_
And a later Author, the Diligent and Judicious _Johannes de Laet_ in his
Chapter of Carbuncles and of Rubies, has this passage. _Quia autem
Carbunculi, Pyropi & Anthraces a veteribus nominantur, vulgo creditum fuit,
Carbonis instar in tenebris lucere, quod tamen nulla gemma hastenus
deprehensum, licet a quibusdam temere jactetur._ And the recentest Writer I
have met with on this Subject, _Olaus Wormius_, in his Account of his well
furnish'd _Musaeum_, do's, where he treats of Rubies, concurr with the
former Writers by these Words.[27] _Sunt qui Rubinum veterum Carbunculum
esse existimant, sed deest una illa nota, quod in tenebris instar Anthracis
non luceat: Ast talem Carbunculum in rerum natura non inveniri major pars
Authoram existimant. Licet unum aut alterum in India apud Magnates quosdam
reperiri scribant, cum tamen ex aliorum relatione id habeant saltem, sed
ipsi non viderint._ In confirmation of which I shall only add, that hearing
of a Rubie, so very Vivid, that the Jewellers themselves have several times
begg'd leave of the fair Lady to whom it belong'd, that they might try
their choicest Rubies by comparing them with That, I had the Opportunity by
the Favour of this Lady and her Husband, (both which I have the Honour to
be acquainted with) to make a Trial of this famous Rubie in the Night, and
in a Room well Darkn'd, but not only could not discern any thing of Light,
by looking on the Stone before any thing had been done to it, but could not
by all my Rubbing bring it to afford the least Glimmering of Light.
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