immediately rofe from my couch, and went down into it. You defcend at firit by twelve ftone fteps into a large fquare divided into four grafs-plots, in each of which is a ftatue of white marble. This is feparated from a large parterre by a low wall, and from thence thro' a pair of iron gates, you are led into a long broad walk of the fineft turf, fet on each fide with tall yews, and on either hand bordered by a canal, which on the right divides the walk from a wildernefs parted into variety of allies and arbours, and on the left from a kind of amphitheatre, which is the receptacle of a great number of oranges and myrtles. The moon fhore bright, and feemed then most agreeably to fupply the place of the fun, obliging me with as much light as was neceffary to difcover a thoufand pleafing objects, and at the fame time divefted of all power of heat. The reflexion of it in the water, the fanning of the ⚫ wind ruffling on the leaves, the finging of the thrush and nightingale, and the coolness of the walks, all confpired to make me lay afide all difpleafing thoughts, and brought me into fuch a tranquillity of mind, as is I believe the next happiness to that of hereafter. In this fweet retirement I naturally fell into the repetition of fome lines out of a poem of Milton's, which he intitles Il Penferofo, the ideas of which were exquifitely fuited to my prefent wandrings of thought.

Sweet bird! that fhun'ft the noise of folly,
Moft mufical! most melancholy!
Thee, chauntress, oft, the woods among,
I woo to hear thy evening fong:
And miffing thee, I walk u Jeen
On the dry fmooth-fhaven green,
To behold the wandring moon,
Riding near her highest noon,
Like one that hath been led aftray,
Thro' the Heav'ns wide pathlefs way,
And of, as if her head jhe bow'd,
Stooping thro' a fleecy cloud.

Then let fome frange myfterious dream
Wave with its wings in airy fiream.

of

Of lively portraiture difplaid,
Softly on my eyelids laid:

And as I wake, fweet mufic breathe
Above, about, or underneath,
Sent by fpirits to mortals good,
Or the unfeen genius of the wood.

I reflected then upon the fweet viciffitudes of night and day, on the charming difpofition of the seasons, and their return again in a perpetual circle; And oh-! • faid I, that I could from thefe my declining years return again to my firft fpring of youth and vigour ; but that, alas! is impoffible: All that remains within my power, is to foften the inconveniences I feel, ⚫ with an eafy contented mind, and the enjoyment of fuch delights as this folitude affords me. In this thought I fat me down on a bank of flowers and dropt into a flumber, which whether it were the effect of fumes and vapours, or my prefent thoughts, I know not; but methought the genius of the garden • stood before me, and introduced into the walk where I lay this drama and different fcenes of the revolution of the year, which whilst I then faw, even in my dream, I resolved to write down, and fend to the SPECTATOR.

The first perfon whom I saw advancing towards me, was a youth of a most beautiful air and fhape, tho' he feemed not yet arrived at that exact proportion and fymmetry of parts which a little more time would have given him; but however, there was fuch a bloom in his countenance, fuch fatisfaction and joy, that I thought it the moft defirable form that I had ever feen. He was clothed in a flowing mantle of green filk, interwoven with flowers: He had a chaplet of rofes on his head, and a Narciffus in his hand ; primroses and violets sprang up under his feet, and all nature was cheer'd at his approach. Flora was on " one hand, and Vertumnus on the other in a robe of changeable filk. After this I was furprised to see the 'moon-beams reflected with a fudden glare from armour, and to fee a man compleatly armed advancing with his fword drawn. I was foon informed by the

