January--Garnet. Constancy and Fidelity. February--Amethyst. Sincerity. March--Bloodstone. Courage, presence of mind. April--Diamond. Innocence. May--Emerald. Success in love. June--Agate. Health and long life. July--Cornelian. Contented mind. August--Sardonyx. Conjugal felicity. September--Chrysolite. Antidote against madness. October--Opal. Hope. November--Topaz. Fidelity. December--Turquoise. Prosperity. Modern jewellers are known to palm off imitations of gems; and so did sellers of trinkets in ancient times. The moderns only run the chance of a loss of custom; but the latter were well off if they got no greater fright than the jeweller who sold to the wife of Gallienus a ring with a piece of glass in it. Gallienus ordered the cheat to be placed in the circus, as though he were to be exposed to the ferocity of a lion. While the miserable jeweller trembled at the expectation of instant death, the executioner, by order of the emperor, let loose a capon upon him. An uncommon laugh was raised at this; and the emperor observed that he who had deceived others should expect to be deceived himself. A ring often figures in the old English ballads. Thus, in _Child Noryce_, the hero of it invites Lady Barnard to the merry greenwood: “Here is a ring, a ring, he says, It’s all gold but the stane; You may tell her to come to the merry greenwood, And ask the leave o’ nane.” § 21. A ring, as an heraldic figure, is found in coats of arms throughout every kingdom in Europe. In Heraldry, it is called an _annulet_. We find the ring “gemmed” borne in the _arms_ of the Montgomeries, who hold the Earldom of Eglinton; and one of whom figures in the ballad of Chevy Chase: “Against Sir Hugh Montgomerie So right his shaft he set, The gray-goose-wing that was therein In his heart blood was wet.” A father and son of this family were opposed to each other in the battle of Marston Moor. The father, from his bearing, had the popular appellation of _Gray Steel_. We find the amulet borne in the coats of arms of several of the peers and gentlemen of England.