A
great number of emeralds are seen in the precious ornaments of every
age, as often in their natural crystalline forms, simply pierced, as
cut in different shapes. But under the name of srnaragdus, all
green stones are generally understood ; and so, the emerald, jade,
jasper, malachite, plasma and prasina were confused together, and about
twelve varieties of srnaragdus were thus described.
Theophrastus,
in describing the emerald, distinguishes it, nevertheless, from jasper
and from other stones of minor value. " The emerald " (he says) "
possesses some particular virtues ; it imparts its colour to water
when dipped in it. It also rests the eyes."
After
him, Pliny wrote : " The third place is given to emeralds, for many
reasons. There is no colour which gives more pleasure to the sight than
this ; for we view leaves and grass with delight, but emeralds with so
much more, as nothing, however green, can be compared with them in
intensity of colour. Besides this, they are the only gems that fill the
eye, without fatiguing it ; and, moreover, when the sight is wearied,
the emerald restores and relieves it ; and for gem-engravers no other
means of refreshing the eye is so agreeable as its beautiful green
colour. Those of Scythia are the best—none are harder or with less
defect (nuilis major austeritas aut minus vitti). And in the
same proportion that emeralds differ from other gems, the Scythian
differ from other emeralds. . . . After the Scythian, come those from
Bactriana. The Egyptian stones hold the third rank, and are found at
