ORCHIDS, 59 
And in his hand a iavelin he did beare, 
And on his head, as fit for warlike stoures,* 
A guilt, engraven morion he did weare; 
That, as some did him love, so others did him feare. 
Then came the iolly Sommer, being dight 
In a thin silken cassock coloured greene, 
That was unlyned all, to be more light: 
And on his head a girlond well beseene 
He wore, from which, as he had chauffed been, 
The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore 
A boawe and shaftes, as he in forrest greene 
Had hunted late the libbard + or the bore, 
And now would bathe his limbes, with labor heated sore. 
Then came the Autumne, all in yellow clad, 
As though he ioyéd in his plentious store, 
Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad 
That he had banisht hunger, which to-fore 
Had by the belly oft him pinchéd sore: 
Upon his head a wreath, that was enrold 
With eares of corne of every sort, he bore; 
And in his hand a sickle he did holde, 
To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold. t 
Lastly came Winter, cloathéd all in frize, 
Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill; 
Whil’st on his hoary beard his breath did freese, 
And the dull drops, that from his purpled bill 
As from a limbeck § did adown distill: 
In his right hand a tippéd staffe he held, 
With which his feeble steps he stayéd still; 
For he was faint with cold, and weak with eld; || 
That scarse his looséd limbes he hable was to weld. 
SPENSER. 
* Strifes. t Leopard. ¢ Vielded. § Alembic. | Age. q Wield. 
