For as floods of water glide over the close grounds, nor make them slabby, but quickly sink into the open and chapped fields; thus wine, being sucked in by the dry parts, lies and works in the bodies of old men.

But besides, it is easy to observe, that age of itself hath all the symptoms of drunkenness.

These symptoms everybody knows; viz., shaking of the joints, faltering of the tongue, babbling, passion, forgetfulness, and distraction of the mind; many of which being incident to old men, even whilst they are well and in perfect health, are heightened by any little irregularity and accidental debauch.

So that drunkenness doth not beget in old men any new and proper symptoms, but only intend and increase the common ones.

And an evident sign of this is, that nothing is so like an old man as a young man drunk.
QUESTION IV.