Commentary Page 97



	THEOPHRASTUS ON STONES

	22. the malodes. The word μαλώδης, which is the reading of the manuscripts, does not occur elsewhere. It is possible that it is a mistake for μηλώδης, meaning "quince-yellow," and could be called "a pale yellow kind," though such an adjective should have the article ή before it. It was evidently taken so by Stephanides,⁹" who translates it into Modern Greek as νποκίτρινος. Pumice made yellow by disseminated sulfur is a material of common occurrence in Sicily and the neighboring volcanic islands. However, there have been other interpretations. Turnebus changed the word to άλμώδης,⁹⁷ Furlanus preferred μνλώδης ("a millstone"), and Schneider suggested ή Μηλία ("the Melian stone"). Stephanides⁰⁸ finally decided in favor of η μνλώδης, but it is hard to say which is correct. It seems best to add (ή) to the text. 22. The one that comes from the lava stream can cut better than the white \ind. This is another indication that the black "pumice" was volcanic scoria and the white kind our ordinary pumice. It is interesting to note that Theophrastus, when he refers to the practical value of pumice, alludes only to its use as an abrasive. Later ancient writers emphasize medicinal uses. This explains why white pumice is here considered a less desirable kind, whereas such writers as Dioscorides" and Pliny¹⁰⁰ state specifically that the best pumice is recognized by its white color, its lightness, and the ease with which it can be powdered. 22. but the \ind that comes from the sea itself cuts best of all. This is another reference to the floating pumice mentioned in section 19 and discussed in the notes on that section. The article (ή) has been added to the text. ^seThe Mineralogy of Theophrastus, p. 111. ⁹⁷ This word is used by Theophrastus for soil "impregnated with salt" {History of Plants, VIII, 7, 6). ⁸⁸ Μ. Κ. Stephanides, Athena, XIV (1902), 368. ⁸⁹ V, 124 (Wellmann ed., V, 108). ¹⁰⁰ XXXVI, 154-56.

	• 96 ·