EMERALD.] NATURAL HISTORY. 105 



Emerald. 



MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, v. 5, 74. [As adjective.] 



OF all green precious stones is the chief. Men in old 

 time gave thereto the third dignity after margarites and 

 unions. In no herbs nor in precious stone is more green- 

 ness than in the stone Emerald. It passeth herbs and grass, 

 twigs and branches. And it infecteth the air about it with 

 passing green colour. And his green colour abateth not in 

 the sun in no manner wise. Nothing comforteth more their 

 eyes that be gravers than this stone. Thereof be twelve 

 manner of kinds, but the most noble be found in Scythia, 

 and in Bactria holdeth the second place. And Emeralds be 

 found among and under stones, and in chines thereof, when 

 the Northern wind bloweth. For then the earth is un- 

 covered, and Emerald shineth among the stones. For in 

 such wind gravel and sand is most moved. Though the 

 Emerald be green by kind, yet if it be meddled with wine 

 or with oil, his green colour increaseth. This stone is 

 taken of and from griffins, and plenty of Emeralds may 

 not be found, for great griffins let the coming of men by 

 the way that goeth thereto. The body thereof hath of gift 

 of kind a goodness of virtue to heal divers sicknesses and 

 evils. It increaseth riches, and maketh men have good 

 words and fair evidence in cause and in plea. If this 

 stone be hanged about the neck, it maketh good mind, and 

 helpeth also against all phantasies and japes of fiends, and 

 ceaseth tempest. It is said that it helpeth them that use 

 to divine and guess what shall befall. 



Bartholomew (Berthelet], bk. xvi. 88. 



A TRUTHFUL and curious experimenter coming from 

 Greece said that this stone is generated in the rocks which 

 are under the sea, and is there found. And this is reason- 

 able, for it is generated in veins of brass, and that evidently, 

 .but it does not come to the substance of brass ; because 

 it has the greenness of the rust of brass [i.e., verdigris]. 

 The Emerald if put in drink is suitable for deadly 

 venoms, and for venomous bites and punctures of stings. 

 The Emerald, if it be worn, increases substance ; causes 

 persuasiveness in all business ; makes men chaste and 



