_358. Green-eyed Monster._--Whence the origin of the "Green-eyed
Monster"? The Italians considered a green iris beautiful, thus Dante
makes Beatrice have "emerald eyes;" again, the Spaniards are loud in
their praise. Whence, then, the epithet in its present sense?
[?]
_359. Perpetual Lamp._--The ancient Romans are said to have preserved
lights in their sepulchres many ages by the oiliness of gold, resolved
by art into a liquid substance. And it is reported that, at the
dissolution of monasteries, in the time of Henry VIII., there was a lamp
found that had then burnt in a tomb from about 300 years after Christ,
nearly 1200 years.
Two of these subterranean lamps are to be seen in the Museum of Rarities
at Leyden in Holland. One of these lamps, in the papacy of Paul III.,
was found in the tomb of Tullia, Cicero's daughter, which had been shut
up 1550 years.
From 2nd edit. of N. Bailey, [Greek: philologos], 1731.