The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

CHAPTER V.
BEAVERS-WOOL.
Isidorus Hispalensis—Claudian—Beckmann—Beavere'-wool—Dispersion of Bea-
vers through Europe—Fossil bones of Beavers.
The passage quoted from Isidore of Seville, in the last chap-
ter, shows that the ancients made a cloth, the woof of which
was of Beavers'-wool {defihri land), and which was therefore
called Vestis Fihrina. By lana he must have meant the
very fine wool, which, agreeably to the observation in the last
paragraph, grows under the long hair of the beaver.
Isidore in
the same Book, observes, " Fibrinum lana est animalium, quae
fibros vocant : ipsos et castorcs existimant."
The following Epigram of Claudian seems intended, as
Beckmann (iv. ;;. 223.) supposes, to describe "a worn-out
beaver dress, which had nothing more left of that valuable fur
but the name."
ON A BEAVER MANTLE.
The shadow of its ancient name remains
But, if no nap of beaver it retains,
A Beaver Mantle it can scarce be nam'd.
The price, however, proves its claim : it cost
Six pounds. Hence, though all lustre it has lost,
Yet, bought so dear, as beaver let it still be fam'd.
Sidonius Apollinaris calls those who used this costly apparel
castorinati. Lib. v. Epist. 7. /?. 313. Paris, 1599, Ato.
Gerbert, or Gilbgrt, sumamed the Philosopher, and afterwards
Pope Silvester II., commenting on the quaUties of a good
Bishop according to 1 Timothy iii. 1., says in reference to the
word "ornatum :"
" Quod si juxta sensum literjB tantCim respiciamus, non aUud, sacerdotes, quam
amictum quieremus clariorem ; verbi gratia, castorinas qutpremus et sericas ves-
tes: et ille se inter episcopas credet esse altiorem, qui vestem induerit clariorem.
Sed S. Apostolus taUter se intelligi non vult, quia non carne, &c."—Pe Informa-
tione Episcoporum, seu De Dignitate Sacerdotali, in ed. Benedict. 0pp. S.
Ambrosii, torn. ii. p. 358.
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