Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 4: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's HandbookBrewer, Ebenezer Cobham
General
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 4: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook
Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
Allusions; Fiction -- Dictionaries; Literature -- Dictionaries
The emerald is an emblem of success in love, and is dedicated to May. In
the Zodiac, it signifies Cancer. It is dedicated to Mars, in metallurgy
it means iron, and in Christian art, is given to St. John.
GARNET preserves health and joy.--R. B.
The garnet is an emblem of constancy, and, like the jacinth, is
dedicated to January.
This was the carbuncle of the ancients, which they said gave out light
in the dark.
LOADSTONE produces somnambulism.--R. B.
It is dedicated to Mercury, and in metallurgy means quicksilver.
MOONSTONE has the virtue of making trees fruitful, and of curing
epilepsy.--Dioscorĭdês.
It contains in it an image of the moon, representing its increase and
decrease every month.--Andreas Baccius.
ONYX contains in it an imprisoned devil, which wakes at sunset, and
causes terror to the wearer, disturbing sleep with ugly dreams.--R. B.
Cupid, with the sharp point of his arrows, cut the nails of Venus during
sleep, and the parings, falling into the Indus, sank to the bottom, and
turned into onyxes.--S., 212.
In the Zodiac it stands for Aquarius; some say it is the emblem of
August and conjugal love; in Christian art it symbolizes sincerity.
OPAL is fatal to love, and sows discord between the giver and
receiver.--R. B.
Given as an engagement token, it is sure to bring ill luck.
The opal is an emblem of hope, and is dedicated to October.
RUBY. The Burmese believe that rubies ripen like fruit. They say a ruby
in its crude state is colorless, and, as it matures, changes first to
yellow, then to green, then to blue, and lastly to a brilliant red, its
highest state of perfection and ripeness.--S., 142.
The ruby signifies Aries in the Zodiacal signs; but some give it to
December, and make it the emblem of brilliant success.
SAPPHIRE produces somnambulism, and impels the wearer to all good
works.--R. B.
In the Zodiac it signifies Leo, and in Christian art is dedicated to St.
Andrew, emblematic of his heavenly faith and good hope. Some give this
gem to April.
TOPAZ is favorable to hemorrhages, imparts strength, and promotes
digestion.--R. B.
Les anciens regardaient la topaze comme utile contre l’épilepsie et la
mélancolie.--Bouillet, _Dict. Univ. des Sciences, etc._ (1855).
The topaz is an emblem of fidelity, and is dedicated to November. In the
Zodiac it signifies Taurus, and in Christian art is given to St. James
the Less.
TURQUOISE, given by loving hands, carries with it happiness and good
fortune. Its color always pales when the well-being of the giver is in
peril.--S., 170.
The turquoise is an emblem of prosperity, and is dedicated to December.
It is dedicated to Saturn, and stands for lead in metallurgy.
A bouquet composed of diamonds, loadstones and sapphires combined,
renders a person almost invincible, and wholly irresistible.--R. B.
All precious stones are purified by honey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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