Natural Hi/lory of the Ancients. 251 



together like cymbals; hence fuch pearls were 

 called crotalia. All this luxury once more tempts 

 him to moralize. " Now adayes alfo it is growne 

 to this pafle, that meane women and poore mens 

 wives affect to weare them, becaufe they would be 

 thought rich, and a by-word it is amongft them, 

 That a faire pearle at a woman's eare is as good 

 in the ftreet where me goeth as an huifher to make 

 way, for that every one will give fuch the place. 1 

 Nay, our gentlewomen are come now to weare 

 them upon their feet, and not at their shoo-latchets 

 only, but alfo vpon their ftartups and fine bufkins, 

 which they garnifh all ouer with pearle. For it 

 will not fuffice nor ferue their turne to carie pearles 

 about them, but they muft tread upon pearles, goe 

 among pearles, and walke, as it were, on a paue- 

 ment of pearle." 



Some pearles, but few and fmall ones, were 

 found in the Bofphorus, and off the coafts of 

 Acarnania and Mauretania. From thefe Pliny 

 pafles to a notorious example of wafteful excefs 

 and intolerable pride. " I myfelfe have feen Lollia 

 Paulina (late wife and after widdow to Caius 

 Caligula the emperor), when me was drefled and 

 fet out, not in ftately wife nor of purpofe for 

 fome great folemnity, but only when me was to 

 go to a wedding fupper, or rather unto a feaft 



1 To fhow how diffufe is Dr. Philemon Holland, it is worth 

 while contrafting this fentence with the terfe beauty of the 

 original: ** Affeftantque jam et pauperes, liftorem foeminae in 

 publico unionem efle diftitantes." Yet is Holland's quaintnefs 

 not difpleafing. " Huifher " is our modern " ufher," and " ftart- 

 ups" are high (hoes. 



