Ancient Ideas on their Origin and Virtues. 51
perfection,
and may be sound and good indeed, have many folds and skins wherein
they be lapt, not unproperly as it may be thought, a thicke, hard, and
callous rind of the bodie, which they that be skilfull döe pill and
cleanse from them. Certes, I cannot chuse but wonder how they should so
greatly be affected with the aire, and joy so much therein : for with
the same they wax red, and loose their native whitenesse and beautie,
even as the bodie of a man or woman that is caught and burnt with the
sunne. And therefore those shells that keepe in the maine sea, and lie
deeper than that the sun-beames can pierce unto them, keepe the finest
and most delicate Pearles. And yet they, as orient as they be, waxe
yellow with age, become riveled, and looke dead, without any lively
vigor ; so as that commendable orient lustre (so much sought for of our
great lords and costly dames), continueth but in their youth, and
decayeth with yeeres. When they be old, they will proove thicke and
grosse in the very shells, and sticke fast unto their sides, so as they
cannot be parted from them, unlesse they be filed asunder. These have
no more but one faire face, and on that side are round, for the back
part is flat and plaine, and hereupon such are called Tympania, as one would say, Bell Pearles."
A similar notion as to the origin of Pearls is
