58 
MEMOIR OF PLINY. 
for dyeing of fine cloth, the purple fishes haue in 
the midst of the neck and jawes. And notliing else 
it is but a little thin liquor with a white veine ; and 
that is it which maketli that rich fresh and bright 
colour of deepe red purple roses. As for all the rest 
of this fish it yeeldeth nothing. Fishers striue to get 
them aline ; for when they die they cast vp and shed 
that precious teinture and juice together with their 
life. Now the Tyrians, when they light vpon any 
great purples, they take the flesh out of their shels, 
for to get the bloud out of the said veine ; but the 
lesser they presse and grind in certaine milles, and 
so gather that rich humor which issueth from them. 
The best purple colour in Asia is thus gotten 
at Tyros ; but in Africke, within the island Me- 
ninx, and the coast of the ocean by Getulia; and 
in Europe that of Laconica. This is that glorious 
colour so full of state and maiestie, that the Roman 
lictors, with their rods, halbards, and axes, make 
way for ; this is it that graceth and setteth out the 
children of princes and noblemen ; this maketh the 
distinction between a knight and a counsellor of 
state ; this is Called for and put on when they ofier 
sacrifice to pacific the gods ; this giueth a lustre to 
all sorts of gai-ments ; — to conclude, our gi'eat gene- 
rals in the field, and victorious captains in their tri- 
umphs, wear this pui-ple in their mantels, enterlaced 
and embrodered with gold among. No maruell, 
therefore, if purple be so much sought for ; and men 
are to be held excused if they run a madding after 
