Famoiis Pearls. 28 i 



already mentioned (p. 36 et scq.). Julius Csesar, 

 after his return from his Egyptian campaign, pre- 

 sented to Servilia — the mother of his murderer, 

 Brutus — a magnificent Pearl, which he had retained 

 as part of the spoils of war. The value of this gem 

 was estimated at a sum equivalent to ;^3 5,600 of 

 our present money. 



The Cleopatra Pearls. — cirea B.C. 30. 



These celebrated Pearls were possessed by the 

 famous Cleopatra, queen of Egypt and last of the 

 Ptolemies. According to the well-known story, 

 one of these gems was dissolved in vinegar, and 

 drunk by the queen at a banquet given by her in 

 honour of Antony, one of the second triumvirate, and 

 de facto ruler of the East. 



This is how Pliny tells the tale, according to 

 old Dr. Holland's version: "Two onely Pearles 

 there were together, the fairest and richest that ever 

 have been knowne in the world, and those possessed 

 at one time by Cleopatra, the last queene of Egypt, 

 which came into her hands by the means of the 

 great kings of the East, and were left unto her by 

 descent. This princesse, when M. Antonius had 

 strained himselfe to doe her all the pleasure he 

 possibly could, and had feasted her day by day 

 most sumptuously, and spared for no cost, in the 



