THERE often wanders one, whom better days And dream of transports she was not to know. Worn as a cloak, and hardly hides, a gown More tatter'd still; and both but ill conceal And hoards them in her sleeve; but needful food, I KNOW a bank where the wild thyme blows, The Sofa. Midsummer's Dream. Day. 1. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou fall'st.-Hymn. Births. Cal. Thomas Plantagenet (of Brotherton), Earl of Norfolk, 1300. Deaths. Eugenius I. (Pope), 658. Henry Dandolo, 1205. St. Sophia, Constantinople. Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, Christopher Marlowe, 1593. St. Nicholas, Deptford. 1560. Nicholas Poussin, 1594, Andely Samuel Werenfels, 1740. died, Secretary John Thurloe, 1616, Robert le Lorraine, 1743. died, Sir John Dugdale, 1628, Shu- Peter Joseph Desault, 1795. stoke. Obits of the Latin Church. St. Pamphilus, of Casarea in Palestine, Martyr, 309. Lerins, d. 430. St. Peter of Pisa, Hermit, d. [St. Nicomede, Martyr, 1st Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school : and whereas, before, our fore fathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used. Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not o' God's name. Jack Cade. A tale out of season is as music in mourning.-Ecclesiasticus. At Sestos Hero dwelt; Hero the fair, Whom young Apollo courted for her hair; And offer'd as a dower his burning throne, Where she should sit for men to gaze upon.-Marlowe. Acts. THE MONTHS. This is the most harmonious of the months, the meridian of the seasons, and the goal of the year. The sixth Julian month, Junius, corresponds with the fourth moon, Payni, in the ancient, and the tenth of the modern Egyptian year; with the tenth historical, and the fourth sacred moon, Thammug, of the Hebrews; with the tenth moon, Di, of the Persians; with the tenth moons, Panemus, Archijerius, and Peritius, of the Syro-Macedonians, Paphians, and Bithynians; with the tenth moons, Lene, Boua, and Marieri, of the Ethiopians, Copts, and Armenians; with the ninth solar month, Haziran, of the Syrians; with the first month, HECATOMBEON (commencing about the solstice), of the Athenian year; the tenth, Lous, of the Macedonians, and the sixth, Dæsius, of their solar year; and with the twelfth and concluding months (in which the intercalations are made) Dulkagiadath and Zilkigge, of the Arabians and Turks. By the Germans it is called Zomer month; and the Anglo-Saxons named it Sere month (from the dryness of the atmosphere); but more anciently Weyd month," because their beasts did then weyd in the meadows, that is to say, go to feed there; and hereof a meadow is also in the Teutonic called a weyd; and of weyd, we yet retain our word wade, which we understand of going through watery places, such as meadows are wont to be." The calends or first of June was dedicated by the Romans to Juno Moneta (the counsellor), within the temple of the Mint, which was vowed by Camillus; also to Mars (for now the eagle rises) and Tempestas, in their several fanes; the latter was votive by Marcellus, upon his escape from a storm in the Sardinian sea; and lastly to Cardinea, the goddess of the Hinge, a type of her power in divination and astronomy. A cake of beans and barley, with slices of bacon, were the established meal upon this lady's festival. Carna is one of the titles of the moon. Pity it is that wit so ill should dwell, Wit lent from heaven, but vices sent from hell. Return from Parnassus. And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare, An equal portion dealt to all mankind: As diff'rent good, by Art or Nature giv'n To diff'rent nations, makes their blessings ev'n.-The Traveller. Acts. The Romans dedicated this month to Mercury, the tutelary god of merchants and travellers, and probably the father of navigation. The capture of Jotapata, under Vespasian, took place upon the first day of Panemus, in the 13th year of Nero, B. C. 67. The city was demolished, entombing forty thousand Jews, the number of the slain. The rebellion of Jack Cade, who impudently assumed the name of Mortimer. This insurgent encamped on Blackheath, at the head of twenty thousand tag-rag and bob-tail, the 17th of June, 1450. Queen Anne Boleyn is crowned upon Whit Sunday, 1533. The great naval engagement between the English and Dutch, which continued during four days, 1666. Evelyn notes, ""Twas on the solemn fast day when the news came; his Majesty being in the chapel, made a sudden stop to hear the relation, which being with much advantage on our side, he commanded that public thanks should immediately be given as for a victory. But this was no sooner over, than news came that our loss was very great, both in ships and men; that the Prince frigate was burnt, and as noble a vessel of ninety brass guns lost, and the taking of Sir George Ayscue, and exceeding shattering of both fleets, so as both being obstinate, both parted rather for want of ammunition and tackle than courage, our general [Monk] retreating like a lion; which exceedingly abated of our former joy. There was, however, orders given for bonfires and bells; but God knows it was rather a deliverance than a triumph." Pepys observes, "the guns were heard at Greenwich," and that "we were the defeated." De Witt introduced his invention of chainshot in this engagement, which he pointed with effect at the rigging. Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never. Thence many vainly raging seas It bore its master through; Upon the canvass blew; Or, prosperous to its course, the gale Spread full and square the straining sail.–Catullus. acts. In Grey's debates is the following entry, 1675: “Some ladies were in the gallery, peeping over the gentlemen's shoulders. The Speaker spying them, called out, "What borough do those ladies serve for?" To which Sir W. Coventry replied, "They serve for the Speaker's chamber." Sir Thomas Littleton said, "Perhaps the Speaker may mistake them for gentlemen with fine sleeves, dressed like ladies." Says the Speaker, "I am sure I saw petticoats." Some years since, Madame de Staël was noticed sitting en habit d'homme, in a surtout and military indescribables, listening to the debate, under the protection, it has been stated, of a distinguished living ornament of the interior. A whirlwind at Charleston, the capital of South Carolina, 1761. Lady Montagu describes a most magnificent Regatta at Venice, 1740. It is a race of boats, accompanied by gilded vessels or machines, called Piotes, or Bichones, rowed by gondoliers.-See 2nd June. The French carry off all the inhabitants of Turk's Island in the West Indies, with nine English vessels, 1764. The number of slaves imported to Jamaica in that year was ten thousand two hundred and twenty-three. Lord Howe's famous victory in the Atlantic Ocean, off Ushant, 1794. Captain Broke, in the Shannon, engages the American frigate, Chesapeake, 1813. "The ships were soon in close contact, when Captain Broke, discerning a favourable opportunity, gave orders for boarding, himself setting the example. The conflict was bloody, but short: the American's decks were cleared in two minutes, her colours were hauled down, and the British flag hoisted over them, and she was led away in triumph in the sight of all her friends, who were expecting her victorious return." -"How now!" said the Admiral-" is Captain Broke on deck?" About this time it is mid-winter at La Plata in South America. Her lips for honey bees have sought in vain, And beat from thence, have lighted there again.-Marlowe. |