The following delightful verses are rendered very closely into our language by Mr. Thomas Roscoe, from the old German of earl Conrad of Kirchberg, a minnesinger of the twelfth century SONG. May, sweet May, again is come, On the laughing hedgerow's side Hill and dale are May's own treasures; Sing ye, join the chorus gay! We the bursting flowers will see: Sing ye! join the chorus gay Hail this merry, merry May! ! In May every field with hedgerows and bushes is a birdmeadow. During the middle and latter part of the vernal season the business of nest-making takes place, and the first broods are hatched, fledged, and fly before the close of the period, during which time the male birds are in full song. Each bird has a note or a modulation of notes peculiar to himself, yet many decidedly imitate the notes of others. The blackcap, the thrush, and many other birds mock the nightingale; and hence, in the north and west of England, where nightingales do not abound, the note of these mocking songsters is less musical and less varied. To note the average days on which birds arrive, by listening to their notes as well as by seeing them, is a very pleasant amusement during the bright fine weather of a vernal morning. The cooing of the ringdove, the wild pigeon, and the turtle, is characteristic of the spring; but the great mark of the vernal season is the well known song of the cuckoo. His voice is neard through all May; he becomes noarse, and sings seldomer in the solstitial season; before the commencement of the aestival he ceases his note, and emigrates. The cuckoo in gene:al builds no nest, budeposits her solitary egg in the nest of another bird, generally the hedge spart row's, though she occasionally resorts to that of the water wagtail, titlark, &c., by whom the egg is hatched. Early in the season, the cuckco begins with the interval of a minor third; the bird then proceeds to a major third, next to a fourth, then a fifth, after which his voice breaks out without attaining a minor sixth. An old Norfolk proverb says, In April the cuckoo shows his bill, In May he sing, night and day, In July away he fly, In August away he must. The insects of the vernal season are numerous, and there are certain fine days in which thousands of species make their first appearance together. The early sulphur butterfly, which is the first in the last season, is now seen every fine day, and is soon followed by the tortoiseshell, the peacock, and lastly by the white cabbage butterflies. During the vernal season the march of vegetation, the development of leaves on the trees and the flowering of plants, is rapid. From the very commencement to the end of the period, some new flower is added every day. Early in May the creeping crowfoot in the uplands, and the buttercups in the low meadows, clothe the grass with a brilliant golden yellow, while in other places on shady slopes, and on ground over which the trees may have been newly felled, the field hyacinth covers the whole surface with its rich blue flowers; the meadow lychnis succeeds, until all are cut down in the great mowing of meadow hay. During this period the banks are still covered with primroses and violets, and here and there with pilewort; in the hedges the black thorn first, and wards the white thorn, blossom. In the chard a succession of blossoms on the plum, the cherry, the pear, and the apple trees impart unspeakable beauty to the scene. The husbandman looks with a prospective pleasure at these promises of plenty in the orchard, and daily tends and watches the "setting" of the fruit. The gardens teem and glow with varieties of the richest flowers The bright ultramarine blue of the Cynoglossum Omphalodes, and of the Veronica Chamaedrys, which covers every bank in May, and the blue harebell, is as common as the yellow crowsfoot. Early in the month the standard tulips are in full blow and exhibiting every stripe, tint, and variety of color. Towards the middle of the month the rich crimson of the piony and the bright ligt red of the monkey poppy come into blow at nearly the same time, yet there are individual plants of the monkey poppy which always blow a month later than the rest, beginning early in June, and continuing far into the solstitial season. The young plants propagated from these do the same, and may be called a permanent variety, belonging to the solstitial instead of the vernal Flora, and vies with the common garden poppy, a fine ornament of the summer solstice. The yellow poppy now flowers fully, and continues to blow sparingly all the summer. see, E'en 10ads, where danger hourly comes, Are not without its purple blooms, Whose leaves, with threat'ning thistles round Thick set, that have no