then passed onward to man, thus impressing their innate virtues on the substance of man."
In the Prologue of Bartholomew Anglicus, On the Properties of Things, a
reminder of the same doctrine is thus conveyed: " Reciteth this also
the blessed Apostle Paul, in his Epistles, saying, that by things
visible, which be made, and are visible, man may see, and know, by his
inward intellectual sight, the divine, celestial, godly things which be
invisible to this our natural sight. ' For, by Him (the image of the
Invisible God) were all things created that are in heaven, and that are
on earth, visible, and invisible.' "
" There are," tells Bacon, in his Sylva Sylvarum, "
many things that operate upon the spirits of man by secret sympathy,
and antipathy." " That Precious Stones have virtues in the wearing has
been anciently, and generally received ; so much is true that Gems have
fine spirits, as appears by their splendour ; and, therefore, they may
operate on the spirits of men, to strengthen, and exhilarate them." "
It is manifest, moreover, that light, above all things, rejoices the
spirits of men ; and, probably, varied light has the same effect, with
greater novelty : which may be one cause why precious stones
exhilarate."
Emerson has rhymed gracefully to the same romantic effect:—
" They brought me Rubies from the mine,
And held them to the sun; I said ' They're drops of frozen wine,
From Eden's vats that run.' I look'd again;—I thought them hearts
Of friends to friends unknown ; Tides that should warm each neighbouring life
Are lock'd in sparkling stone.
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