Fantasticks June

I had not forgotten, just got a little behind with my homework this month.

Here is June from that strange work, Fantasticks, by Nicholas Breton, first published in 1626 and out of print for many a long year. I have been altruistically (lovely word) copying it out, month by month, since, when was it?

The word Bagge below means wine-skin, and I am told that a Tassell is a male hawking bird of some kind. Perhaps someone else could tell me exactly what kind.

JUNE

It is now June and the Hay-makers are mustered to make an army for the field, where not alwayes in order, they march under the Bagge and the Bottle, and betwixt the Forke and the Rake, there is seene great force of armes: Now doth the broad Oke comfort the weary Laborer, while under his shady Boughes he sits singing to his bread and cheese: the Hay-cocke is the Poore mans Lodging, and the fresh River is his gracious Neighbor: Now the Faulcon and the Tassell try their wings at the Partridge, and the fat Bucke fils the great pasty: the trees are all in their rich aray: but the seely Sheep is turned out of his coat: the Roses and sweet Herbes put the Distiller to his cunning, while the greene apples on the tree are ready for the great bellied wives: Now begins the Hare to gather up her heeles, and the Foxe lookes about him, for feare of the Hound: the Hooke and the Sickle are making ready for harvest: the Medow grounds gape for raine, and the Corne in the eare begins to harden: and the little Lads make Pipes of the straw, and they that cannot dance, will yet bee hopping: the Ayre now groweth somewhat warme, and the Coole winds are very comfortable: the Sayler now makes merry passage, and the nimble Foot-man runnes with pleasure: In briefe, I thus conclude, I hold it a sweet season, the senses perfume and the spirits comfort.

Farewell.

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Author: Low Wattage

Expat Welshman, educated (somewhat) in UK, left before it became fashionable to do so. Now a U.S. Citizen, and recent widower, playing with retirement and house remodeling, living in Delaware and rural Maryland (weekends).

6 thoughts on “Fantasticks June”

  3. But no, I found this in LW’s archive: “It is long out of print, and several years ago Chistopher Howse of the Telegraph took the trouble to transcribe it over the period of a year. I thought it delightful and still do. Here is October, compete with its fanciful spelling.”

  5. When I was small a big farm near us used to build a whole street (virtually) of Hay-cockes a good mile from the farmyard. Lovely old fashioned ones, unbaled and properly thatched, I used to go past them regularly, all sorts of suspicious holes used to appear like an emmental cheese over the following months, what with courting couples and tramps. Quite amusing, rural children are far too knowing!

    From the description I think that summer used to happen earlier then than now, grains harden in July more likely in the UK these days. Very rarely is it cropped earlier than late July/August and it takes several weeks from hardening to ripening.

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