strength to wound, Shrink into childhood's eager hold of gold Like hair; and, with its eye And scarlet-starry points of flowers, Pimpernel, dreading nights and showers, Oft called "the Shepherd's Weather-glass," That sleeps till suns have dried the grass, Then wakes, and spreads its creeping bloom Till clouds with threatening shadows come→→ Then close it shuts to sleep again : Which weeders and talk of rain; And boys, that mark them shut so soon, Call" John that goes to bed at noon: And fumitory too--a name That superstition holds to fameWhose red and purple mottled flowers Are cropped by maids in weeding hours, To boil in water, milk, and whey, For washes on a holiday, To make their beauty fair and sleek, And scare the tan from summer's cheek; And simple small "Forget-me-not," Eyed with a pin's head yellow spot I' the middle of its tender blue, That gains from poets notice due :These flowers, that toil by crowds destroys Robbing them of their lowly joys, Had met the May with hopes as sweet Clare. Dr. T. Forster, Ency. of Nat. Phenomena. Towards the close of the vernal season the weather gets warmer, and is generally fine and dry, or else refreshed by showers; it is, however, seldom hotter than what may be called temperate, and the nights, when the wind is northerly, are still cold. The blossoms of the fruit trees gradually go off, the grass in the meadows gets high, and partially obscures the yellow ranunculi which decorated them in spring, and by the first week in June the setting in of the solstitial season is manifest by the blowing of a new set of plants and the absence of dark night.* ALIMENTARY CALENDAR. Turtle, the great West Indian luxury, generally arrives about the latter end of May, or the beginning of June, though from the uncertainties of a sea voyage no exact period for its first appearance can be fixed. In 1814 it was so unusually late that at the magnificent banquet given in Guildhall to the Emperor of Russia and to the King of Prussia, on the 18th of June, there was no turtle to be had. A supply was announced at Portsmouth on the very day, but as this civic dignitary, like other great personages, requires much time to dress, he could not possibly be Great was the present on the occasion. disappointment of the corporation. An alderman might have apostrophised with as much fervor as Macbeth did on the absence of Banquo at supper, and with more sincerity Here had we now our table's honor roof'd, Were the grac'd person of our turtle present. Consolation, however, was probably derived from the satisfactory assurance that the arrival of the long-expected guest, after he had braved the perils of the sea, would afford another festival, for the ex press purpose of welcoming, and beholding him in all his glory. The weight of a turtle varies from thirty to 500 or 600 pounds, and the The price from 2s. 6d. to 5s. per lb. cooking is generally performed by a professed "artist," whose fee is from one to two guineas. Epicures of note have been known to prefer it cut into steaks and broiled, to be eaten with melted butter, Cayenne pepper, and the juice of a Seville orange, and say that the flesh thus simply . dressed retains more of its true flavor than when made into callipash and callipee. Calf's head, which is susceptible of as many culinary operations as the head of an ingenious cook can devise, forms the basis of a soup called mock-turtle, and, in cases of emergency, may serve as an augmentative ingredient to real turtle soup. Buck venison is now introduced at polite tables, and continues in season until the end of September. The price of a prime haunch is from three to five guineas. The next best joint is the neck, which is proportionably lower in value. The shoulders, breast, and scrags, generally etch from ten to fourteen pence a pound. Forest venison is the smallest and finest flavored. In the choice of this rich meat the principal criterion is the fat, which in a young buck will be thick, bright, and clear, the cleft smooth and close a wide tough cleft denotes age. Salmon, sturgeon, lobsters, turbot, haddock, eels, and whitings, as well as crabs, prawns, and shrimps, continue generally through the summer season. After the close of this month, the John dory and the gurnet are no longer admissible. In addition to eels, carp, tench, and perch, the prince of fresh-water fish, the trout, is produced, and forms a very favorite repast during the remainder of the sunmer, SEASONABLE, PERHAPS — An oid Hebrew says, "Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom," and "they that were of understanding in sayings became also wise themselves, and poured forth exquisite parables." Among the sayings and counsels of this ancient writer, he advises to "refrain thyself from thine appetites" and he helps a man who is "given to appetite," with a reason or two-"If thou givest thy soul the desires that please her, she will make thee a laughing-stock to thine enemies that malign thee.