20 
MEBIOIR OF PLINY. 
their fingers, but also two or three of them togetlier 
pendant at their eares. And names they haue, for- 
sooth, newly deuised for them, when they serue their 
turne, in tliis their wanton cxcesse and superfluitie of 
roiot ; for when they knooke one against another, as 
tliey hang at tlieir eares or fingers, they call them 
Crotalia, i. e. cymbals, as if they tooke delight to 
heare the sound of their jiearles ratling together. 
Now-a-dayes, also, it is growne to this passe, that 
meane women and poore men’s wiues, affect to weare 
them because they would be thought rich ; and a 
l)ye-word it is amongst them, that a faire pearle at a 
woman’s eare, is as good in the streete where she 
goeth as an huisher to make way, for that euerie 
one will giue such the place. Nay, our gentlewo- 
men are scene now to weare them vpon their feet ; 
and not at their shoo-latchets onl)', but also at their 
start-tops and fine buskins, which they garnish all 
oner with fine pearles ; for it will not suffice nor seme 
their turne to carie pearles about them, but they must 
tread upon pearles, goe among pearles, and walk as 
it were on a pauement of pearles. I myselfe have 
seen Lollia Paulina, (late wife, and after widdow, to 
Caius Caligula, the Emperor,) when she was dressed 
and set out, not in stately wise, nor of purpose for 
some great solemnitie, but only when she was to goe 
to a wedding supper, or rather to a feast where the 
assurance was made, and great persons they were 
not that made the said feast. 1 haue seen her, I say, 
beset and bedeckt all ouer with hemeraulds and 