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genius it was Mars, who had long ufurped a place. among the attendants of the fpring. He made way for a fofter appearance: It was Venus, without any ornanament but her own beauties, not so much as her own <ceftus, with which fhe had encompafs'd a globe, which fhe held in her right hand, and in her left she had a fcepter of gold. After her followed the Graces with their arms entwined within one another: their girdles were loofed,. and they moved to the found of foft mufic, ftriking the ground alternately with their feet. Then came up the three months which belong to this feafon. 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 forwards his features became infenfibly more mild and gentle: He fmooth'd his brow, and looked with fo fweet a countenance that I could ⚫ not but lament his departure, though he made way for April. He appeared in the greatest gaiety imaginable, ⚫ and had a thoufand pleasures to attend him: His look was frequently clouded, but immediately returned to its. 'firft compofure, and remained fixed in a smile. Then came May, attended by Cupid, with his bow ftrung, and in a posture to let fly an arrow: As he paffed by, methought I heard a confused noise of foft complaints, gentle extafies, and tender fighs of lovers; vows of conftancy, and as many complainings of perfidiousnefs; all which the winds wafted away as foon as they had reached my hearing. After these I saw a man advance in the full prime and vigour of his age: his complexion was fanguine and ruddy, his hair black, and ⚫ fell down in beautiful ringlets beneath his shoulders • a mantle of hair-colour'd filk hung loosely upon him : He advanced with a hafty step after the Spring, and fought out the fhade and cool fountains which play'd in the garden. He was particularly well pleafed when 6 a troop of Z.phyrs fanned him with their wings He had two companions who walked on each fide, that made him appear the moft agreeable, the one was Aurora with fingers of rofes, and her feet dewy, attired in gray: The other was Vefper in a robe of azure befet with drops of gold, whofe breath he caught

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• whilft

whilft it paffed over a bundle of honey-fuckles, and tuberofes which he held in his hand. Pan and Ceres followed them with four reapers, who danced a mor"rice to the found of oaten pipes and cymbals. Then came the attendant months. June retained ftill fome fmall likeness of the Spring; but the other two feemed to ftep with a lefs vigorous tread, especially August, who feem'd almoft to faint, whilft for half the steps he took the dog-ftar levelled his rays full at his head : They paffed on and made way for a person that seemed to bend a little under the weight of years; his beard • and hair, which were full grown, were compofed of an, equal number of black and gray; he wore a robe which he had girt round him of a yellowish caft, not unlike the colour of fallen leaves, which he walked, upon. I thought he hardly made amends for expelling the foregoing fcene by the large quantity of fruits which he bore in his hands. Plenty walked by his fide with an healthy fresh countenance, pouring out from an horn all the various products of the year. Pomona followed with a glafs of cider in her hand, with Bacchus in a chariot drawn by tigers, accompanied by a whole troop of fatyrs, fauns, and fylvans. September, "who came next, feem'd in his looks to promise a new Spring, and wore the livery of thofe months. The fucceeding month was all foiled with the juice of grapes, as if he had juft come from the wine-prefs. November, though he was in this divifion, yet by the many stops he made feemed rather inclined to the Winter, which ⚫ followed close at his heels. He advanced in the shape of an old man in the extremity of age: The hair he had was fo very white it feem'd a real fnow; his eyes were red and piercing, and his beard hung with a great quantity of ificles: He was wrapt up in furrs, but yet fo pinched with excefs of cold that his limbs were all contracted, and his body bent to the ground, so that he could not have fupported himself had it not ⚫ been for Comus the god of revels, and Neceffity the • mother of Fate, who fuftained him on each fide. The fhape and mantle of Comus was one of the things that moft furprised me; as he advanced towards me, hist countenance feemed the moft defirable i had ever feen:

• On

On the fore part of his mantle was pictured joy, de light and fatisfaction, with a thousand emblems of merriment, and jefts with faces looking two ways at · once; but as he paffed from me I was amazed at a thape fo little correfpondent to his face: His head was bald, and all the rest of his limbs appeared old and deformed. On the hinder part of his mantle was reprefented Murder with difheveled hair and a dagger all bloody, Anger in a robe of fcarlet, and Sufpicion fquinting with both eyes; but above all the moft confpicuous was the • battle of the Lapithe and the Centaurs. I detefted fo hideous a fhape, and turned my eyes upon Saturn, who was ftealing away behind him with a scythe in one hand ⚫ and an hour-glafs in t'other unobferved. Behind Neceffity was Vefa the goddess of fire, with a lamp which was perpetually fupplied with oil, and whofe flame' was eternal. She cheer'd the rugged brow of Neceffity, and warmed her fo far as almost to make her affume the features and likenefs of Choice. December, January, and February, paffed on after the rest all in furrs; there was little diftinction to be made amongst them, and they were more or lefs difpleafing as they difcovered nore or less hafte towards the grateful return of Spring. Z

O facred hunger of pernicious gold!

What bands of faith can impious lucre hold!

DRYDEN.

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rying me in his coach into the country to dinner, fell into difcourfe concerning the care of parents due to their children, and the piety of children towards their parents. He was reflecting upon the fucceffion of particular virtues and qualities there might be preserved VOL. VI.

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