Clauditur inmunis convexo tegmine rivus, duratisque vagus fons operitur aquis. nonne vides, propriis ut spumet gemma lacunis et refluos ducant pocula viva sinus udaque pingatur radiis obstantibus Iris, secretas hiemes sollicitante die? 5 mira silex mirusque latex, et flumina vincit et lapides merito, quod fluit et lapis est. XXXVIII. (LXI.) Dum crystalla puer contingere lubrica gaudet et gelidum tenero pollice versat onus, vidit perspicuo deprensas marmore lymphas, dura quibus solis parcere novit hiems, et siccum relegens labris sitientibus orbem 5 inrita quaesitis oscula fixit aquis. * * * * * Page 265 3. Alpine ice was becoming so hard that the sun could not melt it, and this excess of cold was like to make it precious as diamond. But it could not imitate that stone in its entirety for at its heart lay a drop of water which betrayed its nature. As crystal its value is enhanced, for this liquid rock is accounted a miracle and the water enclosed within it increases its rarity. 4. See this vein which runs in a bright streak through the translucent ice. This hidden water fears not any blast of Boreas nor winter’s chill but runs this way and that. It is not frozen by December’s cold, nor dried up by July’s sun, nor wasted away by all-consuming time. 5. Safely hidden away in this round covering is a stream, an errant spring, enclosed within frozen waters. Mark you not how the crystal is all awash in its cavernous heart where living waters surge this way and that, and how, when the sun penetrates its frozen depths, the hues of the rainbow are reflected in it? Wonderful stone, wonderful water: stranger than all rivers and all stones because it is a stone and yet fluid. 6. Children love to handle this shining crystal and turn its chilly mass over and over in their little hands; they see imprisoned in the transparent rock the water which alone winter forebore to freeze. Placing the dry sphere against their thirsty lips they press useless kisses on that which guards the waters they desire. * * * * * Page 266 XXXIX. (LXII.) Marmoreum ne sperne globum: spectacula transit regia nec Rubro vilior iste mari. informis glacies, saxum rude, nulla figurae gratia, sed raras inter habetur opes. XL. (XLI.) _Epistula ad Olybrium._ Quid rear, adfatus quod non mihi dirigis ullos nec redit alterno pollice ducta salus? scribendine labor? sed quae tam prona facultas, carmina seu fundis seu Cicerone tonas? cedere divitiis animi fortuna fatetur 5 et tantas oris copia vincit opes.