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238 NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
our nobles
pride themselves ; because this stone has veins more translucent than
any other of the same kind, and moreover is harder than rock-crystal.
They also paint the back of these coats-of-arms with the proper tinctures required by the armorial bearings."
The
Onyx, strange to say, considering its high repute in ancient times,
bore a most unfavourable character in the Middle Ages, Marbodus
asserting that its wearer was exposed to the assaults of demons and of
ugly visions by night, besides being pestered with quarrels and
lawsuits by day. The sole remedy was to wear -a Sard at the same time,
which would completely neutralise the mischievous influence of the Onyx.
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