This is a hard trial, but what is not possible to any young lady who
wishes to know her lot in marriage?--that most important change in human
life.
Prepare yourself three days previous to the eve of this female saint, by
living on bread and water and sprigs of parsley, and touch no other thing
whatever, or your labor will be lost. The eve begins at the sixth hour. Go
to bed as soon as convenient, and speak not a word after you once begin to
undress; get into bed, lie on your left side with your head as low as
possible, and repeat the following verse three times:
St. Anne, in silver clouds descend,
Prove thyself a female’s friend;
Be it good or be it harm,
Let me have knowledge from the charm;
Be it husbands one, two, three,
Let me in rotation see;
And if Fate decrees me four,
(No good maid could wish far more),
Let me view them in my dream,
Fair and clearly to be seen;
But if the stars decree
Perpetual virginity,
Let me sleep on, and dreaming not,
I shall know my single lot.