From the Interior News, inter alia natch:

I have read that the ancient Romans used to toast a woman’s health by drinking a glass of wine for every letter of her name! That concept could add to the length of the party, eh?

This claim seems to come from the Classic Encyclopedia, where one reads:

Thus the Greek practice of drinking to the Nine Muses as three times three survives to-day in England and elsewhere. The Roman gallants drank as many glasses to their mistresses as there were letters in each one's name. Thus Martial: " Six cups to Naevia's health go quickly round!

If someone can tell me which epigram of Martial this comes from, I'd be happy to know. I can't find it in any of the 'Naevia' epigrams.


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Dennis over at Campus Mawrtius has figured it out (although the reason I couldn't find it was because I was looking for Naevia, not Laevia) and has some cogent comments. I wonder if the 'toasting' isn't rather somewhat similar to the 'Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time', with Laevia requiring six cups of Falernian to look good, Lyde four, etc. ... The now-defunct (?) Martialis blog has a conventional translation ....

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Jacob Eikelenboom scripsit:

Although I've totally no knowledge on this subject, I always like to check on my ability to find info on the net.

I was able to find something about this quote on http://martialis.blogspot.com/2004/08/i71.html

and also in this pdf (page 100):
http://www.sacredspiral.com/books/knowlson.pdf

A possible older source can be found at the Gutenberg Project (although no reference to Martial):
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/7spt110.txt
(a large document, search for 'Naevia')

Respondeo:

The last one is particularly useful ... it's from a collection of essays from the Spectator from back in 1891. Here's the relevant bit:

We had some Years ago in this Town a Set of People who met and dressed like Lovers, and were distinguished by the Name of the _Fringe-Glove Club_; but they were Persons of such moderate Intellects even before they were impaired by their Passion, that their Irregularities could not furnish sufficient Variety of Folly to afford daily new Impertinencies; by which Means that Institution dropp'd. These Fellows could express their Passion in nothing but their Dress; but the _Oxonians_ are Fantastical now they are Lovers, in proportion to their Learning and Understanding before they became such. The Thoughts of the ancient Poets on this agreeable Phrenzy, are translated in honour of some modern Beauty; and _Chloris_ is won to Day, by the same Compliment that was made to _Lesbia_ a thousand Years ago. But as far as I can learn, the Patron of the Club is the renowned Don _Quixote_. The Adventures of that gentle Knight are frequently mention'd in the Society, under the colour of Laughing at the Passion and themselves: But at the same Time, tho' they are sensible of the Extravagancies of that unhappy Warrior, they do not observe, that to turn all the Reading of the best and wisest Writings into Rhapsodies of Love, is a Phrenzy no less diverting than that of the aforesaid accomplish'd _Spaniard_. A Gentleman who, I hope, will continue his Correspondence, is lately admitted into the Fraternity, and sent me the following Letter.

SIR,

'Since I find you take Notice of Clubs, I beg Leave to give you an Account of one in _Oxford_, which you have no where mention'd, and perhaps never heard of. We distinguish our selves by the Title of the _Amorous Club_, are all Votaries of _Cupid_, and Admirers of the Fair Sex. The Reason that we are so little known in the World, is the Secrecy which we are obliged to live under in the University. Our Constitution runs counter to that of the Place wherein we live: For in Love there are no Doctors, and we all profess so high Passion, that we admit of no Graduates in it. Our Presidentship is bestow'd according to the Dignity of Passion; our Number is unlimited; and our Statutes are like those of the Druids, recorded in our own Breasts only, and explained by the Majority of the Company. A Mistress, and a Poem in her Praise, will introduce any Candidate: Without the latter no one can be admitted; for he that is not in love enough to rhime, is unqualified for our Society. To speak disrespectfully of any Woman, is Expulsion from our gentle Society. As we are at present all of us Gown-men, instead of duelling when we are Rivals, we drink together the Health of our Mistress. The Manner of doing this sometimes indeed creates Debates; on such Occasions we have Recourse to the Rules of Love among the Antients.

'Naevia sex Cyathis, septem Justina bibatur.'

This Method of a Glass to every Letter of her Name, occasioned the other Night a Dispute of some Warmth. A young Student, who is in Love with Mrs. _Elizabeth Dimple_, was so unreasonable as to begin her Health under the Name of _Elizabetha_; which so exasperated the Club, that by common Consent we retrenched it to _Betty_. We look upon a Man as no Company, that does not sigh five times in a Quarter of an Hour; and look upon a Member as very absurd, that is so much himself as to make a direct Answer to a Question. In fine, the whole Assembly is made up of absent Men, that is, of such Persons as have lost their Locality, and whose Minds and Bodies never keep Company with one another. As I am an unfortunate Member of this distracted Society, you cannot expect a very regular Account of it; for which Reason, I hope you will pardon me that I so abruptly subscribe my self,

Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
T. B.

I forgot to tell you, that _Albina_, who has six Votaries in this Club, is one of your Readers.'

So -- outside of the apparent existence of a variant reading of Laevia/Naevia -- it would appear that this supposed 'practice' of the Romans is more likely a Victorian drinking game semi-similar to 'Hi Bob'.