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A Masque of Days
by
The Last of Lent was spunging upon Shrovetide’s pancakes; which April Fool perceiving, told him he did well, for pancakes were proper to a good fry-day.
In another part a hubbub arose about the Thirtieth of January, who, it seems, being a sour puritanic character, that thought nobody’s meat good or sanctified enough for him, had smuggled into the room a calf’s head, which he had had cooked at home for that purpose, thinking to feast thereon incontinently; but as it lay in the dish March Many-weathers, who is a very fine lady, and subject to the meagrims, screamed out there was a “human head in the platter,” and raved about Herodias’ daughter to that degree, that the obnoxious viand was obliged to be removed; nor did she recover her stomach till she had gulped down a Restorative, confected of Oak Apple, which the merry Twenty-Ninth of May always carries about with him for that purpose.
The King’s health being called for after this, a notable dispute arose between the 12th of August (a zealous old Whig gentlewoman), and the Twenty Third of April (a new-fangled lady of the Tory stamp) as to which of them should have the honour to propose it.
August grew hot upon the matter, affirming time out of mind the prescriptive right to have lain with her, till her rival basely supplanted her;
April Fool being made mediator, confirmed the right
in the strongest form of words to the appellant, but
decided for peace’ sake that the exercise of it should
remain with the present possessor.
It beginning to grow a little duskish, Candlemas lustily bawled out for lights which was opposed by all the Days, who protested against burning daylight. Then fair water was handed round in silver ewers, and the same lady was observed to take an unusual time in washing herself.
May-Day, with that sweetness which is peculiar to her, in a neat speech proposing the health of the founder, crowned her goblet, {and by her example the rest of the company} with garlands. This being done, the lordly New Year from the upper end of the table, in a cordial but somewhat lofty tone, returned thanks. He felt proud on an occasion of meeting so many of his father’s late tenants, promised to improve their farms, & at the same time to abate {if anything was found unreasonable} in their rents.
At the mention of this the Four Quarter Days involuntarily looked at each other, & smiled; April Fool whistled to an old tune of “New Brooms” & a surly old rebel at the further end of the table {who was discovered to be no other than the Fifth-of-November} muttered out distinctly enough to be heard by the whole company, words to this effect, that, “when the old one is gone, he is a fool that looks for a better.” Which rudeness of his, the guests resenting, unanimously voted his expulsion; & the malcontent was thrust out neck & heels into the cellar, as the properest place for such a boutefeu & firebrand as he had shewn himself to be.
Order being restored–the young lord {who, to say truth, had been a little ruffled & put beside his oratory} in as few, & yet as obliging words as possible, assured them of entire welcome; &, with a graceful turn, singling out poor Twenty-Ninth of February, that had sate all this while mumchance at the side-board, begged to couple his health with that of the good company before him–which he drank accordingly; observing, that he had not seen his honest face any time these four years–with a number of endearing expressions besides. At the same time, removing the solitary Day from the forlorn seat which had been assigned to him, he stationed him at his own board, somewhere between the Greek Calends and Latter Lammas.