Note 70 — Chapter XIX
Reading edition
Many reasons have been assigned for this custom; the more commonly received opinion is, that it was intended as a token of the bridegroom having left off childish diversions, and entered on a more serious state of life; whence nucibus relictis, has passed into a proverb. This conjecture is favoured by Catullus:--
“Satis diu
Lusisti nucibus. Lubet
Jam servire Thalassio.”
We have already stated, that nuces were played with like our marbles; the custom, therefore, might be intended to express that the bridegroom had deserted his playthings.