Портрет Дориана Грея

           Thistasteenthralledhimforyears,and,indeed,maybesaidnevertohavelefthim. Hewouldoftenspendawholedaysettlingandresettlingintheircasesthevariousstonesthathehadcollected, suchastheolive-greenchrysoberylthatturnsredbylamp-light,thecymophanewithitswire-likelineofsilver, thepistachio-colouredperidot,rose-pinkandwine-yellowtopazes,carbunclesoffieryscarletwithtremulousfour-rayedstars, flame-redcinnamon-stones,orangeandvioletspinels,andamethystswiththeiralternatelayersofrubyandsapphire. Helovedtheredgoldofthesunstone,andthemoonstone’spearlywhiteness,andthebrokenrainbowofthemilkyopal. HeprocuredfromAmsterdamthreeemeraldsofextraordinarysizeandrichnessofcolour,andhadaturquoisedelavieillerochethatwastheenvyofalltheconnoisseurs. 

           Hediscoveredwonderfulstories,also,aboutjewels. InAlphonso’s"ClericalisDisciplina"aserpentwasmentionedwitheyesofrealjacinth,andintheromantichistoryofAlexander, theConquerorofEmathiawassaidtohavefoundinthevaleofJordansnakes"withcollarsofrealemeraldsgrowingontheirbacks. "Therewasageminthebrainofthedragon,Philostratustoldus,and"bytheexhibitionofgoldenlettersandascarletrobe"themonstercouldbethrownintoamagicalsleep,andslain. Accordingtothegreatalchemist,PierredeBoniface,thediamondrenderedamaninvisible,andtheagateofIndiamadehimeloquent. Thecornelianappeasedanger,andthehyacinthprovokedsleep,andtheamethystdroveawaythefumesofwine. Thegarnetcastoutdemons,andthehydropicusdeprivedthemoonofhercolour. Theselenitewaxedandwanedwiththemoon,andthemeloceus,thatdiscoversthieves,couldbeaffectedonlybythebloodofkids.