18
speaking the whole time, whatever they see, and in a few minutes after twelve, each one’s future husband will take ⟨his⟩ sprig out of the rose-water, and sprinkle her shift with it.
Another way to see a Future Spouse in a Dream.—The part inquiring must lie in a different county from that in which she commonly resides, and on going to bed must knit ⟨the⟩ left garter about the right leg stocking, letting the other garter and stocking alone; and as you rehearse the ⟨following⟩ verses, at every comma knit a knot.
This knot I knit, to know the thing I know not yet,
That I may see the man that shall my husband be,
How he goes, and what he wears.
And what he does all days and years.
Accordingly in a dream, he will appear with the insignia ⟨of⟩ his trade or profession.
To know if your present Sweetheart will marry you.—Let an unmarried woman take the blade-bone of a shoulder of lamb and, borrowing a penknife, (but be sure not to mention for what purpose,) on going to bed stick the knife once through the bone, every night, for nine nights, in different places, repeating every night, while sticking the knife, these words:-
’Tis not this bone I mean to stick,
But my lover’s heart I mean to prick,
Wishing him neither rest nor sleep
Till he comes to me to speak.
Accordingly, at the end of nine days, or shortly after, he will ask for something to put to a wound he will have met with during the time you were charming him.
To know whether a woman will have the man she wishes.—Get two lemon peels, wear them all day, one in each pocket, at night rub the four posts of the bedstead with them; if she is to succeed, the person will appear in her sleep, and present her with a couple of lemons; if not, there is no hope.
To know whether one shall enjoy their love or not.—Take the number of the first letter of your names, the number of the planet, and of the day of the week; put all these together, and divide them by 40: if it be above, it will come to your mind, and if below, to the contrary; be particular in minding the number which is under 30.
To know whether a new-born child shall live or die.—Write down the proper names of the father and mother, and the day the child was born, and put to each letter its number as before, and to the total sum, being put together, add 25, and divide the whole by 7; and then if it be even, the child will die, but if odd, it shall live.
To know whether a person will be married.—Get a pease-pod,
