( s\ ) 



pendant on their parents in no cafe, except in the 

 very thing in which they ought leaft of all to de* 

 pend on them : nothing however is concluded with- 

 out their confent, but this is only a mere piece of 

 formality. The firft fteps are taken by the ma* 

 trons, but it is not common for the relations of the 

 young woman to make any advances ; not but 

 that in cafe a girl mould happen to remain too 

 long in the market, her family would act un- 

 derhand in order to get her difpofed of, but in this 

 a great deal of caution is ufed. In fome places the 

 girls are in no hurry to get themfelves married, as 

 they are at full liberty to make trial of that ftate 

 beforehand, and as the ceremony of marriage 

 makes no change in their condition except to ren- 

 der it harder. 



They remark a great deal of modefty in the 

 behaviour of young people whilft the match is 

 making, though we are told the thing was quite 

 different in ancient times ; but what is almoft in- 

 credible, and which is neverthelefs attefted by good 

 authors is, that in feveral places the new married 

 couple live together for a whole year in perfect 

 continence 5 this is done fay they, to mew that 

 they married out of friend fhip and not to gratify 

 their paffions ; a young woman would even be. 

 pointed at who fhouid prove with child the firft 

 year of her marriage. 



After what has been faid we ought to have lefs 

 difficulty in believing what is related of the man* 

 ner in which young people behave during the 

 courtfhip in thofe places, in which they are per- 

 mitted to be alone. For though cuftom allows 

 them great familiarities, they neverthelefs pretend 

 that in the rnoft extreme danger to which modefty 



E % can 



