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Romance and Poetry: Ruskin

A more rational heraldic or symbolical meaning of precious stones was given by our great art critic, Ruskin, in the course of a lecture given by him at the London Institution, in February, 1876, in which heraldic stones and colours were alluded to. Heraldry, Mr. Ruskin complained, was despised by modern science, but yet, as understood by our ancestors, it had a deep and important meaning. Or, or gold, which was represented by the topaz, stood between light and darkness; ecarlate was the sacred colour of the living flesh, as represented in the blush of the virgin and the flush of valour on the cheek of the young warrior. Vert was the green of the emerald, and gules was rose-coloured, from the Persian word, "gul;" a rose-azure was the clear, sacred blue of the sky, typical of the joys of heaven. The ruby and sapphires were, in fact, the same stones, and in combination produced the purpura, or purple, which formed the covering of the tabernacle. Out of the above colours came the combination of the rainbow. Argent typified the silver colour of the hoar-frost, and sable meant sand, in which the diamond was always found. Grey was the colour of the pearl, and suggested humility; and thus all the phrases of heraldry which applied to colour and to precious stones, although now looked upon as jargon, had a deep symbolic meaning.

Chaucer, in the "Romaunt de la Rose," describes Richesse. "About her necke, of gentle entaile, (workmanship) Was set the riche chevesaile, (necklace) In which ther was ful grete plente Of stonis clere and faire to se. * * * * * * * * * The barris (part of a buckle) were of golde ful fine Upon a tissue of sattin, Ful hevie and nothing light, In everiche was a besaunt wight. (weight) Upon the tresses of Richesse, Was sett a circle of noblesse, Of brende (burnished) golde that ful light yshone; So fair, trow I was nevir none. But he were conning for the nones (well skilled) That could devisin all the stones, That in the circle shewin clere, It is a wonder thing to here, For no man could or preis (value) or gesse Of hem the value or richesse. Rubies ther wer, saphirs, ragounces (jacinths) And emeraudes more than two ounces."

In Chalkhill's "Thealma and Clearchus" Clarinda is thus described:-- "Her upward vesture Was of blue silk, glistering with stars of gold, Girt to her waist by serpents, that enfold And wrap themselves together, so well wrought, And fashioned to the life, one would have thought They had been real. Underneath she wore A coat of silver tinsel, short before, And fring'd about with gold; white buskins hide The naked of her leg, they were loose tied With azure ribands, on whose knots were seen Most costly gems, fit only for a queen. Her hair bound up like to a coronet With diamonds, rubies, and rich sapphires set."