"I will drain the cup to the dregs" - Louis XVI. Meaning?

Question

This is from an account of his execution.

It's a quote that he said upon excepting his fate.

Now, I'm not sure exactly what Louis means when he says this. Does he literally mean he's going to drink somekind of liquid all the way down to the bits at the bottom of the cup?

Or is it a metaphorical thing somehow?

Could someone explain this to me?

Answer 1

I think he's saying he will live life til the bitter end - the dregs being the bitter sediment at the bottom of a drink such as wine

Answer 2

In my view, I think its kind of like "live life to the fullest".  Everybody knows that the bottom of a drink isn't as good as the top; so he's sort of proudly accepting his fate.