FLORAL EMBLEMS. 43 



A branch of hawthorn in full flower, sup- 

 porting a nest of young birds '* demanding 

 food with constant clamour," is presented as 

 the emblem of May. 



" May," says Peacham, " must be drawn 

 with a sweet and amiable countenance, clad 

 in a robe of w^hite and green, embroidered 

 with daffodilles, hawthorn, and blewbottles ; 

 upon his head a garland of white, damask, and 

 red roses ; in one hand a lute, upon the fore- 

 finger of the other a nightingale, with the 

 sign gemini : it was called Mains a majoribus ; 

 for Romulus having divided the people of 

 Rome into two parts, majores and minores^ 

 whereof the younger were appointed to defend 

 their country by strength, the elder by counsel. 



May, so called in the honour of one, and 

 June of the other," 



" Uinc sua majores tribiicrc vocabula Maio, 

 .funis a inienuni uonuuc dictus adesf.'' 



(hid. 



