113 
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 test 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 “ 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 
