Vinum et musica laetificant cor
‘Vinum et musica laetificant cor.’ With this Latin quote, Goscinny kicked off Asterix and Caesar’s Gift. Translated into English, it reads, ‘Wine and music gladden the heart.’
Wine
We know that Obelix can’t handle alcohol very well, and chief Vitalstatistix gets Asterix and Obelix in trouble after a drinking a little too much in Asterix and the Laurel Wreath, not to mention the effect his lifestyle has on his liver in Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield. Plenty of examples in the Asterix albums of the effects wine can have on the hearts of people. We rather look at how merry Geriatrix is after drinking a few glasses of Greek wine when our friends visit Greece in Asterix and the Olympic Games.
Music
The effects of music on the heart … we don’t even dare to go there. With a bard like Cacofonix we can’t imagine that music makes the Gauls very happy.
