ティファニーの副社長であり、宝石全般を任されていたGeorge Frederick Kunz氏による著書「The Curious Lore of Precious Stones」より。
1913年11月に発売されたものです。
最初のポエムより石が増えたり、そもそも対応する石が変わったりしています。
著書の中で様々な国や文化の誕生石を調査していることが分かります。
面白いのは夏のルビーが冬のターコイズと入れ替わっていること。
夏を表すルビーではありますが、夏には暑苦しいから涼しげなターコイズ。
寒い冬だからこそ暖を取る意味でルビー。
色々な解釈があるなかで描かれた詩なので、これが「絶対」ということではなさそうです。
詩も長くなり、韻は踏んでいます。
こちらも韻を感じる為に英語でのご紹介です。
宝石名の部分は太字にしました。
SENTIMENTS OF THE MONTHS
💎JANUARY【ガーネット】
No gems save garnets should be worn
By her who in this month is born;
They will insure her constancy,
True friendship and fidelity.
The gleaming garnet holds within its sway
Faith, constancy, and truth to one alway.
💎FEBRUARY【アメシスト】
The February-born may find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If she an amethyst will wear.
Let her an amethyst but cherish well,
And strife and care can never with her dwell.
💎MARCH【ブラッドストーン・ジャスパー】
Who on this world of ours her eyes
In March first opens may be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
Wears she a bloodstone to her grave.
Who wears a jasper, be life short or long,
Will meet all dangers brave and wise and strong.
💎APRIL【ダイヤモンド・サファイア】
She who from April dates her years
Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow This stone
Emblem of innocence is known.
Innocence, repentance—sun and shower—
The diamond or the sapphire is her dower.
💎MAY【エメラルド】
Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flow’ry month of May,
And wears an emerald all her life,
Shall be a loved and happy wife.
No happier wife and mother in the land
Than she with emerald shining on her hand.
💎JUNE【アゲート・モスアゲート】
Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of agate on her hand
Can health, long life, and wealth command.
Thro’ the moss-agate’s charm, the happy years
Ne’er see June’s golden sunshine turn to tears.
💎JULY【ターコイズ】
The heav’n-blue turquoise should adorn
All those who in July are born;
For those they’ll be exempt and free
From love’s doubts and anxiety.
No other gem than turquoise on her breast
Can to the loving, doubting heart bring rest.
💎AUGUST【カーネリアン】
Wear a carnelian or for thee
No conjugal felicity;
The August-born without this stone,
’Tis said, must live unloved, alone.
She, loving once and always, wears, if wise,
Carnelian—and her home is paradise.
💎SEPTEMBER【ペリドット】
A maid born when September leaves
Are rustling in the autumn breeze,
A chrysolite on brow should bind—
’Twill cure diseases of the mind.
If chrysolite upon her brow is laid,
Follies and dark delusions flee afraid.
※クリソライト＝ペリドット
💎OCTOBER【ベリル】
October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know;
But lay a beryl on her breast,
And Hope will lull those woes to rest.
When fair October to her brings the beryl,
No longer need she fear misfortune’s peril.
※ベリルには有名なものはアクアマリン、エメラルド、ヘリオドール、モルガナイトがあるが、エメラルドは先に出ているのでアクアマリンでは？
💎NOVEMBER【トパーズ】
Who first comes to this world below
With drear November’s fog and snow
Should prize the topaz’s amber hue—
Emblem of friends and lovers true.
Firm friendship is November’s, and she bears
True love beneath the topaz that she wears.
💎DECEMBER【ルビー】
If cold December give you birth—
The month of snow and ice and mirth—
Place on your hand a ruby true;
Success will bless whate’er you do.
December gives her fortune, love and fame
If amulet of rubies bear her name.
「The Curious Lore of Precious Stones」は日本語訳も出ており、改訂版を含めて現在も読み継がれています。
