Classic Literature With References to Precious Gem Stones

Chaucer, in the "Romaunt de la Rose," describes Richesse.

"About her necke, of gentle entaile, (workmanship)

Was set the riche chevesaile, (necklace)

In which ther was ful grete plente

Of stonis clere and faire to se.

* * * * * * * * *

The barris (part of a buckle) were of golde ful fine

Upon a tissue of sattin,

Ful hevie and nothing light,

In everiche was a besaunt wight. (weight)

Upon the tresses of Richesse,

Was sett a circle of noblesse,

Of brende (burnished) golde that ful light yshone;

So fair, trow I was nevir none.

But he were conning for the nones (well skilled)

That could devisin all the stones,

That in the circle shewin clere,

It is a wonder thing to here,

For no man could or preis (value) or gesse

Of hem the value or richesse.

Rubies ther wer, saphirs, ragounces (jacinths)

And emeraudes more than two ounces."

In Chalkhill's "Thealma and Clearchus" Clarinda is thus described:--

"Her upward vesture

Was of blue silk, glistering with stars of gold,

Girt to her waist by serpents, that enfold

And wrap themselves together, so well wrought,

And fashioned to the life, one would have thought

They had been real. Underneath she wore

A coat of silver tinsel, short before,

And fring'd about with gold; white buskins hide

The naked of her leg, they were loose tied

With azure ribands, on whose knots were seen

Most costly gems, fit only for a queen.

Her hair bound up like to a coronet

With diamonds, rubies, and rich sapphires set."

Gavin Douglas, in his "Palace of Honour," describes Queen Margaret (Tudor) of Scotland:--

"Amidst them borne within a golden chair,

O'erfret with pearls and colours most preclear,

That drawen was by hackneys all milk white,

Was set a queen as lily sweetly fair,

In purple robe hemmed with gold ilk-where;

With gemmed clasps closed in all perfite,

A diadem most pleasantly polite

Sat on the tresses of her golden hair,

And in her hand a sceptre of delight."

In the poems of Jacopo de Lentino, an Italian poet (1250), translated by Mr. G. D. Rosetti, are several graceful allusions to precious stones. The following is a specimen:--

"Sapphire, nor diamond, nor emerald,

Nor other precious stones past reckoning;

Topaz, nor pearl, nor ruby, like a king,

Nor that most virtuous jewel, jasper called,

Each counted for a very marvellous thing,

Is half so excellently gladdening

As is my lady's head uncoronalled," etc.

The comparison even of so much rarity and beauty is not worthy the merits of his lady-love.

Herrick portrays his mistress:--

"How rich and pleasing thou, my Julia, art,

In each thy dainty and peculiar part!

First for thy Queen-ship on thy head is set

Of flowers a sweet commingled coronet;

About thy neck a carcanet is bound,

Made of the ruby, pearl, and diamond;

A golden ring that shines upon thy thumb;

About thy wrist the rich dardanium;

Between thy breasts, than down of swan more white,

There plays the sapphire with the chrysolite;

No part besides must of thyself be known,

But by the topaz, opal, calcedon."

In Thomas Lodge's poems we have a pretty conceit:--

"Her eyes are sapphires, set in snow,

Refining heaven by every wink."

In Shakspeare's "Pericles," Ceremon says:--

"She is alive; behold

Her eyelids, cases to those heavenly jewels

Which Pericles hath lost,

Begin to part their fringes of bright gold;

The diamonds of a most praised water,

Appear, to make the world twice rich."

In his poem the "King's Quaire," King James of Scotland has described, when a princely prisoner at Windsor, how he fell in love with Lady Jane Beaufort, as she walked in the garden there, unconscious of the admiration of the young prisoner. Suddenly his eyes fell on--

"The fairest, or the freshest young flower,

That ever I saw, methought, before that hour,

For which sudden abate anon astart

The blood of all my body to my heart."

