BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 161 



The Wool absorbs the Colour in five Hours : then they card 

 it, and put it in again, until it hath drunk up all the colour- 

 ing Matter. The Buccinum maketh no good Colour of itself; 

 for it loses the Dye again. And, therefore, usually they join 

 to it the Pelagium ; which, to its too great Blackness, giveth 

 that Depth and Brightness which is sought for in Cloth dyed 

 in Grain. Thus by mixing the Force of both they raise one 

 another, or bind each other more closely. The amount of 

 the Preparation to each Pound of Wool is two hundred of 

 the Buccinum to a hundred and eleven Pelagian Purpurse. 

 In this Manner is made that rich Amethyst Colour. But the 

 Tyrians thoroughly dye the Wool in the Furnace of the 

 Pelagian Purpurae only, while not yet thoroughly prepared, 

 but still green ; and afterwards they change it into another, 

 where the Buccinum has been boiled. It is most highly 

 commended when it is as deep a red as congealed Blood ; 

 blackish at the first Sight, but when viewed between you 

 and the Light, it shows a shining Lustre. And hereupon it 

 is that Homer calleth Blood Purple. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

 When they began at Rome to wear Purple. 



I SEE that Purple hath been always used in Rome ; but 

 Romulus wore it in his royal Robe (only). It is well known 

 that Tullus Hostilius was the first of the Kings who, after he 

 had subdued the Hetruscans, put on the Toga Pretexta and 

 the Latus Clavus. JVepos Cornelius, who died under the 

 Reign of Divus Augustus, says: When I was a young Man, 

 the Violet Purple was in great Request, and a Pound of it 

 was sold for a hundred Denarii i 1 and not long after the 

 Tarentine red Purple. After this came the double-dyed 

 Tyrian Purple, which could not be bought for a thousand 

 Pounds of Denarii. 2 P. Lentulus Spinter, in his Curile 

 ^Edileship, is reproached for having first worn it in his Robe. 

 But now (says Nepos}, who does not form the Hangings of 



1 3 lib. 2 shil. 6d. sterl. * 31 lib. 5 shil. 



VOL. III. M 



