The term “assay” appears in literature with a rich variety of meanings that range from the act of testing or evaluating to making an attempt or trial. In many poetic and dramatic works, it is employed as a call to test one’s mettle or worth, whether in the context of physical combat, moral fortitude, or emotional inquiry (see [1], [2], [3]). At the same time, “assay” occupies a technical register in discussions of metallurgy and chemistry, describing the process of examining and evaluating the purity or quality of a substance (as in [4] and [5]). Thus, authors use “assay” both metaphorically—to denote the evaluation of inner strength or divine love ([6], [7])—and literally, infusing their narratives with a sense of measured determination and precise scrutiny.