AURUM,
Gold, a yellow Metal, the most shining, ductile, heavy, and precious of all Metals. It is taken out of the Mines in 3 Forms. 1. Of Grains, of which some are round, others b••o••d and long. 2. In a kind of Stone. 3. In Dust, or Sand. The most famous Country for finding of Gold is Cari∣bana in Peru, and Vallivia in Chili. Pliny says, that Gold was brought into the indies by flying Aunts; but he was misinformed.
The Poets have feigned Autmn to be the Son of the Sun, as being its best Production. Pin∣dar says, that Gold is a bright Fire that shines in the Night.
Homer compares it to the Graces, for there is nothing so agreeable and welcome as Gold, which Jupiter himself makes use of to gain the Favour of his Mistresses, as he did to Danae, by changing himself into a shower of Gold.
Gold was very scarce at Rome at first, but it became more common afterwards. Appian tells us, that ••ulius Caesar brought from the Gauls to Rome 200 Markes of Gold in 2822 Crowns by the Victories which he had gained there, and this Gold was called Aurum Coronarium.
The Gold which the Consul Cepio took out of the Temple of Jupiter at Tholouse, amount∣ing to 900••0 ••0 of Gold, but it proved un∣lucky to him, being defeated by the imbri, whence came the Proverb, AURUM THOLOSANUM, to signifie a fatal Thing, which brings Ill-luck.