rkmen of Venice exceeding all others. The Londesborough collection
supplies us with a graceful example, Fig. 167. The claws support the
setting of a sharply-pointed pyramidal diamond, such as was then coveted
for writing on glass. It was with a similar ring Raleigh wrote the words
on the window-pane--"Fain would I rise, but that I fear to fall"--to
which Queen Elizabeth added, "If thy heart fail thee, do not rise at
all;" an implied encouragement which led him on to fortune.

[Illustration: Fig. 167.]

[Illustration: Fig. 168.]

In Burgon's life of Sir Thomas Gresham is engraved the wedding ring of
that merchant-prince. "It opens horizontally, thus forming two rings,
which are, nevertheless, linked together, and respectively inscribed on
the inner side with a Scripture poesy. _Quod Deus conjunxit_ is engraved
on one half, and _Homo non seperet_ on the other." It is here copied,
Fig. 168.

In Ben Jonson's comedy, _The Magnetic Lady_, the parson compelled to
form a hasty wedding asks--

"Have you a wedding ring?"

To which he receives as answer--

"Ay, and a poesy:
_Annulus hic nobis, quod sic uterque, dabit_."

He at once exclaims--

"... Good!
_This ring will give you what you both desire._
I'll make the whole house chant it, and the parish."

Such rings were known as Gemel or Gimmal rings, the word being derived
from the Latin _gemellus_, twins. The two making one, and though
separate, indivisible, peculiarly fitted them for wedding rings. Their
structure will be best understood from the very fine specimen in the
Londesborough collection, Fig. 169. The ring, as closed and worn on the
finger, is shown in the uppermost figure (_a_). It is set with sapphire
and amethyst, the elaborate and beautiful design enriched by coloured
enamels. The lower figure shows the ring parted (_b_), displaying the
inscription on the flat side of each section, which is also enriched by
engraving and _niello_.

Dryden, in his play of _Don Sebastian_, describes such a ring:--

"A curious artist wrought them
With joints so close as not to be perceived;
Yet they are both each other's counterpart.
(Her part had _Juan_ inscribed, and his had _Zaida_:
You know those names were theirs), and in the midst
A heart divided in two halves was placed.
Now if the rivets of those Rings inclosed
Fit not each other, I have forged this lie:
But if t