105 



CHAPTER V. 



MAY. 



May has ever been a favourite month; poets sing its 

 praise^ as uniting all the opening beauties of spring with 

 the brightness and radiance of summer, as glowing with 

 flowers, perfumed with sweet odours, and melodious with 

 the cheerful carolling of birds. ^' Goddess of the spring" 

 is only one among the many flattering epithets applied to it ; 

 and the poet Darwin says, 



'' For thee the fragrant zephyrs blow. 



For thee descends the sunny shower ; 

 The riUs in softer murmur flow, 



And brighter blossoms gem the bower." 



But the praises lavished so profusely were originally uttered 

 in more southern climates, and in oar northern latitude 