-Take not pleasure in much good cheer, neither be tied to the expense thereof.-Be not made a beggar by banqueting upon borrowing, when thou hast nothing in thy purse; for thou shalt lie in wait for thine own life, and be talked on." There is much, and better matter, to the purpose, in the Book with which the preceding writer's work is occasionally bound. VEGETABLE GARDEN DIRECTORY. Indian corn, the dwarf variety, as early in the month as possible; dwarf kidney beans, for a full crop, about the first week, and again towards the end of the month. Scarlet and white runners, either in drill or seed beds; in the second week. Peas and beans for succession crops, as the earlier sowings appear above ground. Carrots, for drawing young; once or twice. Brocoli, purple caps, for autumnal supply; in the third or fourth week. Portsmouth, white and purple, for the following spring; in the first week. Borecole, Brussel's sprouts, and any of the brassica tribe, for succession crops; during the month Turnip, the Dutch, and Swedish; once or twice. Cucumbers, either for picklers or for late supply; about the second week. Onions, for drawing while young, or for bulbs, to plant in the spring; in the third week. Lettuce, the coss or capuchin, for sallads; at any time. Scorzonera, salsafy, skirret; in the first or second week. Plant Potatoes, the winter main crops throughout the month. ransplant Cabbages from the seed beds; and cauliflowers. Celery into nursery rows, or some of the strongest plants into the final trenches. for early autumnal use; in the fourth week. Attend to regularity, order, and neat ness. Epitaph on a Gardener. Beneath this sod an honest gardener's laid, In a garden there is always something required to be done, which, in the doing, tendeth to compose the mind, if it be turmoiled; or affordeth pastime, if it be weary of calmness. Therefore it is that the business of a garden is a quiet and pleasant recreation to all who are over-fatigued with thought, or disturbed with the cares of the world; and hence the wisest actors in human affairs, and the best benefactors to mankind, have in the ending of life sought gardening as a solace THE CALL OF THE MAY. Arise, ye true lovers, arise! Of your love This bright month of May, from your bosoms remove One bitter remembrance the joys to outweigh May 1. MAY DAY. In Shakspeare's play of King Henry VIII. there is a grand procession to the christening of the princess Elizabeth. The ap proach of the pageant attracts into the palace yard a multitude, who are desirous of catching a glimpse of the spectacle: their noise and tumult distract the porter at the palace gate-"an army cannot rule 'em "he scolds and rates in vain; and his man says to him Pray, sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible (Unless we sweep them from the door with cannons) To scatter em, az 'tis to make 'em sleep It were needless to require evidence beyond this record, by our great observer of men and manners, that our ancestors -rose up early, to observe The rite of May, There is "more matter for a May-morning," and the afterpart of a good " Mayday," in our old chroniclers and best poets, than could be compressed into such a volume as this. Great were the assemblages and outgoings from the city, on a May-day morning to fetch in May. More than 130 columns, and fourteen engravings, describe and illustrate this festival in the Every-Day Book and Table Book, and yet there still remains some seasonable information concerning Maydlay merriments and usages. Olaus Magnus, who wrote in the sixteenth century, relates that the southern Christine de Pisan. Swedes and Goths, that are very far from he Pole, have a custom, that on the first there should be two horse troops apday of May, when the sun is in Taurus, pointed of young and lusty men, as if they were to fight some hard conflict. One of these is led on by a captain, chosen by lot, who has the name and habit of winter. He is clothed with divers skins, and armed with fire-forks; and casting about snow-balls and pieces of ice, that he may prolong the cold, he rides up and down in triumph, and he shows and makes himself the harder, the more the icicles seem to hang from their stoves. The chieftain of the other troop is for summer, and is called captain Florio, and is clothed with green boughs and leaves, and summer garments that are not very strong. Both these ride from the fields into the city, from divers places, one after another, and