cording to Cancianus (_Leges Barbarorum_, tom. iv. p.
24.), was at first a _free gift_ made by the husband after the first
marriage night. This was carried to such excess, that Liutprand ordained

"Tamen ipsum Morgengabe volumus, ut non sit amplius nisi quarta
pars ejus substantia, qui ipsum Morgengabe dedit."

This became subsequently converted into a _right_ termed _justitia_.

Upon this extract from a charter,--

"Manifesta causa est mihi, quoniam die ilio quando te sposavi,
promiseram tibi dare _justitiam_ tuam secundum _legem meam_ [qr.
_my Lombard_ law in opposition to the Roman, which he had a
right to choose,] in Morgencap, id est, quartam portionem omnium
rerum mobilium et immobilium," &c.

Cancianus thus comments:--

"Animadverte, quam recte charta haec cum supra alligatis formulis
conveniat. Sponsus promiserat Morgencap, quando feminam
desponsaverat, inde vero ante conjugium chartam conscribit: et
quod et Liutprandi lege, et ex antiquis moribus _Donum_ fuit
mere gratuitum, hic appellatur _Justitia_ secundum legem
Langobardorum."

The Morgencap here assumes, I apprehend, somewhat the form of _dower_.
That it was so, is very doubtful. (Grimm, vol. ii. p. 441.
"Morgengabe.")

"An demselben Morgen empfaengt die JungFrau von ihrem Gemahl ein
ansehnliches Geschenk, welches Morgengabe heisst. Schon in der
Pactio Guntherammi et Childeberti, werden Dos und Morganagiba
_unterschieden_, ebenso _Leg. Rip._ 37. 2. _Alaman_. 56. 1, 2.
Dos und Morgangeba; _Lex Burgend._ 42. 2. Morgangeba und das
'pretium nuptiale;' bei den Langobarden, 'Meta und Morgengab.'"

I do not say this answers the question of your correspondent G., which
is, what is the _derivation_ of the word?

Its actual signification, I think, means left-handed; but to think is
not to resolve, and the question is open to the charitable contributions
of your learned and able supporters.

As regards the Fairy Morgana, who was married to a mortal, I confess,
with your kind permission, I had rather not accept her as a satisfactory
reply. It is as though you would accept "once upon a time" as a
chronological date! She was _married_ to a mortal--true; but
_morganatically_, I doubt it. If morganatic came from this, it should
appear the _Fairy Morgana_ was the _first lady_ who so underwent the
ceremony. Do not forget Lurline, who married also a mortal, of whom the
poet so prettily