from
sorrowe, and enchantments : from phantasies, and illusions of wicked
spirits. And, if any cursed witch, or enchanter, would bewitch him that
bears the Diamond, all that sorrow, and mischance shall fall to the
offender, through virtue of that stone ; and no wild beast dare assail
the man who bears it on him. Also the Diamond should be given freely,
without coveting, and without buying ; and then it is of a greater
virtue; and it makes a man stronger, and firmer against his enemies ;
and heals him that is a lunatic, and those whom the fiend pursues, or
torments. And if venom, or poison be brought in the presence of the
Diamond, anon it begins to grow moist, and to sweat. Nevertheless it
often happens the good Diamond loses its virtue by sin, and for
incontinence of him who bears it; and then it is needful to make it
recover its virtue again, or else it is of little value."
With
regard to the indestructibility of the Diamond, Ben Mansur has said,
that one laid upon an anvil, instead of breaking is drawn into the
anvil; so that the only plan of reducing it is to wrap it in lead. "
Which statement is fabulous," declares Leonardus, " for I have seen
many broke with the blow of a hammer." De Boot, when speaking of
"precious stones" (as the abode of angels,) states that the Diamond is
not only proof against fire, but actually improves by exposure to its
action throughout several days. Furthermore, Diamonds resist the
disintegrating action both of acids, and of alkalies.
Pliny
imagined that the Diamond, though so hard as to be almost incapable of
fracture with hammer, and anvil, nevertheless would become soft if
immersed in goat's blood. " Hcec tamen Mrcino calejacta cruore
