33 Next came fresh Aprill, full of lustyhed,

And wanton as a kid whose horne new buds:
Upon a bull he rode, the same which led
Europa floting through th' Argolick fluds;
His hornes were gilden all with golden studs,
And garnished with garlonds goodly dight
Of all the fairest flowres and freshest buds
Which th' earth brings forth; and wet he seem'd

in sight

With waves, through which he waded for his Loves

delight.

34 Then came faire May, the fayrest mayd on ground,
Deckt all with dainties of her seasons pryde,
And throwing flowres out of her lap around:
Upon two brethrens shoulders she did ride,
The twinnes of Leda; which on eyther side
Supported her like to their soveraine queene:
Lord! how all creatures laught when her they spide,
And leapt and daunc't as they had ravisht beene!
And Cupid selfe about her fluttred all in greene.

35 And after her came iolly Iune, arrayd

All in greene leaves, as he a player were;
Yet in his time he wrought as well as playd,
That by his plough-yrons mote right well ap-

peare:

Upon a crab he rode, that him did beare

With crooked crawling steps an uncouth pase, And backward yode,1 as bargemen wont to fare.

1 Yode, went.

Bending their force contráry to their face;

Like that ungracious crew which faines demurest

grace.

36 Then came hot Iuly boyling like to fire,
That all his garments he had cast away:
Upon a lyon raging yet with ire

He boldly rode, and made him to obay:
(It was the beast that whylome did forray
The Némæan forrest, till th' Amphytrionide
Him slew, and with his hide did him array :)
Behinde his backe a sithe, and by his side
Under his belt he bore a sickle circling wide.

37 The sixt was August, being rich arrayd

In garment all of gold downe to the ground:
Yet rode he not, but led a lovely mayd

Forth by the lilly hand, the which was cround
With eares of corne, and full her hand was found:

That was the righteous virgin1 which of old
Liv'd here on earth, and plenty made abound;
But, after wrong was lov'd and iustice solde,

She left th' unrighteous world, and was to heaven extold.2

3 Next him September marched eeke on foote; Yet was he heavy laden with the spoyle

1 I. e. Astræa.

2 Extold, raised up.

XXXV. 9. Like that ungracious crew.] Warton thinks that this is meant for a stroke against the Puritans, but they certainly feigned no grace at all. It may possibly allude to an affected inanner of retiring from a room without turning the back. C.

Of harvests riches, which he made his boot,1 And him enricht with bounty of the soyle: In his one hand, as fit for harvests toyle, He held a knife-hook; and in th' other hand A paire of waights, with which he did assoyle2 Both more and lesse, where it in doubt did stand, And equall gave to each as iustice duly scann'd.

39 Then came October full of merry glee;

8

5

For yet his noule was totty of the must, Which he was treading in the wine-fats see,1 And of the ioyous oyle, whose gentle gust Made him so frollick and so full of lust 6: Upon a dreadfull scorpion he did ride, The same which by Dianaes doom uniust Slew great Orion; and eeke by his side He had his ploughing-share and coulter ready tyde.

40 Next was November; he full grosse and fat, As fed with lard," and that right well might seeme; For he had been a fatting hogs of late,

That yet his browes with sweat did reek and steem, And yet the season was full sharp and breem;

1 Boot, booty.

2 Assoyle, decide.

3 I. e. his head was unsteady.

4 See, sea.

5 Gust, taste.

6 Lust, enjoyment.

7 Lard, bacon.

8 Breem, fierce, severe.

XXXIX. 7.- Dianaes doom uniust.] There are several accounts of the death of Orion. According to one, he boasted to Latona and Diana that he could kill anything that came from the earth. Offended at his presumption, they sent a scorpior to him, which stung him so that he died. C.

In planting eeke he took no small delight. Whereon he rode, not easie was to deeme; For it a dreadfull Centaure was in sight, The seed of Saturne and faire Nais, Chiron hight.

41 And after him came next the chill December: Yet he, through merry feasting which he made And great bonfires, did not the cold remember; His Saviours birth his mind so much did glad : Upon a shaggy-bearded goat he rade,

The same wherewith Dan Iove in tender yeares, They say, was nourisht by th' Idæan mayd;

And in his hand a broad deepe boawle he beares, Of which he freely drinks an health to all his peeres

42 Then came old Ianuary, wrapped well

In many weeds to keep the cold away; Yet did he quake and quiver like to quell,2 And blowe his nayles to warme them if he may ; For they were numbd with holding all the day An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray 3: Upon an huge great earth-pot steane he stood, From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Romane floud.5

43 And lastly came cold February, sitting
In an old wagon, for he could not ride,
Drawne of two fishes for the season fitting,

1 Weeds, clothes.
2 Quell, perish.
2 Spray, twig.

4 Earth-pot steane, earthen jar.

5 I. e. the Eridanus.

8

Which through the flood before did softly slyde And swim away; yet had he by his side

His plough and harnesse fit to till the ground, And tooles to prune the trees, before the pride Of hasting Prime1 did make them burgein 2 round. So past the twelve Months forth, and their dew places found.

44 And after these there came the Day and Night, Riding together both with equall pase ;

Th' one on a palfrey blacke, the other white:
But Night had covered her uncomely face
With a blacke veile, and held in hand a mace,
On top whereof the moon and stars were pight,
And Sleep and Darknesse round about did trace1:
But Day did beare upon his scepters hight

The goodly sun encompast all with beamës bright.

45 Then came the Howres, faire daughters of high Iove And timely Night; the which were all endewed With wondrous beauty fit to kindle love;

But they were virgins all, and love eschewed

5

That might forslack the charge to them fore

shewed

By mighty Iove; who did them porters make Of heavens gate, whence all the gods issued, Which they did dayly watch, and nightly wake By even turnes, ne ever did their charge forsake.

1 Prime, Spring.

2 Burgein, burgeon, bud. 8 Pight, placed.

4 Trace, move.

5 Forslack, delay.

6 Foreshewed, appointed.