16. And he said, Call the young men, and they shall explain their own sentences. So they were called, and came in.
17. And they said to them, Declare to us your mind concerning the things you⌃ have written. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine,
18. and said thus, O sirs, how exceeding strong is wine! it causes all men to err that drink it:
19. it makes the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich:
20. it turns also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembers neither sorrow nor debt:
21. and it makes every heart rich, so that a man remembers neither king nor satrap; and it makes to speak all things by talents:
22. and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw their swords:
23. but when they awake from their wine, they remember not what they have done.
24. O sirs, is not wine the strongest, seeing that it enforces to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.