280 
MARUIAGE CUSTOMS IN SICILY. 
Divinations at Weddiiigs. — Divinations at marriages were practised 
in times of the remotest antiquity. Valiancy tells us, that in the 
memoirs of the Etruscan academy of Cortona is the drawing of a 
picture found in Herculaneum, representing a marriage. In the front 
is a sorceress casting the five stones. — The writer of the memoir 
justly thinks she is divining. The figure exactly corresponds with the 
first and principal cast of Irish purin : all five are cast up, and the 
first cast is on the back of the hand. — He has copied the drawing : 
on the back of the hand stands one, and the remaining four on the 
ground. Opposite the sorceress is the matron, attentive to the suc- 
cess of the cast. No marriage ceremony was performed without con- 
sulting the druidess and her purin : 
“ Auspices solebant nuptis interesse.” 
In the St. James’s Chronicle, from April 16th to April 18th, 1799, 
are the following lines on the bride-cake. 
“ Enlivening source of hymeneal myrth. 
All-hail the blest receipt that gave thee birth ! 
Tho’ Flora culls the fairest of her bowers. 
And strews the path of Hymen with her flowers. 
Not half the raptures give her scattered sweets ; - 
The cake for kinder gratulation meets. 
The Bride-maid’s eyes with sparkling glances beam. 
She views the cake, and greets the promis’d dream. 
For, when endow ed w ith necromantic spell. 
She knows what wondrous things the cake will tell. 
When from the altar comes the pensive Bride, ' 
With downcast looks, her partner at her side ; 
Soon from the ground these thoughtful looks arise. 
To meet the cake that gayer thoughts supplies. 
With her own hand she charms each destin’d slice. 
And thro’ the ring repeats the trebled thrice. 
The hallow’d ring infusing magic pow’r, 
Bids Hymen’s visions wait the midnight hour; 
The mystic treasure, plac’d beneath her head. 
Will tell the fair if haply she may wed. 
These mysteries protentous lie concealed, 
Till Morpheus calls, and bids them stand reveal’d ; 
The future husband that night’s dream will bring. 
Whether a sailor, soldier, beggar, king. 
As partner of her life the fair must take. 
Irrevocable doom of Bridal CakeJ^ 
Skarfs, Points, and Bride-laces at Weddings, 
Skarfs, now confined to funerals, were anciently given at mar- 
riages, as noticed in Ben Jonson’s Silent Woman. In the same anthor’s^ 
Tale of a Tub, Turf is introduced as saying on this occasion, “ We 
shall all ha’ bride-laces or points, I zee.” — 
Among the lots presented to Queen Elizabeth in Davison’s Rhapsody, 
the two following occur, in a list of Prizes for Ladies : — 
