Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/20

the first century—Seneca the Philosopher—Seneca the Tragedian—Lucan—Pliny—Josephus—Saint
John—Silius Italicus—Statius—Plutarch—Juvenal—Martial—Pausanias—Galen—Clemens
Alexandrinus—Caution to Christian
converts against the use of silk in dress. Mention of silk by authors in the
second century—Tertullian—Apuleius—Ulpian—Julius Pollux—Justin. Mention
of silk by authors in the third century—Ælius Lampidius—Vopiscus—Trebellius
Pollio—Cyprian—Solinus—Ammianus—Marcellinus—Use of silk by
the Roman emperors—Extraordinary beauty of the textures—Use of water to
detach silk from the trees—Invectives of these authors against extravagance in
dress—The Seres described as a happy people—Their mode of traffic, etc.—(Macpherson's
opinion of the Chinese.)—City of Dioscurias, its vast commerce
in former times.—(Colonel Syke's account of the Kolissura silk-worm—Dr.
Roxburgh's description of the Tusseh silk-worm.) 22

CHAPTER III.

HISTORY OF THE SILK MANUFACTURE FROM THE THIRD TO THE SIXTH
CENTURY.

SPINNING, DYEING, AND WEAVING.—HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE ATTAINED
IN THESE ARTS.

Fourth Century—Curious account of silk found in the Edict of Diocletian—Extravagance
of the Consul Furius Placidus—Transparent silk shifts—Ausonius
describes silk as the produce of trees—Quintus Aur Symmachus, and Claudian's
testimony of silk and golden textures—Their extraordinary beauty—Pisander's
description—Periplus Maris Erythræi—Dido of Sidon. Mention of silk in the
laws of Manu—Rufus Festus Avinus—Silk shawls—Marciannus Capella—Inscription
by M. N. Proculus, silk manufacturer—Extraordinary spiders' webs—Bombyces
compared to spiders—Wild silk-worms of Tsouen—Kien and Tiao-Kien—M.
Bertin's account—Further remarks on wild silk-worms.Christian
authors of the fourth century—Arnobius—Gregorius Nazienzenus—Basil—Illustration
of the doctrine of the resurrection—Ambrose—Georgius Pisida—Macarius—Jerome—Chrysostom—Heliodorus—Salmasius—Extraordinary
beauty of the silk and golden textures described by these authors—Their invectives
against Christians wearing silk. Mention of silk by Christian authors in
the fifth century—Pridentius—Palladius—Theodosian Code—Appolinaris Sidonius—Alcimus
Avitus. Sixth century—Boethius. (Manufactures of Tyre
and Sidon—Purple—Its great durability—Incredible value of purple stuffs
found in the treasury of the King of Persia) 41

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF THE SILK MANUFACTURE CONTINUED FROM THE INTRODUCTION
OF SILK-WORMS INTO EUROPE, A.D. 530, TO THE FOURTEENTH
CENTURY.

A. D. 530.—Introduction of silk-worms into Europe—Mode by which it was
effected—The Serinda of Procopius the same with the modern Khotan—The