with their fire-spears they fight, and make a public show, that summer hath conquered winter. Both sides striving to get the victory, that side more forcibly assaults the other which on that day seems to borrow more force from the air, whether temperate or sharp. If the winter yet breathes frost, they lay aside their spears, and, riding up and down, cast about upon the spectators ashes mingled with live sparks of fire taken from the graves, or from the altar; and they who in the same dress and habit are auxiliary troops cast fire-balls from their horses. Summer, with his band of horse, shows openly his boughs of birch, or tieltree, which are made green long before by art, as by the heat of their stoves and watering them, and privately brought in as if they newly came from the wood. But, because Nature is thus defrauded, those that fight for winter press on the more, that the victory may not be got by fraud; yet the sentence is given for summer by the favorable judgment of the people, who are unwilling to endure the sharp rigor of winter any longer; and so summer gets the victory with the general applause of them all, and he makes a gallant feast for his company, and confirms it by drinking cups, which he could scarcely win with spears. This sport is spoken of by Olaus Magnus as "the custom of driving away the winter, and receiving of summer." Our neighbours of France were great observers of May-day. In the journal of Charles VI., who commenced his reign in 1380, it is recorded that the "May" planted annually at the gate of the palace was cut from the Bois de Boulogne, a wood in which the sovereigns of the first race, when they dwelt in the palace of Clichy, were accustomed to sport, and in which the troops of Charles X. bivouacked the night before his departure into exile from the palace of St. Cloud. In 1449 the fraternity of master goldsmiths of Paris agreed, as an act of devotion, to present, annually, in the church of Notre Dame, to the Virgin, on the first of May, at midnight, a "May," or Maybough, before the principal door of the church of Notre Dame. They elected a prince for one year only, who was to settle the expenses of the "May." The May" was placed on a pillar, or shrine, in the form of a tabernacle, in the several faces of which were small niches, occupied by different figures of silk, gold, and silver, representing certain histories, and below them were explanatory inscriptions in French verse. The "May" remained at the great door from midnight till after vespers the next day, when it was transported, together with the pillar, before the image of the Virgin, near the choir, and the old "May" of the preceding year was removed into the chapel of St. Anne, to be kept there also a year. This ceremony was regularly observed till 1607, when the goldsmiths presented to the church a triangular tabernacle of wood, very curiously wrought, in which three paintings were enclosed; these paintings were presented and changed annually, Instead of the "May," and the old ones hung up in the chapel of St. Anne.* In the Every Day Book there is Stow's ample account of "Ill May Day," or the rising of the London 'prentices into fatal fray, on May-day, 1517, which occasioned the setting up of that great May-pole, or "shaft," from which the adjoining parish and church of St. Andrew were called St. Andrew Undershaft. It appears from the following ballad, that, to prevent a similar occurrence by reason of the great crowds on the festival, the old armed watch of the city was thenceforth set up on Mayeve. On account of the former popularity of this almost forgotten " garland," it is here inserted verbatim. THE STORY OF ILL MAY DAY, in the reign of king HENRY the Eighth, and why it was so called; and how Queen KATHERINE begged the lives of two thousand LONDON Appren tices.-lo the Tune of Essex Good Night. Peruse the stories of this land, And with advisement mark the same, And you shall justly understand How I May Day first got the name. For when king Henry th' eighth did reign And rul'd our famous kingdom here, His royal queen he had from Spain, With whom he liv'd full many a year. Queen Katherine nam'd, as stories tell, Some time his elder brother's wife; By which unlawful marriage fell An endless trouble during life: But such kind love he still conceiv d Of his fair queen, and of her friends, Which being by Spain and France perceiv d, Their journeys fast for England bends. And with good leave were suffered Within our kingdom here to stay, Which multitude made victuals dear, And all things else from day to day; For strangers then did so increase, By reason of king Henry's queen, To dwell, as was in London seen. At all to have no other intent: |