had
of old, though now surpassed in value by many other gems." And we find
that fine specimens continued to be prized under the Empire,
notwithstanding the then comparative abundance of the true Emerald.
Thus Juvenal excuses the host's watchfulness over the " sharp nails "
of his needy guest as he handles the jewelled goblet, on the plea—
" Da veniam : prasclara illic laudato: Iaspis."
Similarly
Martial, after making his exquisite look over and bargain for all the
most expensive wares of the Septa or Grand Bazaar—slave-boys,
ivory-carvings, antique bronzes, old plate, Crystal and Murrhine vases—ends with his pricing large gems of this kind—
" Et pretium magnis feeit Iaspiditms."
It retained its value down to the very latest times of the Roman Empire. Claudian, in picturing Proserpine, has—
" Collectai tereti nodantur Iaspido vestes,"
and again his imperial bride—
" Viridique angustat Iaspide pectus."
And, last of the Latin poets, Sidonius, in describing the goddess Roma,—
" Ostricolor pepli textus quern fibula torto Mordax dente vorat ; turn quidquid sunima refudit Tegmiuis hoc patulo * coucludit gemma reoesm."
Pliny notices that the finer sort were always set à jour : " Prœstantiores funda cluduntur ut sint patentes ab utraque
*
In this epithet Buonarruoti discovers, very plausibly, an allusion to
the large Calcedonies carved into masks, and perforated for cords,
already noticed under Achates.
