Портрет Дориана Грея

           LeonardusCamillushadseenawhitestonetakenfromthebrainofanewly-killedtoad,thatwasacertainantidoteagainstpoison. Thebezoar,thatwasfoundintheheartoftheArabiandeer,wasacharmthatcouldcuretheplague. InthenestsofArabianbirdswastheaspilates,that,accordingtoDemocritus,keptthewearerfromanydangerbyfire. 

           TheKingofCeilanrodethroughhiscitywithalargerubyinhishand,attheceremonyofhiscoronation. ThegatesofthepalaceofJohnthePriestwere"madeofsardius,withthehornofthehornedsnakeinwrought,sothatnomanmightbringpoisonwithin. "Overthegablewere"twogoldenapples,inwhichweretwocarbuncles,"sothatthegoldmightshinebyday,andthecarbunclesbynight. InLodge’sstrangeromance"AMargariteofAmerica"itwasstatedthatinthechamberofthequeenonecouldbehold "allthechasteladiesoftheworld,inchasedoutofsilver,lookingthroughfairmirroursofchrysolites,carbuncles,sapphires,andgreeneemeraults. "MarcoPolohadseentheinhabitantsofZipanguplacerose-colouredpearlsinthemouthsofthedead. Asea-monsterhadbeenenamouredofthepearl thatthediverbroughttoKingPerozes,andhadslainthethief,andmournedforsevenmoonsoveritsloss. WhentheHunsluredthekingintothegreatpit,heflungitaway—Procopiustellsthestory —norwasiteverfoundagain,thoughtheEmperorAnastasiusofferedfivehundred-weightofgoldpiecesforit. TheKingofMalabarhadshowntoacertainVenetianarosaryofthreehundredandfourpearls,oneforeverygodthatheworshipped. 

           WhentheDukedeValentinois,sonofAlexanderVI.,visitedLouisXII.ofFrance,hishorsewasloadedwithgoldleaves,accordingtoBrantôme, andhiscaphaddoublerowsofrublesthatthrewoutagreatlight.