Three Books on Gold

when he had remembered [this], and had shown that there is a fault in lead, and because of this that waters are infected by its pipes, he clearly added that the metallic taste of silver is accustomed to be avoided: since those who had tables set with silver vessels were nevertheless accustomed to use earthenware for the sake of the integrity of the taste. With these, many princes of our time certainly agree, who, having set aside silver for the use of their tables—both craters and platters—prefer for themselves for the cleanliness of their dishes earthenware vessels brought from India, Ethiopia, and Egypt, and if these are lacking, they prefer those from Bithynia, even if they were not born of potter parents, as he sang of Agathocles, who for that reason preferred Samian vessels to silver ones. Now the triumvir Antony, who, as Messalla states, did not use anything but gold in all his obscene desires, is reported not to have coveted the taste of gold, and seems to have rejected the slippers of Poppaea (Nero’s wife), which she placed upon her more noble quadrupeds. I am not unaware that the Arab physicians committed to writing that gold, although it does not nourish, nevertheless soothes the eyes. I add, also, an imaginary power by the reasoning already explained; is it therefore to be valued so highly that it measures everything? How am I to believe by natural reasoning that it brings aid to a trembling of the heart? For it does not follow, as we were saying earlier, that those words of Nicander should seem to be in vain.