it was unquestionably the
ancient habit of the people.[710] It was derived from the Roman law, and
still prevails in the Lutheran Church.

[710] Knight's "Stratford Shakespeare," p. 73.

Besides exchanging kisses,[711] accompanied with vows of everlasting
affection, and whispering lovers' reassurances of fidelity, it was
customary to interchange rings. In Shakespeare's plays, however,
espousals are made with and without the use of the ring. Thus, in the
case of Ferdinand and Miranda, we read of their joining hands only
("Tempest," iii. 1):

"_Ferdinand._ Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom; here's my hand.

_Miranda._ An mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell,
Till half an hour hence."

[711] Cf. "King John" (ii. 2):

"_King Philip._ Young princes, close your hands.

_Austria._ And your lips too; for, I am well assured,
That I did so, when I was first assured."

In the passage already quoted from "Twelfth Night" (v. 1) there seems to
have been a mutual interchange of rings.

Some, indeed, considered that a betrothal was not complete unless each
spouse gave the other a circlet. Lady Anne, in "Richard III." (i. 2), is
made to share in this misconception:

"_Gloster._ Vouchsafe to wear this ring.

_Anne._ To take, is not to give.

_Gloster._ Look, how my ring encompasseth thy finger,
Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart:
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine."

In "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (ii. 2) we read:

"_Julia._ Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake (_giving a ring_).

_Proteus._ Why, then, we'll make exchange: here, take you this.

_Julia._ And seal the bargain with a holy kiss."

A joint, or gimmal, ring was anciently a common token among lovers, an
allusion to which is made by Emilia, in "Othello" (iv. 3): "I would not
do such a thing for a joint-ring." Their nature will be best understood
by a passage in Dryden's "Don Sebastian" (1690, act v.):

"A curious artist wrought them,
With joints so close, as not to be perceiv'd;
Yet are they both each other's counterpart,
... and in the midst,
A heart, divided in two halves, was plac'd."

They were generally made of two or three hoops, so chased and engraved
that, when fastened together by a single rivet, the whole three formed
one design, the usual device being a hand. Wh