The dress of the maiden is then described; her golden hair fretted with pearls and fiery rubies, emeralds, and sapphires; on her head a chaplet of plumes, red, white, and blue, mixed with quaking spangles; about her neck a fine gold chain with a ruby in the shape of a heart:--

"That as a spark of fire so wantonly

Seemed burning upon her white throat."

In Calderon's "Love after Death," one of his happiest Moorish plays, the wedding of Clara and Alvaro is celebrated, after the simple Moorish custom, by the bestowal and acceptance of the bridegroom's gifts. There are rich jewels, which are to cost the illfated bride her life, and they are to form a clue for her unhappy husband in his search for her murderer. The bridegroom addresses Clara thus:--

"Gifts with thee, fair paragon,

Lose their worth, defective showing;

Diamonds on the sun bestowing,

I its due but give the sun.

Cupid here, with arrows fleet

Armed, from me receive; so learning,

E'en when diamond, Cupid's yearning

To prostrate him at thy feet.

On this string, in pearly whiteness,

Glisten tears for thine adorning,

Fallen from the eyes of morning,

Seeing thee outshine her brightness.

Emeralds this fair eagle moulding

Make my hope's fresh colour known;

For an eagle's eye alone

Can endure my sun beholding.

Here thy turban to hold fast,

Take this ruby clasp; for I

May my girdle now untie

In my fortune's port at last."

Clara has accepted the presents, the lovers' hands are joined, and they are receiving the congratulations of their friends, when the sound of a distant trump tells of the enemy's approach. Alvaro, who is appointed to an active part against the enemy, parts sadly from Clara, who accompanies her father to his fortress of Galera. This fortress is the first that is besieged. Clara's father falls on the ramparts, and the Spaniards having fired the city, Alvaro makes his way to the burning house, and returns, bearing in his arms the bleeding form of his beautiful bride, mortally wounded by a soldier, who robbed her of her fatal jewels.

Alvaro makes a vow to discover the murderer of Clara, and, for this purpose, visits the Christian camp in disguise. Chance favours him, for some soldiers have been gambling, and had a dispute over their game, and they take the stranger for their umpire.

They show him the stake; it is a Cupid made of diamonds. Alvaro knows it directly for his own marriage gift to his dead wife. He begs to see its owner, who, the soldiers tell him, won it a few weeks ago in the sack of Galera. This man, Garces, recounts the fearful tragedy to him:--

"I rushed in, found her

So adorned with gems, so garnished

With rich jewels, that she seemed some

Fair, her lover's steps awaiting;

Not for burial deck'd, but bridal.

Seeing such beauty, I, for ransom

Of her life, her love requested.

But she, soon as I had grasped her

By one white hand, spake thus: 'Christian,

Since my death to thee were shameful,

For a woman's blood can brighten

Sword of no man, but must stain it,

Let these gems content thy longing;

Leave untouched the faith well guarded

Of a breast which holds love's secret

As a thing not yet known plainly.'

But I seized her."

After an interruption from Alvaro, who says--

"Stop this moment!

Hear me! Go not forward; stay thee;

Seize her not !--What am I saying?

Speak on as to one who cares not"--

Garces continues--

"Then she cried for some defender

Of her life and fame. I, hearkening

To the steps of men approaching,

Saw one conquest from me taken,

And not both to lose determined;

Nor that others should be sharers

In the riches I had seized on.

So the thought of love I changed

Straightway for the thought of vengeance

(For full swiftly passion passes

Out of one extreme to other),

And, driven on by fury nameless,

As in rage my arm uplifting

(E'en to tell such deed now shames me),

Or, as fierce a diamond jewel

And a string of pearls I snatched thence,

Which behind left a whole heaven

Of pure snow with veins of azure,

I her breast pierced."

Alvaro, who has with difficulty obtained the mastery of his passion, says, "Does this resemble that same stab?" while planting his dagger into the breast of Garces.