8 THE TWIN-BROTHERS OP MEZZORANIA. 



every fpecies of mifunderftanding and jealoufy, the 

 maiden, when the young man pleafes her, takes from, 

 him a flower not yet fully blown, which he offers to 

 her acceptance, and flicks it in her bofom. But, has 

 fhe already entered into feme engagement, Ihe gives 

 him to underffcand as much, by fhewing him a flower ; 

 and, if this be only a bud, then it is a fign that he will 

 make her the firft propofal ; if it be half-blown, it im- 

 plies that her love has already made fome progrefs ; 

 but if it be fully blown, the virgin thereby betokens 

 that her choice is made, and that Ihe cannot now re- 

 tract it. So long, however, as fhe does not publicly 

 wear this token, it is always free for her to do as fhe 

 pleafes. 



If fhe be free, and the man that offers her the flower 

 is not agreeable to her, Ihe makes him a profound re- 

 verence, and fhuts her eyes till he is retired. Indeed,, 

 at times, it happens, here as well as in other places, 

 though but rarely, that fhe difguifes herfelf to her 

 lover. If a man be already coruracled, he likewife 

 bears a token. Such maidens as have yet met with no 

 lover have it in their choice either to remain virgins, 

 or to infcribe themfelves among the widows, which if 

 they do, they can only be married to a widower. But- 

 let us return to our twin-brothers. 



The brother, who flood at the altar with the young 

 damfel, felt as violent a paflion for her as fhe did for 

 him. They were fo very intent upon the ceremony^ 

 that they forgot to give each other the accufcomed 

 ligns. On her leaving the altar, the other brother law 

 her. became enamoured of her, and found opportu- 

 nity, when the ceremony was over, for prefenting he? 



with 



