June 6 | Fastorum Liber Sextus: Iunius
E N | VIII Eid. | VI.219-234, Ovid notes it is best for marriages to occur after the Ides of June.
Est mihi (sitque, precor, nostris diuturnior annis)
filia, qua felix sospite semper ero. 220
hanc ego cum vellem genero dare, tempora taedis
apta requirebam, quaeque cavenda forent:
tum mihi post sacras monstratur Iunius Idus
utilis et nuptis, utilis esse viris,
primaque pars huius thalamis aliena reperta est; 225
nam mihi sic coniunx sancta Dialis ait:
“donec ab Iliaca placidus purgamina Vesta
detulerit flavis in mare Thybris aquis,
non mihi dentosa crinem depectere buxo,
non ungues ferro subsecuisse licet, 230
non tetigisse virum, quamvis Iovis ille sacerdos,
quamvis perpetua sit mihi lege datus.
tu quoque ne propera. melius tua filia nubet,
ignea cum pura Vesta nitebit humo.”
219 I have a daughter, and I pray she may outlive me; I shall always be happy while she survives. When I would give her to a son-in-law, I inquired what times were suitable for weddings and what should be avoided. Then it was shown to me that June after the sacred Ides is good for brides and good for bridegrooms, but the first part of this month was found to be unsuitable for marriages; for the holy wife of the Flamen Dialis spoke thus to me: “Until the calm Tiber shall have carried down to the sea on its yellow current the filth from the temple of Ilian Vesta, it is not lawful for me to comb down my hair with a toothed comb, or cut my nails with iron, or touch my husband, though he is the priest of Jupiter, and though he was given to me for life. Thou, too, be in no hurry; thy daughter will better wed when Vesta’s fire shall shine on a clean floor.”1
See vi. 713 note. The Flamen Dialis and his wife were subjected to many strange taboos.