Ut
nihil instituto operi desit, gemmae supersunt et in artum coacta
rerum naturae maiestas, multis nulla parte mirabilior.
And now
I have to talk about gems, to complete my work: the majesty
of nature is centred within a tiny space, and many believe that
for this very reason she deserves the highest praise.
Tantum
tribuunt varietati, coloribus, materiae, decori, violare etiam
signis, quae causa gemmarum est, quasdam nefas ducentes, aliquas
vero extra pretia ulla taxationemque humanarum opum arbitrantes,
ut plerisque ad summam absolutamque naturae rerum contemplationem
satis sit una aliqua gemma.
The gems
are very appreciated for their variety, their colours, their
substance, and their beauty, so much so that to carve some of
them - as it is sometimes the custom- is considered a shame;
others are considered priceless and above all estimation of
human values, and therefore for many it is sufficient to posses
any gem whatsoever for a supreme and absolute contemplation
of nature.
Quae
fuit origo et a quibus initiis in tantum admiratio haec exarserit,
diximus quadamtenus in mentione auri anulorumque.
We have
been talking about their origin and of the beginning of the
unbridled passion generated by them, mentioning before gold
and rings.
Fabulae
primordium a rupe Caucasi tradunt, Prometei vinculorum interpretatione
fatali, primumque saxi eius fragmentum inclusum ferro ac digito
circumdatum: hoc fuisse anulum et hoc gemmam.
The origin
of the gems is traced back to the Caucasian crag, according
to the fatal interpretation of the chains of Prometheus: for
the first time a fragment of this rock would have been set in
iron and slipped on a finger: one would have been the first
ring, the other the first gem.
His initiis
coepit auctoritas in tantum amorem elata, ut Polycrati Samio,
insularum ac litorum tyranno, felicitatis suae, quam nimiam
fatebatur etiam ipse qui felix erat, satis piamenti in unius
gemmae voluntario damno videretur, si cum fortunae volubilitate
paria fecisset, planeque ad invidia eius abunde se redimi putaret,
si hoc unum doluisset, adsiduo gaudio lassus.
Hence the
fashion of precious stones had begun; and as time went on it
turned into such a passion, that Polycrates of Samus, king of
islands and coasts, to expiate the prosperity that he himself,
in his success, considered to be excessive, believed it was
a sufficient sacrifice the voluntary loss of just one gem, had
it in this way evened up the accounts with the inconstancy of
fortune; and he thought of redeeming himself fully from the
goddess' envy suffering this only pain, he who was worn out
by an endless happiness.
Ergo
provectus navigio in altum anulum mersit.
He then
made himself brought out to sea, in a boat, and threw the ring
in the depth of the sea.
At illum
piscis, eximia magnitudine regi natus, esca vice raptum, ut
faceret ostentum, in culina domino rursus Fortunae insidiantis
manu reddidit.
But a fish,
that for its extraordinary big size was intended for a king,
grasped it as it had been a bait,- this is a wonder- gave the
ring back in the owner's kitchen, by virtue of an intervention
of Fortune, always lying in wait.
Sardonycem
eam gemmam fuisse constat, ostenduntque Romae, si credimus,
in Concordiae delubro cornu aureo Augustae dono inclusam et
novissimum prope locum praelatis multis optinentem.
That gem
turned out to be a sardonyx, and if we are to believe what we
are told, it is on display in Rome, in the temple of Concordia,
mounted in a golden horn, gift of the empress; and it almost
occupies the last place amongst the many other gems which are
preferred to it.
It
is necessary to know, that according also to oriental culture,
each stone exercises a particular influence upon us; moreover
science demonstrated that minerals give out vibrations, for
instance quartz, with its extremely constant vibrations, gives
to our watches an almost absolute accuracy.
