DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0207
THE SHRINES OF ATTICA 185
as to her looks. So he goes with friends, — perhaps
the old man goes along too, — and they make a
formal call. They do not say anything about mar-
riage. They talk about the weather and the crops
and avoid politics. If the young man does not take
a fancy to the girl, the matter may be dropped. It
happens frequently enough that he has ideas of his
own upon this subject. He wants one girl and his
father wants him to take another, and the father in-
sists upon his taking the one who has the most money
or threatens him with disinheritance." Georgios
spoke with as much positiveness as though he were
stating a proposition in mathematics.
" But suppose," I suggested, " the girl does not
want the wooer."
" Oh," he said, dropping into Attic Greek, " that
seldom ((nraviws) happens. Frequently the girl learns
that she is to be married at the last moment, after
all the arrangements have been made. As a rule
the girl marries the man that her father and mother
choose for her." Had the Kyria, my landlady, been
near when this was said she" would have lighted
another cigarette.
" But," continued Georgios, " the bridegroom has
his sacrifices to make. It sometimes happens that
he marries a girl who is cross-eyed or lame, or defec-
tive in some way, because he wants the money. The
groom's father makes some presents to the bride, — a
silk dress, or something of that kind. The father of
the bride gives a ring to the groom and the groom
presents one to the bride, either at the hour of the
marriage, or more generally when the compact
(<rv/j,<j)ci)via) is completed." The Greeks, by the way,
as to her looks. So he goes with friends, — perhaps
the old man goes along too, — and they make a
formal call. They do not say anything about mar-
riage. They talk about the weather and the crops
and avoid politics. If the young man does not take
a fancy to the girl, the matter may be dropped. It
happens frequently enough that he has ideas of his
own upon this subject. He wants one girl and his
father wants him to take another, and the father in-
sists upon his taking the one who has the most money
or threatens him with disinheritance." Georgios
spoke with as much positiveness as though he were
stating a proposition in mathematics.
" But suppose," I suggested, " the girl does not
want the wooer."
" Oh," he said, dropping into Attic Greek, " that
seldom ((nraviws) happens. Frequently the girl learns
that she is to be married at the last moment, after
all the arrangements have been made. As a rule
the girl marries the man that her father and mother
choose for her." Had the Kyria, my landlady, been
near when this was said she" would have lighted
another cigarette.
" But," continued Georgios, " the bridegroom has
his sacrifices to make. It sometimes happens that
he marries a girl who is cross-eyed or lame, or defec-
tive in some way, because he wants the money. The
groom's father makes some presents to the bride, — a
silk dress, or something of that kind. The father of
the bride gives a ring to the groom and the groom
presents one to the bride, either at the hour of the
marriage, or more generally when the compact
(<rv/j,<j)ci)via) is completed." The Greeks, by the way,