[496]. Georg. 1. 338 foll.
[497]. ‘Extremae sub casum hiemis’ might possibly suit the Italian April, but certainly not the Italian May. May 1 is the earliest date we have for an agri lustratio, i. e. in Campania (C. I. L. x. 3792). ‘Tunc mollissima vina’ may contain a reference to the Vinalia of April 23, when the new wine was first drunk; and if that were so, the general reference might be to the Cerialia or its rustic equivalent.
[498]. R. R. 141. Cp. Siculus Flaccus in Gromatici Veteres, p. 164. The lustratio should be celebrated before even the earliest crops (e. g. beans) were cut.
[499]. Henzen, Acta Fr. Arv. xlviii.
[500]. Cato, R. R. 141. I have availed myself of the Italian translation and commentary of Prof. De Marchi in his work on the domestic religion of the Romans, p. 128 foll.
[501]. Bücheler, Umbrica; Bréal, Les Tables Eugubines.
[502]. Brand, Popular Antiquities, p. 292.
[503]. I am informed that it visited one hamlet, Horton, which is not at present in the parish of Charlton; of this there should be some topographical explanation.
[504]. The cross is very commonly carried about on the continent, and in Holland the week is called cross-week for this reason. But at Charlton there seems to have been a confusion between this cross and the May-queen or May-doll; for on May-day, 1898, the old woman who decked it called it ‘my lady,’ and spoke of ‘her waist,’ &c. I am indebted to the Rev. C. E. Prior, the present incumbent, for information about this interesting survival.
[505]. What can be said for this view may be read in Roscher’s article in Lex. s. v. Iuno, p. 575, note.