Her luxuriant hair, which in Eastern women often reaches the ground: Her hair in hyacinthine flow, When left to roll its folds below, As ’midst her maidens in the ball She stood superior to them all, Hath swept the marble, where her feet Gleamed whiter than the mountain sleet, Ere from the cloud that gave it birth It fell and caught one stain of earth; her hair, I say, perfumed with delicate unguents,[49] such as nard from Tarsos, œranthe from Cypros, essence of roses from Cyrene, of lilies from Ægina or Cilicia, fell loosely in a profusion of ringlets over her shoulders, while in front it was confined by the fillet and grasshoppers of gold.[50] More perishable ornaments, in the shape of crowns of myrtle, wild thyme,[51] poppy, white sesame, with other flowers and plants sacred to Aphrodite, adorned the heads of both bride and bridegroom.[52] ----- Footnote 45: Πάροχος. Suid. v. Ζεῦγος ἡμιονικὸν. t. i. p. 1123, b. Eurip. Helen. 722, sqq. Footnote 46: This was the usual practice. When the bride was led home on foot she was called χαμαίπους a term of disrespect not far removed in meaning from our word _tramper_. Poll. iii. 40. Footnote 47: Aristoph. Plut. 529, et Schol. Suid. v. βαπτά. t. i. p. 533, b. Footnote 48: Eurip. Iphig. in Aul. 905. This chaplet was placed on the bride’s head by her mother. Hopfn. in loc.—In Locrensibus usu erat, ut matronæ ex lectis floribus nectant coronas. Nam emptagestare serta, vitio dabatur. Alex. ab Alexand. p. 58. b. Footnote 49: Aristoph. Plut. 529. id. Pac. 862. Footnote 50: Thucyd. i. 60. Footnote 51: Σισυμβρία. Dioscor. ii. 155. Footnote 52: Schol. Aristoph. Av. 160. In Bœotia the bride was crowned with a reed of wild asparagus, a prickly but sweet plant. Plut. Conjug. Præcept. 2. Bion. Epitaph. Adon. 88. On Nuptial Crowns vide Paschal. De Coronis, lib. ii. c. 16. p. 126, sqq. ----- The relations and friends followed, forming, in most cases, a long and stately procession, which, in the midst of crowds of spectators, moved slowly towards the temple, thousands strewing flowers or scattering perfume in their path, and in loud exclamations comparing the happy pair to the most impassioned and beautiful of their nymphs and gods.[53] Meanwhile, a number of the bride’s friends, scattered among the multitude, were looking out anxiously for favourable omens, and desirous, in conjunction with every person present, to avert all such as superstition taught them to consider inauspicious. A crow appearing singly was supposed to betoken sorrow or separation, whereas, a couple of crows,[54] issuing from the proper quarter of the heavens, presaged perfect union and happiness. A pair of turtle doves, of all omens, was esteemed the best.[55] ----- Footnote 53: Charit. Char. et Callir. Amor. iii. 44. Footnote 54: