by Cupid, with his Bow strung, and in a Posture
to let fly an Arrow: As he passed by methought
I heard a confused Noise of soft Complaints, gentle
Ecstacies, and tender Sighs of Lovers; Vows of Constancy,
and as many Complainings of Perfidiousness; all
which the Winds wafted away as soon as they had
reached my Hearing. After these I saw a Man advance
in the full Prime and Vigour of his Age, his Complexion
was sanguine and ruddy, his Hair black, and fell
down in beautiful Ringlets not beneath his Shoulders,
a Mantle of Hair-colour’d Silk hung loosely
upon him: He advanced with a hasty Step after
the Spring, and sought out the Shade and
cool Fountains which plaid in the Garden. He
was particularly well pleased when a Troop of Zephyrs
fanned him with their Wings: He had two Companions
who walked on each Side that made him appear the
most agreeable, the one was Aurora with Fingers
of Roses, and her Feet dewy, attired in grey:
The other was Vesper in a Robe of Azure beset
with Drops of Gold, whose Breath he caught whilst
it passed over a Bundle of Honey-Suckles and Tuberoses
which he held in his Hand. Pan and Ceres
followed them with four Reapers, who danced a Morrice
to the Sound of Oaten Pipes and Cymbals. Then
came the Attendant Months. June retained still
some small Likeness of the Spring; but the
other two seemed to step with a less vigorous Tread,
especially August, who seem’d almost to
faint whilst for half the Steps he took the Dog-Star
levelled his Rays full at his Head: They passed
on and made Way for a Person that seemed to bend
a little under the Weight of Years; his Beard and Hair,
which were full grown, were composed of an equal
Number of black and grey; he wore a Robe which he
had girt round him of a yellowish Cast, not unlike
the Colour of fallen Leaves, which he walked upon.
I thought he hardly made Amends for expelling the
foregoing Scene by the large Quantity of Fruits
which he bore in his Hands. Plenty walked by
his Side with an healthy fresh Countenance, pouring
out from an Horn all the various Product of the
Year. Pomona followed with a Glass of Cyder
in her Hand, with Bacchus in a Chariot drawn
by Tygers, accompanied by a whole Troop of Satyrs,
Fauns, and Sylvans. September, who came next,
seem’d in his Looks to promise a new Spring,
and wore the Livery of those Months. The succeeding
Month was all soiled with the Juice of Grapes, as
if he had just come from the Wine-Press. November,
though he was in this Division, yet, by the many
Stops he made seemed rather inclined to the Winter,
which followed close at his Heels. He advanced
in the Shape of an old Man in the Extremity of Age:
The Hair he had was so very white it seem’d a
real Snow; his Eyes were red and piercing, and his
Beard hung with a great Quantity of Icicles:
He was wrapt up in Furrs, but yet so pinched with
Excess of Cold that his Limbs were all contracted and