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three different Sorts of this; the Egyptian, the Scythian, and the Cyprian[1]; of which the Egyptian is the beſt for clear ſtrong Paintings, and the Scythian for the fainter. The Egyptian is factitious; and the Hiſtorians, who write the Annals of the Kings of that Nation; think it a thing worthy a Place in their Hiſtories, which King of Egypt was the Inventor of the artificial Cæruleum in Imitation of the native.
XCIX. Preſents are alſo made to great Perſons, in ſome Places, of this Subſtance, as well that which has paſſed the Fire as that which has not; and the Phœnicians pay their Tribute in it.
- ↑ I have, in another Place, obſerved the Confuſion which has ariſen from Pliny's confounding the Cyanus Gem with the Cyanus Paint, or Lapis Armenus. We have a great Inſtance of that Error in his Tranſlation of this Paſſage of our Author; of which he has given the Senſe, but has rendered the Whole perfectly unintelligible, by ſaying all this of the Cyanus Gem, which it is moſt evident Theophraſtus ſays of the Lapis Armenus, or Cyanus Paint. There can be no queſtion but that this Author is here treating of that Subſtance, the Cyanus Paint, or Lapis Armenus, and not the Lapis Lazuli; as he has done with the Gems long ſince; and is now treating of the Earths, and particularly thoſe uſed in Painting: and his Deſcription of the Uſe of it makes this ſo notoriouſly plain, that it is aſtoniſhing Pliny could miſtake him: The Paſſage in Pliny is (ſpeaking of the Cyanus Gem) Optima Scythica, dein Cypria, poſtremo Ægyptia. Adulteratur maximè tincturâ, idque in gloria regis Æ-
