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is ſaid there has been found in Cyprus a Stone, the one half of which was Emerald and the other Jaſper, as not yet changed.
XLIX. There is ſome Workmanſhip required to bring the Emerald to its Luſtre, for originally it is not ſo bright.
L. It is, however, excellent in its
Jaſpis, ſays Pliny, l. 38. c. 9. and poſſibly a true genuine Emerald affixed to it, as often to the Praſius, and affixed to, or immerſed in others: But, whatever it was, it is certain, from the preſent more rational Syſtem of the Origin of the Gem Claſs, that it had been in this mixed State from the Time of its original Concretion; and would aſſuredly have for ever continued ſo: there being no Agent in nature of Power to have changed the Jaſper Part into the Nature of the other.
The medicinal Virtues of the Emerald, according to the Antients, were ſo many, that, to look over their Accounts of them, one would imagine it deſerved even more Eſteem as a Medicine than as a Gem: They accounted it a certain Remedy, taken internally in Powder, for Poiſons, and the Bites of venomous Beaſts, for Fluxes of the Belly, the Plague, and peſtilential Fevers, Hæmorrhages, and Dyſenteries; the Doſe was from four to ten Grains. Externally worn as an Amulet, they eſteemed it a certain Remedy for Epilepſies, and imagined it had the Power of eaſing Terrors, and driving away evil Spirits; tied to the Belly or Thigh of Women with child, they attributed to it the Virtues of the Eagle-ſtone, of ſtaying or forwarding Delivery: and thought it an infallible Preſervative of Chaſtity; to the Violations of which it had that innate Abhorrence, that if but worn on the Finger in a Ring, it flew to pieces on the committing them.
It may not be amiſs to have thus once given an Account of the Virtues the Antients attributed to Gems: for they had almoſt as large a Liſt for every Kind as this. The greateſt part of theſe cannot but be ſeen at firſt view to be altogether imaginary; and as to the Virtues of
