I must not omit too, one portentous fact connected with the hearth, and famous in Roman history. In the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, it is said, there appeared upon his hearth a resemblance of the male generative organ in the midst of the ashes. The captive Ocrisia, a servant of Queen Tanaquil, who happened to be sitting there, arose from her seat in a state of pregnancy, and became the mother of Servius Tullius, who eventually succeeded to the throne.[2853] It is stated, too, that while the child was sleeping in the palace, a flame was seen playing round his head; the consequence of which was, that it was believed that the Lar of the household was his progenitor. It was owing to this circumstance, we are informed, that the Compitalia,[2854] games in honour of the Lares, were instituted. SUMMARY.—Remedies mentioned, eighty-nine. Facts and narratives, four hundred and thirty-four. ROMAN AUTHORS QUOTED.—M. Varro,[2855] Cælius,[2856] Galba,[2857] Cincius,[2858] Mucianus,[2859] Nepos Cornelius,[2860] L. Piso,[2861] Q. Tubero,[2862] Fabius Vestalis,[2863] Annius Fetialis,[2864] Fabianus,[2865] Seneca,[2866] Cato the Censor,[2867] Vitruvius.[2868] FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Theophrastus,[2869] Pasiteles,[2870] King Juba,[2871] Nicander,[2872] Sotacus,[2873] Sudines,[2874] Alexander[2875] Polyhistor, Apion,[2876] Plistonicus,[2877] Duris,[2878] Herodotus,[2879] Euhemerus,[2880] Aristagoras,[2881] Dionysius,[2882] Artemidorus,[2883] Butoridas,[2884] Antisthenes,[2885] Demetrius,[2886] Demoteles,[2887] Lyceas.[2888] BOOK XXXVII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PRECIOUS STONES. CHAP. 1. (1.)—THE FIRST USE OF PRECIOUS STONES. That nothing may be wanting to the work which I have undertaken, it still remains for me to speak of precious stones: a subject in which the majestic might of Nature presents itself to us, contracted within a very limited space, though, in the opinion of many, nowhere displayed in a more admirable form. So great is the value that men attach to the multiplied varieties of these gems, their numerous colours, their constituent parts, and their singular beauty, that, in the case of some of them, it is looked upon as no less than sacrilege to engrave them, for signets even, the very purpose for which, in reality, they were made. Others, again, are regarded as beyond all price, and could not be valued at any known amount of human wealth; so much so that, in the case of many, it is quite sufficient to have some single gem or other before the eyes, there to behold the supreme and absolute perfection of Nature’s work.