Bride-cake

THIS day my Julia thou must make For Mistresse Bride, the wedding Cake: Knead but the Dow, and it will be To paste of Almonds turn’d by thee: Or kisse it thou, but once, or twice, And for the Bride-Cake ther’l be Spice.

When I was a little boy (before the Civill warres) I have seen (according to the custome then) the Bride and Bride-groome kisse over the Bride-cakes at the Table: it was about the later end of dinner: and yᵉ cakes were layd one upon another, like the picture of the Sew-bread in yᵉ old Bibles.

Smart bonnets and feathers were retreating as she entered the precincts of the house; and the footboy was retiring from the drawing-room with empty chocolate cups, and with mutilated bride-cake.

Mr Casaubon seemed even unconscious that trivialities existed, and never handed round that small-talk of heavy men which is as acceptable as stale bride-cake brought forth with an odour of cupboard.