256 Gleanings from the 



And ftill more clearly, with fome epithet : 



" Nee fit marita quae rotundioribus 

 Onufta baccis ambulet." 1 



Shakefpeare does not feem to have been fond of 

 pearls ; he loves, indeed, the " liquid pearl " on 

 the " bladed grafs," but does not go out of his 

 way to dwell upon the beauty or rarity of the 

 ornament. He had read Pliny, however, as 

 appears from what Troilus fays of Creflida : 

 " Her bed is India ; there fhe lies, a pearl." 



With Milton, the pearl forms part, not only of 

 his claflical imagery, but alfo of his deep fenfe of 

 the beauty that dwells in all harmonious and 

 regular fights and founds. He knew the mediaeval 

 conceit of tears changing into pearls : 



" The fair bloffom hangs the head 

 Sideways, as on a dying bed, 

 And thofe pearls of dew fhe wears, 

 Prove to be prefaging tears." 2 



With him, too, 



" Morn, her rofy fteps in the eaflern clime 

 Advancing, fowed the earth with orient pearl." 3 



And in Paradife, 



" From that fapphire fount the crifped brooks, 

 Rolling on orient pearl and fands of gold, 

 With mazy error, under pendent fhades 

 Ran neftar." 



In heaven, too, there is a bright fea " of jafper, or 



1 Ovid, "Met.," x. 265; Virgil, " Cul.," 67; Claud., 

 "Cons. Honor," 592; and "Laud. Stil.," ii. 88; Hor., 

 "Ep.," viii. 13. 



2 "Epitaph on the Marchionefs of Winchefter." 



3 " Par. Loft," v. i. 



