PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY

BOOK XXXIII

I. We shall now speak of metals and the very wealth and value of things, while our curiosity searches the earth in many ways. Indeed, in some places, life digs for gold, silver, electrum original: "electrum" — traditionally amber, but here referring to a natural alloy of gold and silver., and copper for the sake of wealth; in others, it seeks gems and pigments for walls and wood for the sake of luxury; in others, it seeks iron for the sake of rashness, which is prized even more than gold amidst war and slaughter. We trace out all the earth's veins and live upon that which we have excavated, marvelling that she sometimes gapes or trembles, as if this were not an expression of the indignation of our sacred mother original: "parentis" — referring to the earth as a parent.. We enter into her bowels and seek riches in the abode of the dead, as if the ground where we walk were not generous and fertile enough. Amidst all this, we search for the least of things for the sake of remedies; for how few people dig for the purpose of medicine? And yet, the earth grants even this from her surface, just as she grants crops, bountiful and easy.