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 white 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," 



' Hinc sua majores tribuere vocabula Maio, 

 Junis a invenum nomine dictus adest." 



Ovid. 



