WALNUT TREE. 377 



Allusions are frequently made to this nuptial sport, 

 by the poets : 



" Let the air with Hymen ring, 

 Hymen, lo Hymen, sing. 

 Soon the nuts will now be flung: 

 Soon the wanton verses sung ; 

 Soon the bridegroom will be told 

 Of the tricks he played. of old. 

 License then his love had got, 

 But a husband has it not: 

 Let the air with Hymen ring, 

 Hymen, lo Hymen, sing." 



LEIGH HUNT, from Catullus. 



Herrick has introduced this custom in his Epithala- 

 miuin on Sir Thomas Southwell and his lady : 



" Now bar the door, the bridegroom puts 

 The eager boys to gather nuts." 



A note on this passage says" The ceremony of throw- 

 ing nuts at a wedding, for which boys scrambled, was of 

 Athenian origin."" 



Virgil has an allusion to it in his eighth pastoral : 



" tibi ducitur uxor : 



Sparge, marite, nuces ' 



" prepare the lights, 



O Mopsus ! and perform the bridal rites ; 

 Scatter thy nuts among the scrambling boys." 

 DKYDEN'S Virgil. 



Nuts of various kinds made an important figure in the 

 country festivals at Christmas some years back : Spenser 

 alludes to these games in the Shepherd's Calendar for 

 Doc-ember : 



