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Vitrum Annulare, Pastes

Vitrum Annulare, Pastes Page of 453 Vitrum Annulare, Pastes Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
V1TRUM ANNULARE.
367
anointed the whole of the bright shining howl ; which being done, I essayed to engrave upon the glass with the hard stone known by the name of Pyrites.
" Of the engraving in Precious Stones.—Whoso desires to attack with the steel the noble gems which the princes of the Roman city, they who formerly occupied her lofty palaces, loved far above gold, let him receive, for it is extremely precious, a device which I have discovered by deep thought. I got myself uricia (urina ?), and also blood from a big he-got, fed upon grass for a moderate time : which being done, with the hot blood3 I en­graved the gems, according as the author Pliny directs, and------·
" Row Stones are engraved.—Take a he-goat that has never paired, and put him in a cask for three days. Afterwards you must kill or bleed the goat, and mix his blood with his urine, and so steep the stone in it for one night ; and afterwards either press it into a shape, or carve it as you please. In order to make it beautiful (i. e. to polish it) make yourself a plate of lead, and sprinkle this with white flint ground small like pepper, and rub the stone upon it until you have smoothed down its roughness. Then tie up some of the same pounded flint in a woollen cloth, and rub therewith the corners you were unable to get at with the leaden plate. Then that the stone may recover its original lustre, get walnut-oil, and :mb it therewith. Furthermore you must rub it with a waxed cloth, so that it may shine, and cease sweating.
" How Crystal may be engraved.—Take crystal and wrap it up in a linen cloth steeped in the sweat of a she-goat, and then cover it up with the cloth itself in cow-dung, and so cut it with a knife as you may wish, but yet with caution. After you have done, throw it into cold water. Lastly rub it on a plate of lead with flour or bran.
" How Glass is engraved.—The teats of a she-goat are flogged with a stinging nettle, and pressed with the palms of the hands so that the milk may come down in them. Afterwards the milk
5 Calefacto sanguine probably should be calefactua sanguine, heated or boiled in the blood.
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