58 MEMOIR OF PLINY. 



for dyeing of fine cloth, the purple fishes haue in 

 the midst of the neck and javves. And nothing else 

 it is but a little thin liquor with a white veine ; and 

 that is it which maketh that rich fresh and bright 

 colour of deepe red purple roses. As for all the rest 

 of this fish it yeeldeth nothing. Fishers striue to get 

 them aliue ; for when they die they cast vp and shed 

 that precious teinture and juice together with their 

 life. Now the Tyrians, when they light vpon any 

 great purples, they take the flesh out of their shels, 

 for to get the bloud out of the said veine ; but the 

 lesser they presse and grind in certaine milles, and 

 so gather that rich humor which issueth from them. 

 The best purple colour in Asia is thus gotten 

 at Tyros ; but in Africke, within the island Me- 

 ninx, and the coast of the ocean by Getulia; and 

 in Europe that of Laconica. This is that glorious 

 colour so full of state and maiestie, that the Roman 

 lictors, with their rods, halbards, and axes, make 

 way for ; this is it that graceth and setteth out the 

 children of princes and noblemen ; this maketh the 

 distinction between a knight and a counsellor of 

 state ; this is called for and put on when they offer 

 sacrifice to pacific the gods ; this giueth a lustre to 

 all sorts of garments ; to conclude, our great gene- 

 rals in the field, and victorious captains in their tri- 

 umphs, wear this purple in their mantels, enterlaced 

 and embrodered with gold among. No maruell, 

 therefore, if purple be so much sought for ; and men 

 are to be held excused if they run a madding after 



