choosing mates would gradually become reciprocal in the sexes; and that all persons so chosen would be called Valentines, from the day on which the ceremony took place.” Leaving intermediary facts to the curious inquirer, we come immediately to a few circumstances and sayings from grave authors and gay poets respecting this festival, as it is observed in our own country. It is recorded as a rural tradition, that on St. Valentine’s day each bird of the air chooses its mate; and hence it is presumed, that our homely ancestors, in their lusty youth, adopted a practice which we still find peculiar to a season when nature bursts its imprisonments for the coming pleasures of the cheerful spring. Lydgate, the monk of Bury, who died in 1440, and is described by Warton to have been “not only the poet of his monastery, but of the world in general,” has a poem in praise of queene Catherine, consort to Henry V., wherein he says: Seynte _Valentine_. Of custome yeere by yeere Men have an usaunce, in this regioun, To loke and serche Cupides kalendere, And chose theyr choyse, by grete affeccioun; Such as ben _move_ with Cupides mocioun, Takyng theyre choyse as theyr sort doth falle: But I love oon whiche excellith alle. Chaucer imagines “Nature the vicare of the Almightie Lord,” to address the happiest of living things at this season, the birds, thus: Foules, take hede of my sentence I pray, And for your own ease in fordring of your need, As fast as I may speak I will me speed: Ye know well, how on St. Valentine’s day By my statute and through my governaunce, Ye doe chese your Makes, and after flie away With hem as I _move_ you with pleasaunce. * * * * * Saint Valentine, thou art full high on loft, Which drivest away the long nightès black, Thus singen smallè foules for thy sake, Will have they causè for to gladden oft, Since each of them recovered hath his Make: Full blissful may they sing, when they awake. Our young readers are informed, that the word “make” in Chaucer, now obsolete, signified mate. Jago, a poet, who, if he has not soared to greatness, has at least attained to the easy versification of agreeable, and sometimes higher feelings, has left us a few stanzas, which harmonize with the suppositions of Chaucer: _St. Valentine’s Day._ The tuneful choir in amorous strains Accost their feathered loves; While each fond mate, with equal pains, The tender suit approves. With cheerful hop from spray to spray They sport along the meads; In social bliss together stray, Where love or fancy leads. Through Spring’s gay scenes each happy pair Their fluttering joys pursue; Its various charms and produce share, For ever kind and true.