare of it againe from thoſe, to whom I dare not avouch it againe. Yea, for this cauſe (were there no other reaſon.) I will beware of wine; I will not doe God ſo great a diſhonour as to demideifie man, in making him privie to my heart and thoughts. Yea, ſeeing God hath given me two eyes, two eares, and but one tongue; I wil heare and ſee double to what I ſpeak. And ſo much to ſhew how well the drunkard can keepe counſell, if any be ſo mad as to truſt him with a ſecret, I paſſe on to his
Vaine babling, &c.
Surrilous jeſting, &c.
Wicked talking, &c.