About the Worth of Pearls In History

This species of idolatry for a "precious" pearl in ancient times has its counterpart in modern history.

"Some time before I went to Moscow," observes Kohl, in his "Russia," "there died in a convent, whither he had retreated, after the custom of the pious wealthy ones of his nation, a rich merchant, whose house had large establishments in Moscow, Constantinople, and Alexandria, and extensive connections throughout the East. Feeling the approach of age, he had by degrees given up the toils of business to his sons. His wife was dead, and the only beloved object, which even in the cloister was not divided from him, was one large, beautiful oriental pearl. This precious object had been purchased for him by some Persian or Arabian friend at a high price, and enchanted by its water, magnificent size and colour, its perfect shape and lustre, he would never part with it, however enormous the sum offered for it. Perhaps, in the contemplation of its peerless beauty, as it lay before him in his leisure hours, he recalled the events of his early life, and the glories of the East, as he had formerly beheld them with his own eyes. He fairly worshipped the costly globule. He himself inhabited an ordinary cell in the convent; but this object of his love was bedded on silk in a golden casket. It was shown to few; many favourable circumstances and powerful recommendations were necessary to obtain such a favour. One of my Moscow friends who had succeeded in introducing himself, and had received a promise that he should behold the pearl of pearls, informed me of the style and manner of the ceremony. On the appointed day, he went with his friends to the convent, and found the old man awaiting his guests at a splendidly-covered breakfast table, in his holiday clothes. Their reception had something of solemnity about it. The old man afterwards went into his cell, and brought out the casket in its rich covering. He first spread a piece of white satin on the table, and then, unlocking the casket, let the precious pearl roll out before the enchanted eyes of the spectators. No one dared to touch it, but all burst into acclamations, and the old man's eyes gleamed like his pearl. It was, after a short time, carried back to its hiding-place.

"During his last illness, the old humourist never let his pearl out of his hand, and after his death it was with difficulty taken from his stiffened fingers. It found its way afterwards to the imperial treasury."

Giovanni of Austria, wife of Francesco de Medici, took, as her device, the sun shining upon a pearl just emerged from the ocean, with the motto, "Tu splendorum, tu vigorem" ("Thou [givest] brightness, thou strength")-that is, as the pearl derives all its whiteness, brilliancy, and firmness, from the sun, so from heaven alone she looked for strength, virtue, and grace.

Margaret of Austria (1530), among other devices, had a pearl shining from its cell, with the motto, "Deus Matura Coronce" ("About to bring glory to the crown").

In one of Thomas Carew's most striking elegiac poems we find the following lines on "Lady S., wife to Sir W.S.":-

"She was a cabinet

Where all the choicest stones of price were set,

Whose native colours and purest lustre lent

Her eye, cheek, lip, a dazzling ornament:

Whose rare and hidden virtues did express

Her inward beauties, and mind's fairer dress:

The constant diamond, the wise chrysolite,

The devout sapphire, emerald apt to write

Records of memory, cheerful agate, grave

And serious onyx, topaz that doth save

The brain's calm temper, witty amethyst.

This precious quartie, or what else the list

On Aaron's ephod planted had, she wore;

One only pearl was wanting to her store,

Which in her Saviour's book, she found exprest,

To purchase that, she sold death all the rest."

The work on "Filial Piety" so much esteemed in China, is said to have been written by Confucius, and that when he informed the gods of its completion, they showed their approval of it by causing a large rainbow to span the sky, and gradually to descend towards the earth in the shape of a huge pearl.

One of the finest passages in that rich cluster of poetic gems, the "Lucasta" of Lovelace, is in the dedication of that work:-

"And as at Loretto's shrine

Caesar shovels in his mine,

Th' Empress spreads her carcanets,

The Lords submit their coronets:

Knights their chased arms hang by,

Maids, diamond-ruby fancies tie:

Whilst from the Pilgrim she wears

One poor false pearl, but ten true tears."

He thus admonishes Chloe:-

"Its use and rate values the gem:

Pearls, in their shells, have no esteem."

Dryden remarks:-

"Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow:

He who would search for pearls must dive below."

In conclusion, I may remind the reader of one of the happiest similes in connection with the subject of this chapter; they are the words of Touchstone, in "As You Like It":-