Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

Jewel1· y and P1�ecious Stones

77

because of the little poetical sentiшents associated with them. They were often used as engagement riпgs, and sometimes as wedding rings. In an old Saxon ring is the inscription, "Eanred шаdе me and Ethred owns ше." One of the mottoes in ан old гing is pathetic; evidently it was worn Ьу an invalid, who ,va.s trying to Ье patient, "Quant Dieu Plera шelior sега." (When it shall please God, I shall Ье better.) And in а small ring set with а tiny diaшond, "This sparke shall g1·ow." An agreeaЫe and favourite " posie " was

" The love is true Tliat I О U."

А motto in а 1·ing o,vned Ьу I.Jady Catl1cart was inscribed on the occasioп of hег fourth шarriage; with laudaЬle amЬition, shc observes,

" If I survive,

1 will have five."

It is to these "posie rings" that Shakespeare has reference when he makes Jaques say to Orlando: " You are full of pretty ans,vers: have you not been acquainted with goldsmiths' wives, and conned theш out of rings? " In the Isle of Man theгe was once а law that any gi1·l who had been wronged Ьу а man had the right to redrcss hcrself in one of three ways: she was given а sword, а горе and а ring, and shc coнld decide whether she woнld behcad him, hang him, or ша1ту liim. Tгadition