A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,
And threw it towards thy land: the sea received it,
And so I wish'd thy body might my heart.
First Folio, "Histories", p. 134, col. A, lines 41-48.


The idea of the sacredness of a ring as a love-token is voiced by
Portia in Shakespeare's _Merchant of Venice_ where she says (Act v,
sc. 1):


I gave my love a ring and made him swear
Never to part with it; and here he stands;
I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it
Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth
That the world masters.
First Folio, "Comedies", p. 183, col. B, lines 12-16.


The nearest approach to a sentimental characterization of precious
stones is to be found in "A Lover's Complaint", lines 204-217.
Although we have already noted most of them separately, it may be well
to give the entire passage here consecutively:


And, lo, behold these talents of their hair,
With twisted metal amorously impleach'd,
I have received from many a several fair,
Their kind acceptance weepingly beseech'd
With the annexions of fair gems enrich'd,