E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Ru’by.
The King of Ceylon has the finest ruby ever seen. “It is a span long, as thick as a man’s arm, and without a flaw.” Kublai-Khan offered the value of a city for it, but the king answered that he would not part with it if all the treasures of the world were laid at his feet. (Marco Polo.)
