Natural Hiftory of the Ancients. 249 



He fays the colour of pearls becomes yellow or 

 remains white, like the complexion, according as 

 they are expofed to much or little funmine. And 

 yet, " as orient as they be, they waxe yellow with 

 age, become riveled, and looke dead, without any 

 lively vigor ; fo as that commendable orient luftre 

 (fo much fought for of our great lords and coftly 

 dames) continueth but in their youth and decaieth 

 with yeares." 



Some fhells were kept at Rome for perfume- 

 cafes, and in them the pearls were left adhering to 

 the halves. The pearl itfelf was fuppofed by 

 Pliny to be foft and tender in the water, but to 

 grow hard when once removed. If he exaggerates 

 the danger of the fhell clofing upon the hand, he 

 does not fufficiently dwell upon the perils which 

 the ihell-divers run from the attacks of marks. 

 Thefe are their moft dreaded foes. It is worth 

 while tranfcribing fome more of his quaint fancies 

 in Holland's words : " Let the niher looke well 

 to his fingers, for if me catch his hand between, 

 off it goeth ; fo trenchant and fharp an edge me 

 carrieth, that is able to cut it quite a-two. And 

 verily this is a juft punimment for the theefe, 

 and none more : albeit me be furnifhed and armed 

 with other means of revenge. For they keep for 

 the moft part about craggie rocks, and are there 

 found ; and if they lie in the deepe, accompanied 

 lightly they are with curft fea-dogs. And yet 

 all this will not ferve to fltar men away from 

 fiming after them; for why? our dames and 

 gentlewomen muft have their eares behanged 



