Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Tertullian: Part Fourth/On the Apparel of Women/I/Chapter 6

Chapter VI.&#8212;Of Precious Stones and Pearls.

But, in the next place, what am I to interpret those jewels to be which vie with gold in haughtiness, except little pebbles and stones and paltry particles of the self-same earth; but yet not necessary either for laying down foundations, or rearing party-walls, or supporting pediments, or giving density to roofs?&#160; The only edifice which they know how to rear is this silly pride of women:&#160; because they require slow rubbing that they may shine, and artful underlaying that they may show to advantage, and careful piercing that they may hang; and (because they) render to gold a mutual assistance in meretricious allurement.&#160; But whatever it is that ambition fishes up from the British or the Indian sea, it is a kind of conch not more pleasing in savour than&#8212;I do not say the oyster and the sea-snail, but&#8212;even the giant muscle. &#160; For let me add that I know conchs (which are) sweet fruits of the sea.&#160; But if that (foreign) conch suffers from some internal pustule, that ought to be regarded rather as its defect than as its glory; and although it be called &#8220;pearl,&#8221; still something else must be understood than some hard, round excrescence of the fish.&#160; Some say, too, that gems are culled from the foreheads of dragons, just as in the brains of fishes there is a certain stony substance.&#160; This also was wanting to the Christian woman, that she may add a grace to herself from the serpent!&#160; Is it thus that she will set her heel on the devil&#8217;s head,&#8221; while she heaps ornaments (taken) from his head on her own neck, or on her very head?