Untitled

The ancients believed that the emerald had power to cure diseases
of the eye. Another notion was that it would reveal the inconstancy
of lovers by changing color. It was the symbol of immortality, and
helped its wearer to resist temptation and sin. As late as the seventeenth
century, powdered emerald was used as a drug. It was re-
garded as a powerful remedy for epilepsy, dysentery, fever and the
bites of serpents. Its green refulgence was supposed to dazzle the
reptiles,
as Moore has noticed in his lines :
Blinded like serpents when they gaze
Upon the emerald's virgin blaze.
Emerald is the birthstone for May and the guardian angel talismanic
gem for June, but centuries ago the nations were divided on
this subject, half preferring the agate, now the birthstone for June.
In fact these months and gems were exactly reversed. Modern approval
seems to uphold the Arabian, Poles and Russians, instead of
the Jews, Romans, Isidorus, and Italians.
Of mighty use to seers who seek to pry
Into the future hid from mortal eye.
Wear it with reverence due, 'twill wealth bestow.
And words persuasive from thy lips shall flow,
As though the gift of eloquence inspired
The stone itself or living spirit fired.
Hung round the neck it cures the ague's chill,
Or falling sickness, dire mysterious ill;
Its hues so soft refresh the wearied eye,
And furious tempest banish from the sky:
So with chaste power it tames the furious mood,
And cools the wanton thoughts that fire the blood.
Marbodus.
47