  Jan. 20.] ST. AGNES’ EVE. This night was formerly much venerated by young maidens who wished to know when and whom they should marry. It was required that on this day they should not eat, which was called “fasting St. Agnes’ fast.” Keats has made this custom the subject of one of his poems. The following are a few stanzas from it: “St. Agnes’s Eve! Ah, bitter chill it was! The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold; The hare limp’d trembling through the frozen grass, And silent was the flock in woolly fold. ***** * They told me how, upon St. Agnes’s Eve Young virgins might have visions of delight; And soft adorings from their loves receive, Upon the honey’d middle of the night, If ceremonies due they did aright; As supperless to bed they must retire, And couch supine their beauties, lilywhite; Nor look behind, nor sideways, but require Of Heaven, with upward eyes, for all that they desire. ***** * Her vespers done, Of all its wretched pearls her hair she frees; Unclasp’d her warmed jewels one by one; Loosens her fragrant bodice; by degrees Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees: Half hidden, like a mermaid in sea-weed, Pensive awhile she dreams awake, and sees, In fancy, fair St. Agnes in her bed, But dares not look behind, or all the charm is fled.” SCOTLAND.Formerly on the eve of St. Agnes’ Day the following custom was, and perchance still is observed in the northern “Agnes sweet and Agnes fair, Hither, hither, now repair; Bonny Agnes, let me see The lad who is to marry me.” The prayer was granted by their favourite saint, and the shadow of the destined bride or bridegroom was seen in a mirror on this very night.—Time’s Telescope, 1832, p. 15. Ornamental line
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