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57
THE OPAL.
[_]
“Few precious stones,” says Dr. Bingley, “are more beautiful than the Opals. Their elegant play of colors—blue, green, red, and yellow, variously modified—has procured for them a distinguished rank among the gems.” The kind of opal called Oculus mundi, derives its name from an internal sparkle, or luminous spot, which changes its position according to the direction in which the stone is held to the light. So highly were opals esteemed by the ancient Romans, that Nonius, the Roman Senator, is said to have preferred banishment to parting with a favorite opal, which Mark Antony was anxious to possess. In the East, opals are considered very precious, and are worn as amulets to defend the wearer from disease, witchcraft, and other evils.
Gem with the lambent hues,
That through thee move and shine,
What pencil e'er shall use
Such living tints as thine,—
The ruby, azure, gold, and green,
That, closed in thee, at play are seen?
That through thee move and shine,
What pencil e'er shall use
Such living tints as thine,—
The ruby, azure, gold, and green,
That, closed in thee, at play are seen?
Gem with the burning heart,
That, like a living soul,
Pervading every part,
Gives beauty to the whole,—
What angel's hand thy bosom lit,
With that bright spark enkindling it?
That, like a living soul,
Pervading every part,
Gives beauty to the whole,—
What angel's hand thy bosom lit,
With that bright spark enkindling it?
'T is like a central eye,
That looketh every way!
Its light is from on high,
With never-fading ray!
It seems, in that pure form of thine,
A spirit looking from a shrine!
That looketh every way!
Its light is from on high,
With never-fading ray!
It seems, in that pure form of thine,
A spirit looking from a shrine!
58
Well might the Roman choose
In exile far to flee,
When sternly doomed to lose
His native rights, or thee;
While Paynim faith in thee beheld
The power that pain and harm repelled!
In exile far to flee,
When sternly doomed to lose
His native rights, or thee;
While Paynim faith in thee beheld
The power that pain and harm repelled!
And still, on Orient shores,
By Superstition trod,
With blindness she adores,
In thee, an unknown God.
She takes the work for power Divine,
And for the signified, the sign.
By Superstition trod,
With blindness she adores,
In thee, an unknown God.
She takes the work for power Divine,
And for the signified, the sign.
But to our Christian sight,
While traced all over thee
Thy Maker's name, as light,
Shines forth “the Deity,”
On Him, our Rock,—the “Living Stone,”—
Through faith and hope, we rest alone.
While traced all over thee
Thy Maker's name, as light,
Shines forth “the Deity,”
On Him, our Rock,—the “Living Stone,”—
Through faith and hope, we rest alone.
For He who formed thee thus,
So curious, rich, and fair,
Hath still assigned to us
His holier seal to bear,—
His image, that we may be shown,
As priceless jewels, marked his own.
So curious, rich, and fair,
Hath still assigned to us
His holier seal to bear,—
His image, that we may be shown,
As priceless jewels, marked his own.
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