You May (Huh?) have been wondering where Nicholas Breton’s portrait is, since it’s now the second of the month.
Nicholas Breton expected dripping clouds in May
Well, here it is, copied from his Fantasticks, published in 1626 and now out of print.
May
It is now May, and the sweetnesse of the Aire refresheth every spirit: the sunny beames bring forth faire Blossomes, and the dripping Clouds water Floraes great garden: the male Deere puts out the velvet head, and the pagged Doe is neere her fawning: The Sparhawke now is drawne out of the mew, and the Fowler makes ready his whistle for the Quaile: the Larke sets the morning watch, and the evening the Nightingale: the Barges like Bowers keep the streames of the sweet Rivers, and the Mackrell with the Shad are taken prisoners in the Sea: the tall young Oke is cut downe for the Maypole: the Sithe and the Sickle are the Mowers furniture, and Fayre weather make the Labourer merry: the Physitian now prescribes the cold Whey, and the Apothecary gathers the dew for a medecine: Butter & Sage make the wholsome breakfast, but fresh cheese and creame are meat for a dainty mouth: and the Strawbery and the Pescod want no price in the market: the Chicken and the Ducke are fatned for the market, and many a Goslin never lives to be Goose. It is the moneth wherein Nature hath her full of mirth, and the Senses are filled with delights. I conclude, It is from the Heavens a Grace, & to the Earth a Gladnesse.
Farewell.
A few learned observations:
Pagged means pregnant.
Sparhwake is sparrow-hawk.
Sithe is a scythe.
Nor was it usual in his time to use apostrophes with nouns in the genitive. (kindly remember you heard that here first)
Both Shad and Strawberry seasons are in full swing here, (Asparagus too), no sign of fresh peas yet.
Boadicea's Chariot 
I do enjoy these extracts, LW.
Talking of Sparhwakes, do you remember this?
https://charioteers.org/2012/03/14/sparrowhawk-outside-my-kitchen-door/
LW, how true! We’re at our new woodland home every day to prepare for our move and “Nature hath her full of mirth, and the Senses are filled with delights”. The beech trees are about to burst and the magnolia blosoms opening to the sun. Even the deer have left their calling calling cards by the garden gate.
Spot on for here on the W coast. Thank you.
Asparagus in full swing, early peas about 15″ high, broad beans about 12″ Magnolias gone, tulips and rhodies in full swing. Rose buds swelling wisteria flowering in town and laburnum showing too.
Best wishes for your move janus.
It is just so … abundant! I fear my senses have been overwhelmed. Wonderful stuff, JW!
It’s fecund alright! My youngest daughter, long referred to as the career-girl, has unexpectedly announced her pregnancy and plans to nest post-haste with her fella. Fecund great!
Do I take it you are underwhelmed by May’s unexpected bounty, Janus?
Not at all, Bilbers! nothing wrong with eight, correction nine, grandchildren, is there? I really do think it’s fecund great! 🙂