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THE SAPPHIRE. 103
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flower,
bearing with it ever the tint of the heaven under which it glistens
with matchless beauty." To the Sapphire Stone the throne above the
Cherubim is likened in Holy Writ.
The
Sapphire, furthermore, in former times had the virtues ascribed to it
by common consent, if worn about the person—of healing boils, of
amending the manners, and of restoring impaired sight. According to
Bartholomew Anglicus (1250), it was thus pronounced, " The Sapphire is
a precious stone, and is blue in colour, most like to heaven in fair
weather, and clear ; and is best among precious stones,—and most apt
and able to fingers of kings. Its virtue is contrary to venom, and
quencheth it at every deal. And if thou put an addercop (viper) in a
box, and hold a very Sapphire of Ind at the mouth of the box, any
while, by virtue thereof the addercop is overcome, and dieth as it were
suddenly. And this same I have seen oft proved in many and divers
places." —The " cop " or head, of an adder has on its top a
characteristic " blotch," something like the " death's head and
thigh-bones " of the " death's head moth." Vipers were formerly held in
estimation as a medicine. Pliny, Galen, and others extolled their flesh
for the cure of ulcers. Quite recently in the French tariff they were
subject to a duty of four shillings per pound. In Italy a stew, or
jelly, of vipers (Pelias hems) is regarded as a luxury.
Leonardus wrote (1750) : " The Sapphire heals sores; and is found to discharge a carbuncle with a single touch."
The old-time commendation of the Sapphire for sacerdotal wear, as inspiring chastity, most probably arose through the remarkable coldness of this stone to
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