ote period been supposed to possess
talismanic properties. Thus, in the "Merchant of Venice" (iii. 1),
Shylock says: "It was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a
bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys." Mr.
Dyce[762] says that Shylock valued his turquoise, "not only as being the
gift of Leah, but on account of the imaginary virtues ascribed to it:
which was supposed to become pale or to brighten according as the health
of the wearer was bad or good." Thus, Ben Jonson, in "Sejanus" (i. 1),
alludes to its wonderful properties:

"And true as turkoise in the dear lord's ring,
Look well or ill with him."

[762] "Glossary," p. 465.

Fenton, in his "Certain Secret Wonders of Nature" (1569), thus describes
it: "The turkeys doth move when there is any evil prepared to him that
weareth it." There were numerous other magical properties ascribed to
the turquoise. Thus, it was supposed to lose its color entirely at the
death of its owner, but to recover it when placed upon the finger of a
new and healthy possessor. It was also said that whoever wore a turquoise,
so that either it or its setting touched the skin, might fall from any
height, the stone attracting to itself the whole force of the blow. With
the Germans, the turquoise is still the gem appropriated to the ring,
the "gage d'amour," presented by the lover on the acceptance of his
suit, the permanence of its color being believed to depend upon the
constancy of his affection.[763]

[763] See C. W. King on "Precious Stones," 1867, p. 267.

CHAPTER XVI.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Very many of the old sports and pastimes in popular use in Shakespeare's
day have long ago not only been laid aside, but, in the course of years,
have become entirely forgotten. This is to be regretted, as a great
number of these capital diversions were admirably suited both for in and
out of doors, the simplicity which marked them being one of their
distinguishing charms. That Shakespeare, too, took an interest in these
good old sources of recreation, may be gathered from the frequent
reference which he has made to them; his mention of some childish game
even serving occasionally as an illustration in a passage characterized
by its force and vigor.

_Archery._ In Shakespeare's day this was a very popular diversion, and
the "Knights of Prince Arthur's Round Table" was a society of archers
instituted by Henry VIII., and encouraged in the reig