of Plinies Naturall Hiftorie. 553 
A theworld, butto agree with him forto make the image of Jupiter in earth to beferup inthe Ca- 
pitoll: forfurely, no better hee was than made of clay, and that bythe hand of apotters which 
was the reafon, thatthey ufed tocolourhim over with vermillon :yea and the chariots with 
foure horfes which ftood upon the]anterne of the faid temple, were of no other flufie;concer- 
ning which, Ihave fpoken in many places. The fame Turtanus alfo mace the image ot Hercules, 
which at this day retaineth ftill in the cittie chat name, which reftifieth what matter hic is made of. 
Loe, whatkind of images there were in thofe daies made in the honour of the gods by eur aun- - 
ceftors, for the moft excellent! neither have we cafe to bee afhamed of thofe our noble proge- 
nitours, who worfhipped fich and no other. As for filver and gold, they made no reckning ther- 
of, either about themfelves or the verie gods whome they worfhipped . Anc vere:y, cvenat this 
B  daythere continue ftillin moft places, fuch images of earth, As for the feftiers and lanterns of 
temples, there bee many of them both within the cittie of Rome, andalfoin divers burrough 
towns under the Empire, whichfor curious werkeman(hip (as irwere chafed and engraven) are 
admirable ; and for continuance of time more lafting and durable,than ourlouversoi goldsand 
for any harme they doe, lefle fubject Lam fure to injurie. Certes in thefedaies, notwithftanding - 
the infinit wealth and riches that wee are growne unto, yet in all or divine fervice and folemne 
facrifices, there is no affay given ortaft made to the gods ont of Cafiidoine or criftall bolls, bue 
onely. in earthen cups. Ifa man confider thefe things aright,and weigh them duly in particular, 
he {hall find the bounty and goodnefle of the Earth to be inenarrable,thougl: he thould notrec- 
kon her benefits that fhee hath beftowedupon mankind, in yeelding us fe many forts ofcorne, 
Cc wine,apples, and fuch like fruits, hearbs, thrubs,buthes,trees, medicmable drugs, metals; and 
minerals, which I have alreadie treated of :foreven in theie works of earth and potterie, which 
we are glutted with (they be fo ufuall and ordinarie) how beneficiall isthe Barth unto us, in yeel- 
ding us conduit-pipes for to conveigh water into our bains, tyles dat yethooked and made with 
crochets at oneend to hang upon the fides of the roofe, chamitered for ro lie in guners fo fhoor 
off water, curbed forcrefts to clafpe the ridge on both fides; bricks tolie in walls afrone for buil- 
ding, and thofe otherwhiles to ferve as binders in parpine-worke with a face on both fides ; to fay 
nothing of the vefiels that be turned with the wheele and wrought round;yea and great tuns and 
pipesot earth devifed to containe wine.and water alfo? Inregard of which ftone and earthen 
veflels, K. Numa ordained at Rome a feventh confraternitie of potters. Over and befides, many 
D menthete have been of good works and reputation, whe would not bee burnt to athes in a fune- 
rall fire after they were dead, but chofe rather to have their bodiesbeftowed entire within coffins 
of earth,lying among leaves of myrtle, olive, and blacke poplar, after the Pythagorean fathion : 
in which manner, 4. Varro tooke order for to be interred, Andit we looke abroad into the world, 
moft nations under heaven doe ufe thefe earthen veflels sand even fill, chofe chacbee made of 
Samian earth and come from that Ifle, are much commended for to eat our meats out of,and to 
be ferved to thebourd : and Eretum here in Icalic, retaineth yet the name forfuch vefle!}: butfor 
drinking-cups onely, Surrentum, Afia, and Pollentia, within Lialie; Saguntum in Spaine, and 
Pergaimus in Afia, bein credit: at Tralleis alfoacitic in Sclavonia, and Modenna (to go no far. 
tyeithan Lombardie in Iralie) thereis ‘made much faire veflell of earth; appioprtiat unto thofe 
E places :for even in this refpect, fome nations are ennobled and grawne into name. Thiseathen 
ware is of that price befides, that it is thought a commoditie worth the tranfporting too and fro 
over land aad fea, by way of merchandife, But if we {peake of thatkind charis weoughr by rumers 
craft with the wheele ;the dainticft veflels come from Erythra. Aind in verie ttuchsfuch maythe! 
earth be, chat muchartand fine workmanthip isfhewed therein rin teftimonie whereof, there be’ 
two ftone veflels or earthen (call them whether you will) within the principal] cemple of thar-citig 
tobe feene at this day, thought worthie to be confecrated there, in regard of thetr/cleane worke 
and theit thinnefle befides; whichamafterand his prentice wrovghtina ftrife and contention, 
whether of them could drive his earth thinneft :however it bee, they of the IflandCos aremoft 
commended for the faireft veflels of earth 5 and yet thofe of Hadria beare the nameto be more 
F  durable,and ofa more faftand firme conftitution, Andfincel am entred thus fat,] will obferve , 
unto you fome examples of feveritie not impertinent to this difcourfe :1 find upon record, that ing! a 
2. Ceponivs was condemned and finedforan ambitious man, onely for this, becaule hee had that he mea~ 
fentan earthen * amphot [of wine]as a prefentunto one whowasto give hin his voice when Pththe vee 
fellicfelfe for 
hee ftood for an offices And thatyoumay certainly knowchat veflels of earth haveinfome fort wine, andnor 
Beata been fall of wines 
4 
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