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FOREWORD ii
ii
and in token thereof receive this cup." Whereupon each
herald receives a can of ale; and soon after the whole jovial
company comes storming into the farmer’s yard, and,
riding round the May-pole, which stands in the centre, alights
amid a grand salute and flourish of music.
In the hall sits the bride, with a crown upon her head
and a tear in her eye, like the Virgin Mary in old church
paintings. She is dressed in a red boddice and kirtle, with
loose linen sleeves. There is a gilded belt around her waist;
and around her neck strings of golden beads, and a golden
chain. On the crown rests a wreath of wild roses, and
below it another of cypress. Loose over her shoulders falls
her flaxen hair; and her blue innocent eyes are fixed upon
the ground. O thou good soul! thou hast hard hands, but
a soft heart! Thou art poor. The very ornaments thou
wearest are not thine. They have been hired for this great
day. Yet art thou rich; rich in health, rich in hope, rich in
thy first, young, fervent love. The blessing of heaven be
upon thee! So thinks the parish priest, as he joins together
the hands of bride and bridegroom, saying in deep,
solemn tones,—"I give thee in marriage this damsel,to be thy
wedded wife in all honor, and to share the half of thy bed,
thy lock and key, and every third penny which you two
may possess, or may inherit, and all the rights which
Upland’s laws provide, and the holy king Erik gave."
The dinner is now served, and the bride sits between
the bridegroom and the priest. The Spokesman delivers an
oration after the ancient custom of his fathers. He
interlards it well with quotations from the Bible; and invites
the Saviour to be present at this marriage feast, as he was
at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. The table is not
sparingly set forth. Each makes a long arm, and the feast
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