April as it Used to Be.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

April as it Used to Be.

In a work entitled " The Twelve," pub- ' lished in 1661, April is described with a:! glow of language that recalls the Shakes- : perian era:—" The youth of the country, make ready for the morris-dance, and the • merry milkmaid supplies them with ribbons,, her true love had given her. The little fishes lie nibbling at the bait, and the por- ■■ poise plays in the pride of the tide. The . shepherds entertain the princes of Arcadia ; with pleasant roundelays. The aged feel a; kind of youth, and youth hath a spirit full 1 of life andactiviby ; the aged hairs refreshen, ; and the youthful cheeks are as i-ed as a ; cherry. The lark and the lamb look up ab i :he sun, and the labourer is abroad by the i dawning of the day.. The sheep's eye and;} the lamb's head tells kindhearted minds ; strange tales, and faith and troth make the 1 true lover's knot. It were a world to seb ; down the worth of this month; for it i 3; heaven's blessing and the earth's comfort. ; : It is the messenger of many pleasures, the' courtier's progress, and the fanner's profit ;i the labourer's harvest, and the beggar's pil-;' grimage. In sum, there is mucn to be . spoken of it; but, to avoid tediousness, I j hold it, ill all that I can see in itT, the jewel j of time and the joy of nature. Hail April, truo Medea of the year, ' That makes all things younsr and fresh appear. What praise; what thanks, what commenda-' dations due, , • For tvll thy pearly drops of morning clew? Whori we despair, the seasonable showers -'. Comfort the corn, and chete «£he drooping flowers;. As if thy charity could not hut impart A shower of tear 3to see us out of heart. . «j Sweet, I havo penned thy, praise, but here l< bring it, In confidence the birds themselves will sing it, April, 1887, certainly does not tally with this description.