Page:Pleasures of matrimony (4).pdf/9

, fair and softly goes far! she shall not be married hugger-mugger; my child shall be married according to her quality; I am not for a stolen marriage.

But we will talk no more of preliminaries, but come to the thing itself; for all things being settled, and the appointed morning come up gets the bridegroom, and dresses himself in all his gaudy attire.

The bridemaid hastens to the bride's chamber, and there finds her washed, breathing nothing but essance and jessamine, and her fine Holland smock ready to put on; so that being dressed in a trice, she appears more like an angel than like a mortal. She was scarcely dressed, but the bridegroom is coming into her chamber and with submissive knees, adores his earthly deity, and kisses the lilies of her white hands, and sips ambrosial nectar from her lips, and then conducts her to the room of state, where they both stand to welcome their invited guests.—And sure this must yield him much pleasure. Now things being ready, they take coach, environed by a great crowd of spectators, of which not one of them but must say