BETROTHAL (ENGAGEMENT) RINGS,
WEDDING (NUPTIAL) RINGS, AND
LOVE TOKENS
S
PECIAL
wedding-rings, as we understand them, were not used at an early period,
the espousal ring being employed at the wedding ceremony also. At a
later time, a signet was set in the anulus 'prorwhus, or
betrothal ring, to signify that the spouse was to have the right of
sealing up the household goods, and occasionally a small key formed
part of the ring, with a similar significance. We have a testimony to
this view in the words of the marriage ceremony: " With all my worldly
goods I thee endow." The wives of our day are quite disposed to accept
this passage in its literal sense, although some may incline to a more
liberal interpretation of the promise to love, honor and obey their
husbands. The ring as a pledge of love is said to be first mentioned in
Roman literature by Plautus in his " Miles Gloriosus " (Act IV, sc. i,
v. 11) ; this passage, however, does not refer to a nuptial ring, but
rather to a love token.
Somewhat
distantly related to the betrothal or wedding rings were those given
by lovers to the objects of their affection. Of such a ring the Roman
poet Ovid writes, apostrophizing it as " a ring soon destined to
encircle the finger of a beauteous girl, a ring having no worth except
the love of the giver." It was to be a gift to the poet's ladylove
Corinna.1 The ring sent by
1 Federici Augusti Junii, " De annulo Romanorum spon-salitio," Lipsiae, 1744, citing Ovidii, lib. ii, Amor. Eleg. xv. 13
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