448 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOKY. [Book IX. 



succeeded by the Tyrian dibapha, 2 which could not be bought 

 for even one thousand denarii per pound. P. Lentulus Spin- 

 ther, the curule aedile, was the first who used the dibapha for 

 the praetexta, and he was greatly censured for it ; whereas 

 now-a-days," says he, "who is there that does not have purple 

 hangings 3 to his banqueting-couches, even?" 



This Spinther was sedile in the consulship of Cicero, and in 

 the year from the Building of the City, 691. " Dibapha" was 

 the name given to textures that had been doubly dyed, and 

 these were looked upon as a mighty piece of costly extrava- 

 gance ; while now, at the present day, nearly all the purple 

 cloths that are reckoned of any account are dyed in a similar 

 manner. 



CHAP. 64. FABRICS CALLED CONCH YLIATED. 



Fabrics that are called conchyliated are subjected to the 

 same process in all other respects, but without any admixture 

 of the juice of the buccinum ; in addition to which, the liquid 

 is mixed with water and human urine in equal parts, 4 one- 

 half 5 only of the proportion of dye being used for the same quan- 

 tity of wool. From this mixture a full colour is not obtained, 

 but that pale tint, which is so highly esteemed ; and the clearer 6 

 it is, the less of it the W T OO! has imbibed. 



(40.) The prices of these dyes vary in proportion to the 

 quantity produced by the various shores ; still, however, those 

 who are in the habit of paying enormous prices for them, may 

 as well be informed that on no occasion ought the juice of 



2 Cloths doubly dyed, or twice dipped : from the Greek OIQ, twice, and 

 jSaTrrw, to dip. 



3 " Triclinaria." This word probably signified not only the hangings of 

 the table couches, but the coverings, and the coverlets which were spread 

 over the guests while at the meal. 



4 " Pro indiviso." 



5 " Dimidia et medicamina adduntur." This, no douht, is the sense of 

 the passage, as it is evident that only a thinner ' a dye was required for tint, 

 though at first sight it would appear as though one-half more were re- 

 quired for the same quantity of wool. The quantity therefore would be 

 155 pounds of dye to fifty pounds of wool. 



6 "Tantoque dilutior, quanto magis vellera esuriunt." This seems to 

 be the meaning of the passage : some commentators would read "diluci- 

 dior" for " dilutior," and it would appear to be preferable. 



