20 MEMOIR OF PLINY. 



their fingers, but also two or three of them together 

 pendant at their eares. And names they haue, for- 

 sooth, newly deuised for them, when they serue their 

 turne, in this their wanton excesse and superfluitie of 

 roiot ; for when they knocke one against another, as 

 they hang at their eares or fingers, they call them 

 Crotalia, i. e. cymbals, as if they tooke delight to 

 heave the sound of their pearles ratling together. 

 Now-a-dayes, also, it is gvowne to this passe, that 

 meane women and poore men's wiues, affect to vveare 

 them because they would be thought rich ; and a 

 bye-word it is amongst them, that a faire pearle at a 

 woman's eare, is as good in the streete where she 

 goeth as an huisher to make way, for that euerie 

 one will giue such the place. Nay, our gentlewo- 

 men are scene now to weare them vpon their feet ; 

 and not at their shoo-latchets only, but also at their 

 start-tops and fine buskins, which they garnish all 

 ouer with fine pearles ; for it will not suffice nor serue 

 their turne to carie pearles about them, but they must 

 tread upon pearles, goe among pearles, and walk as 

 it were on a pauement of pearles. I myselfe have 

 seen Lollia Paulina, (late wife, and after widdow, to 

 Caius Caligula, the Emperor,) when she was dressed 

 and set out, not in stately wise, nor of purpose for 

 some great solemnitie, but only when she was to goe 

 to a wedding supper, or rather to a feast where the 

 assurance was made, and great persons they were 

 not that made the said feast. I haue seen her, I say, 

 beset and bedeckt all ouer with hemeraulds and 



