448 PLINY'S KATUllAL HISTOET. [Book IX. 



succeeded Iby the Tyrian dibapha,= which could not be bought 

 for even one thousand denarii per pound. P. Lontulus Spin- 

 ther, the curule sedile, was the first who used the dibapha for 

 the prfetexta, and he was greatly censured for it ; whereas 

 now-a-days," says he, "who is there that does not have purple 

 hangings* to his banqueting-couches, even?" 



This Spinther was sedile in the consulship of Cicero, and in 

 the year from the Building of the City, 691. " Dibapha" was 

 the nanie given to textures that had lieen doubly dyed, and 

 these were looked upon, as a mighty piece of costly extrava- 

 gance ; while now, at the present day, nearly all the purple 

 cloths that are reckoned of any account are dyed in a similar 

 manner. 



CnAP. 64. FABRICS CAMED CONCHYLIATED. 



Fabrics that are called conoh3-liated are subjected to the 

 same process in all other respects, but without any admixture 

 of the juice of the buccinum ; in addition to which, the liquid 

 is mixed with water and human urine in equal parts,* one- 

 half* only of the proportion of dye being used for the same quan- 

 tity of wool. From this mixture a full colour is not obtained, 

 but that pale tint, which is so highly esteemed ; and the clearer* 

 it is, the less of it the wool has imbibed. 



(40.) The prices of these dyes vary in proportion to the 

 quantity produced by the various shores ; still, however, those 

 who are in the habit of paying enormous prices for them, may 

 as well be informed that on no occasion ought the juice of 



^ Cloths doubly dyed, or twice dipped : from the Greek Sig, twice, and 

 Par-Tw, to dip. 



' " Triolinaria." This word prohably signified not only the hangings of 

 the tahle couches, but the coverings, and the coverlets which were spread 

 over the guests while at the meal. 



* " Pro indiviso." 



5 " Diittidia et medioamina adduntur." This, no doubt, is the sense of 

 the passage, as it is evident that only a thinner ,dye was required for tint, 

 though at 'first sight it would appear as though one-half more were re- 

 quired for the same quantity of wool. The quantity therefore would be 

 156 Ji pounds of dye to fifty, pounds of wool. 



^ " Tantoque dilutior, quanto magis vellera esuriunt." This seems to 

 he the meaning of the passage : some commentators would read "dikei- 

 dior " for " dilutior," and it would appear to be preferable. 



