Gbe Spectator 143 



ance ; it was Venus, without any ornament but 

 her own beauties, not so much as her own ces- 

 tus, with which she had encompassed a globe, 

 which she held in her right hand, and in her 

 left she had a sceptre of gold. After her fol- 

 lowed the Graces with their arms entwined with- 

 in one another ; their girdles were loosed and 

 they moved to the sound of soft music, striking 

 the ground alternately with their feet. Then 

 came up the three months which belong to this 

 season. As March advanced towards me, there 

 was, methought, in his look a louring roughness, 

 which ill befitted a month which was ranked in 

 so soft a season ; but as he came forward his 

 features became insensibly more mild and gen- 

 tle. He smoothed his brow, and looked with so 

 sweet a countenance that I could not but lament 

 his departure, though he made way for April. 

 He appeared in the greatest gayety imaginable, 

 and had a thousand pleasures to attend him. His 

 look was frequently clouded, but immediately 

 returned to its first composure, and remained 

 fixed in a smile. Then came May, attended 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 ecstasies, and tender sighs of lovers : 

 vows of constancy, and as many complainings of 

 perfidiousness ; all which the winds wafted 



