118 FLORAL CEREMONIES 



day was dressed in a long white robe with a 

 purple fringe ; her face was covered with a red 

 veil, and her head was crowned with flowers. 

 On arriving at the house of her husband, she 

 found woolen fillets round the door-posts, which 

 were adorned with flowers, and anointed with 

 the fat of wolves to avert enchantment." 



" I oft have seen upon a bridal day, 



Full many maids clad in their best array, 

 In honor of the bride, come with their flaskets 

 Filled full of flowers ; others in wicker baskets 

 Bring from the marish rushes to o'erspread 

 The ground, whereon to church the lovers* tread: 

 Whilst that the quaintest youth of all the train 

 Ushers the way with many a piping strain." 



WILLIAM BROWNE. 



Says our old pastoral poet, in allusion to this 

 custom, as still followed in comparatively 

 modern times, though to us the period of which 

 he writes may be spoken of as (l long, long 

 ago." In a similar strain sings Drayton, 

 whose picturesque description of the Marriage 

 of the Thames and Isis will be found farther 

 on. Another of the Company of Singers of 



