The Egyptians often made their soldiers talismans of amethyst because they said that this stone could give them the necessary calmness of mind to ensure victory. The Magi of Persia said that amethyst was born of the Sun and of the Moon, which confirms us in the belief that purple has all the symbolism of the red and of the blue, the masculine and feminine forces, the spirit and the soul. It evidently seems to have been used in this way by the Finns, for in the “Kalevala,” Wainomoinem sails over the “blue back of the waters” till he “gains the purple-coloured harbour” of the next world. Here purple is used of a greater realm than that of the ocean. Many old rosaries were made of amethyst, because its effect was to make the wearer withdraw from all the trials of the world and worship in a holy calm. In King’s _Ancient Gnostic Gems_ we are given a translation of a poem by Marbodus:-- “On high the amethyst is set In colour like the violet, With flames as if of gold it shows And far it purple radiance throws; The humble heart it signifies Of him, who in the Saviour dies.” So we see why the martyrs are often represented as being clad in purple. This ability to endure for the truth brings them the fullest reward in the love of the Saviour. When we see the angels with purple robes it signifies that they partake of the sorrows of Christ and desire to help men with loving messages to attain the heavenly home beyond the blue firmament. In some of the ancient orders of nuns the women wore purple veils as a sign of repentance and of faith in the divine love of God. Shakespeare, in _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_, speaks of the “Flower of purple dye Hit with Cupid’s archery” --a flower that we now consider to be the pansy, the name of which is probably derived from “Pensez à moi,” and emblematic of humility and sweet, loving thoughts. * * * * * Purple in its debased meaning gives us over-weening pride, pomp, and vanity. It is the colour of the rich man who has no love in his heart for Lazarus, and no belief in anything but the things of the world. CHAPTER VII THE OLD LANGUAGE OF WHITE “Oh! what a power has white simplicity.”--KEATS. It is to be remembered in studying ancient colour symbolism that it was not realised that white was the sum of the seven colours of the rainbow. To us, because we know this fact, white is more naturally the colour of unity than yellow. Thus Shelley writes:-- “Life like a dome of many-coloured glass Stains the white radiance of eternity.” White, in fact, symbolised not so much unity as purity, innocence, and the great joy of the man who has fought the good fight and attained the spiritual life. It is to symbolise this joy that the souls of the Redeemed in Revelation are clad in white robes. For the same reason Dante sees the souls of the blessed in Paradise in form of a white rose:--