Beauplan.
How the Maids court the young Men.
To proceed in the performance of what I promis'd, something must be said of the Customs they observe in some of their Marriages, and how they make Love,[Wikisource note: "to make love" here means "to profess one's love and to propose a marriage", not "to have sex", as is commonly understood today.] which will seem odd and incredible to some Persons. There, contrary to the practice of all other Nations, the Maids make Love to those young Men they take a liking to; and a certain Superstition they have among them, and observe punctually, is the cause they seldom miss of their aim, and they are more sure to succeed than the Men would be, if Application were made by them. This is the manner of it.
The Maid that is in Love goes to the young Man's Father's House, at such a time as she judges she may find the Father, Mother, and Gallant together. Coming into the Room, she says, Pomagaboa, that is, God bless you, the common Salutation us'd at entering their Houses. Having taken her place, she compliments him that has won her Heart, and speaks to him in these words, "Ivan, Fedir, Demitre, Woitek, Mitika, &c. (in short, she calls him by one of these Names, which are most usual among them) "perceiving a certain Goodness in your Countenance, which shows you will know how to rule and love your Wife; and hoping from your Virtue that you will be a good Dospodorge: These good Qualities make me humbly beseech you to accept of me for your Wife." Then she says as much to the Father and Mother, praying them to consent to the Match. If they refuse her, or make some excuse, saying, he is too young, and not fit to marry; she answers, She will never depart till she has marry'd him, as long as he and she live.
These words being spoken, and the Maid persisting, and positively asserting she will not depart the room till she has obtain'd her Desire; after some Weeks the Father and Mother are forced, not only to consent, but also to persuade their Son to look favourably upon her, that is, as one that is to be his Wife.
The Youth perceiving the Maid fully bent upon loving him, begins to look upon her as one that is in time to be Mistress of his Inclinations, and therefore intreats his Father and Mother to give him leave to place his Affections upon that Maid. And thus amorous Maids in that Country cannot miss of being soon provided, for by persisting they force the Father, Mother, and Son, to comply with them; and this, as I said above, for Fear of incurring God's Wrath, and that some Disaster may not befal them; for to thrust the Maid out would be an affront to all her Kindred, who would resent it; and in this case they cannot use violence, without incurring, as I was saying, the Indignation and Punishment of the Church, which is very severe in these Affairs, imposing, when such a thing happens, Penances, and great Fines, and declaring the Family infamous.
Being kept in awe by these Superstitions, they, as near as may be, avoid the Misfortunes they believe, as firmly as they do their Articles of Faith, will befal them, by refusing to give their Sons to those Maids that demand them. And this Custom holds only among People of equal Rank, for in that Country the Peasants are all rich alike, and there is but little difference as to their Worth.
How a Peasant may marry a Gentlewoman.
Now I will speak of other unequal Amours between a Peasant and a Gentlewoman, allow'd by antient Custom and Privilege kept up among them.
It is the Custom in all the Villages of that Country, for all the Peasants, with their Wives and Children, to meet at the usual place of Rendevouz, every Sunday and Holy-day after Dinner. The place of Rendevouz is the Tavern, where they spend the rest of the Day a merry-making together; but only the Men and Women drink, while the Youth spend their time in dancing to a Douda, that is, a Horn-pipe. The Lord of the Place is usually there with all his Family to see them dance. Sometimes the Lord makes them dance before his Castle, which is the most usual Place; and there he dances himself, with his Wife and Children. At that time the Gentry and Peasants mix together; and it is to be observ'd, that all the Villages of Podolia and Ukraine are for the most part encompass'd with Underwoods, where there are lurking-places for the Peasants to retire in Summer, when they are alarm'd with the coming of the Tartars.
These Underwoods may be half a League over; and tho the Peasants are kept under like Slaves, nevertheless they have this antient Right and Privilege of conveying away if they can, out of this dancing Assembly, a young Maiden Gentlewoman, tho she were their own Lord's Daughter, provided he does it so dexterously as to come off well, otherwise he is a lost Man, and that he can fly into the Neighbouring Copses, where if he can lie hid four and twenty Hours, without being discover'd, he is clear'd of the Rape[Wikisource note: In this period, the term "rape" denoted a man illegally taking away a girl or woman from another man's authority (usually her father or husband), regardless of whether she consented to it or not. In modern terms, if the young woman consented to being abducted, this is called "elopement". If she did not consent to being abducted, this is called "bride kidnapping". The text does not say whether or not sexual acts occur during these 24 hours; but if they did have sex without her consent, this is called "rape".] committed; and if the Maid he has stole will marry him, he cannot refuse her withoutlosing
