O, could thy form thy fond admirer wear, Thy very likeness should in all appear; My endless love thy endless love should show, And my heart flaming, for thy diamond glow. R. H. S. CONTENTS. CHAPTER ONE. 1. Interest and Importance attaching to Rings; Shakspeare’s Ring; Earl Godwin. 2. Words _symbolum_ and _ungulus_. 3. Ring-money. 4. Rings in Mythology; Theseus; Prometheus, Inventor of the First Ring. 5. Seals from the Scarabæus. 6. Rings in Greek Urns. 7. Judah and Tamar; Alexander. 8. Ring a Symbol of Fidelity, Eternity and of the Deity. 9. Roman Rings. 10. Rings in German Caverns. 11. Rings of the Gauls and Britons. 12. Anglo-Saxon Workers in Metal. 13. Ladies’ Seal-rings. 14. Substance, Forms and Size of Rings; Number, and on what fingers worn; Pearls; Carbuncle; Death’s-head Rings. 15. Law of Rings. 16. Order of the Ring. 17. Rings found in all places. 18. Persian Signets. 19. Value of ancient Rings. 20. Love’s Telegraph, and Name-rings; Polish Birth-day Gifts. 21. Rings in Heraldry. 22. Rings in Fish. 23. Riddle. 24. Ring misapplied. 25. Horace Walpole’s Poesy on a Ring. 9 CHAPTER TWO. RINGS CONNECTED WITH POWER. 1. The Ring an Emblem of Power; Pharaoh; Quintus Curtius; Antiochus Epiphanes; Augustus; King of Persia; Egypt under the Ptolemies; Roman Senators; the Forefinger. 2. Rings used in Coronations; Edward the Second; Mother of Henry VIII.; Queen Elizabeth; Charles II.; Coronation Rings; Canute; Sebert; Henry II.; Childeric; Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror. 3. King withdrawing a Proceeding from the Council by the use of a Ring. 4. The Doge of Venice marrying the Adriatic. 5. The Ring of Office of the Doge. 6. _The Fisherman’s Ring._ 7. Papal Ring of Pius II. 8. Investiture of Archbishops and Bishops by delivery of a Ring; Cardinal’s Ring; Extension of the two Forefingers and Thumb. 9. Serjeant’s Ring. 10. Arabian Princesses. 11. Roman Knights. 12. Alderman’s Thumb Ring. 65 CHAPTER THREE. RINGS HAVING SUPPOSED CHARMS OR VIRTUES, AND CONNECTED WITH DEGRADATION AND SLAVERY, OR USED FOR SAD OR WICKED PURPOSES.