144 tTbe (Barren 



away as soon as they had reached my hearing. 

 After these I saw a man advance in the full 

 prime and vigor 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-colored silk hung 

 loosely upon him. He advanced with a hasty 

 step after the Spring, and sought out the shade 

 and cool fountains which played 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 gray. 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 honeysuckles 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 

 seemed 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 



