DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6095#0325
SICILY AND MALTA. 307
a method of communicating their senti-
ments by dumb mow, which they pretend
has been transmitted from generation to
generation ever since.
I think it is not at all improbable that
this custom too may have given the first
idea of comedy ; as we find, that some short
time after, Epicarmus, a native of that city,
was the author of this invention.
The Sicilians till lately retained a great
many foolish and superstitious customs; but
particularly in their marriage and funeral
ceremonies : it would be tedious to give
you an account of all these ; some of them
are still pra&ised in the wild and moun-
tainous parts of the issand.—As soon as
the marriage ceremony is performed, two
of the attendants are ready to cram a spoon-
ful of honey into the mouths of the bride
and bridegroom ; pronouncing it emblema-
tical of their love and union, which they
X 2 hope
a method of communicating their senti-
ments by dumb mow, which they pretend
has been transmitted from generation to
generation ever since.
I think it is not at all improbable that
this custom too may have given the first
idea of comedy ; as we find, that some short
time after, Epicarmus, a native of that city,
was the author of this invention.
The Sicilians till lately retained a great
many foolish and superstitious customs; but
particularly in their marriage and funeral
ceremonies : it would be tedious to give
you an account of all these ; some of them
are still pra&ised in the wild and moun-
tainous parts of the issand.—As soon as
the marriage ceremony is performed, two
of the attendants are ready to cram a spoon-
ful of honey into the mouths of the bride
and bridegroom ; pronouncing it emblema-
tical of their love and union, which they
X 2 hope