148 THE EARLY HISTORY OF SILK. 



of Augustus Caesar, and continued long after to be r 

 a costly and rare commodity. 



We are informed that, in the reign of Tiberius, : 

 eastern silk was forbidden to be worn by any one but I 

 women of rank ; and a law was passed, prohibiting f- 

 the use of it by males. A cheaper material was j- 

 invented for people of inferior rank, made of a mixture f 

 of silk, with some other more common substance, r- 

 This species of cloth was called sub-sericum, and K 

 became a favourite costume with both sexes. As f- 

 Rome improved in wealth, and luxury followed in its I 

 train, the demand for silk became so excessive, that |- 

 it reached a very high price ; so much so, that 

 Marc Antony sent ambassadors to China to open a 

 more direct commercial treaty with that country, to 

 supply the demand, and reduce the price of the 

 article. This embassy turned out like most othen 

 to that jealous people, without attainiag the end in 

 view ; so that, for several centuries, Persia became 

 the medium of communication between China and 

 Rome. 



In the third century, the profligate Heliogabalus 

 had an upper garment made entirely of silk. And, 

 in the end of that century, the Emperor Aurelian, 

 who was famous for his economy and prudence, 

 refused the entreaties of his empress, who was desirous 

 of possessing a robe of silk, alleging, as an excuse, 

 that it could only be obtained for its weight in gold. 



Persia continued long to reap the benefit of the 

 commerce of silk, which, for the two succeeding 



