BOOK IX. Lii. I02-UII. 105 



into the shape of a purple, the edge projecting 

 into a sharp point, or spread outwards, or folded 

 inwards ; and again picked out \vith stripes or with 

 flowing locks or with curls, or parted in little channels 

 or Hke the teeth of a comb, or corrugated like tiles, 

 or reticulated into lattice-work, or spread out slant- 

 wise or straight, close-packed, diffused, curled; 

 tied up in a short knot, or linked up all dowTi the side, 

 or opened so as to shut with a snap, or curved so as 

 to make a trumpet. Of this species the Venus-shell 

 sails hke a ship, and projecting its hollow portion and 

 setting it to catch the wind goes voyaging over the 

 surface of the water. The scallop gives a leap and 

 soars out of the water, and it also uses its own shell as 

 a boat. 



LIII. But why do I mention these trifles when their 

 moral corruption and luxury spnng irom no oxhQr toUixuryand 

 source in greater abundance than from the genus comtption. 

 shell-fish ? It is true that of the whole of nature 

 the sea is most detrimental to the stomach in a 

 multitude of ways, with its multitude of dishes 

 and of appetizing kinds of fish to which the profits 

 made by those who catch them spell danger. But 

 what proportion do these form when we con- 

 sider purple and scarlet robes and pearls ! It had 

 been insuificient, forsooth, for the seas to be 

 stowed into our gullets, were they not carried on 

 the hands and in the ears and on the head and all 

 over the body of women and men aHke. What 

 connexion is there between the sea and our clothing, 

 between the waves and waters and woollen fabric ? 

 We only enter that element in a proper manner 

 when we are naked ! Granted that there is so 

 close an alhance between it and our stomach, but 



223 



