"Even This Shall Pass Away" Signet Ring // Sterling Silver

"Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they;
“Even this shall pass away.”

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these;
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
“What is wealth?” the king would say;
“Even this shall pass away.”

‘Mid the revels of his court,
At the zenith of his sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests,
He, amid his figs and wine,
Cried, “O loving friends of mine;
Pleasures come, but do not stay;
‘Even this shall pass away.’”

Lady, fairest ever seen,
Was the bride he crowned the queen.
Pillowed on his marriage bed,
Softly to his soul he said:
“Though no bridegroom ever pressed
Fairer bossom to his breast,
Mortal flesh must come to clay –
Even this shall pass away.”

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers, with a loud lament,
Bore him bleeding to his tent.
Groaning from his tortured side,
“Pain is hard to bear,” he cried;
“But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away.”

Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
Then the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name,
Musing meekly: “What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay;
Even this shall pass away.”

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the Gates of Gold,
Said he with his dying breath,
“Life is done, but what is Death?”
Then, in answer to the king,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
“Even this shall pass away.”"

The enduring refrain from Theodore Tilton's 1867 poem, "The King's Ring", is a sentiment that reminds us to cherish the joyous, loving, victorious and beautiful moments in life...while accepting the difficult, painful and seemingly impossible times with grace and patience, knowing that the good times, just like the bad, will pass. This wonderfully poignant poem highlights the fleeting nature of all things, material and spiritual, good and evil, delightful and painful, and how frequently the two will come in and out of our lives. Essentially, nothing is permanent (similar to the ethos behind Memento Mori.)

What I love most about this Blazon release is that the motto is actually emblazoned upon the King's ring in Tilton's poem, so by wearing this, cast from an antique gold signet ring from our collection, we are employing the same method of reminder and symbolism as originally intended and recounted.

Wear it daily to help navigate life's disappointments, pain and challenges as well as to help you relish life's surprises, gifts and joy.

The signet face reflects the age-related (over 200 years!) quirks and unique character of the original Georgian gold and agate wax seal this ring was cast from, it gives the ring a very special definition, texture and personality all its own.

Signet face height:
10.1mm

Signet face width:
9.5mm

Signet face depth:
1.34mm

Shank width (at center back):
2.3mm

Timing: Please allow 2-3 weeks from order date to ship date as these are all made-to-order per client, specially for you, though often we luck out and can ship earlier.

Returns: Please also note that as these are very special, custom-made pieces by order, they are not returnable or refundable unless you are sent an incorrect size, metal, stone or style, please ask any questions you may have prior to your purchase.