FLORAL CEREMONIES. 
59 
These Flora banishes, and gives the fair 
Sweet smiles, and bloom less transient than her 
own.” 
Cowper. 
From the Roman Antiquities we learn, that 
“Among the Latins, a bride on her wedding- 
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 flow- 
ers. On arriving at the house of her husband, 
she found woollen fillets round the door-posts 
Which were adorned with flowers, and anoint- 
ed with the fat of wolves to avert enchant- 
ment.” 
“ I oft have seen npon a bridal day, 
Full many maids clad in their best array, 
In honour 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 Btrain.” 
William Browne. 
Says our old pastoral poet, in allusion to this 
custom, as still followed in comparatively 
