Hone’s Everyday Book (page 3/6)

Aquarius, or, the Water Bearer.

“The sun enters Aquarius on this day [21st January], though he does not enter it in the visible zodiac until the 18th of February. [more...] [$]

February

“— — Then came cold February, sitting
In an old waggon, for he could not ride,
Drawne of two fishes, for the season fitting,
Which through the flood before did softly slyde
And swim away; yet had he by his side
His plough and harnesse fit to till the ground,
And tooles to prune the trees before the pride
Of hasting prime did make them burgeon round.   Spenser.” (p. 195) [more...] [$]

Awaiting the postman on Saint Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s day, the 14th of February (US: February 14)

“Where can the postman be, I say?
He ought to fly—on such a day!Of all days in the year, you know,
It’s monstrous rude to be so slow:
The fellow’s so exceeding stupid—
Hark!—there he is!—oh! the dear Cupid!” (p. 215)

The woodcut (signed S.W. and T.W., probably artist and engraver respectively) shows a man wearing a top hat and riding a donkey, blowing a bugle or trumpet; he is arriving a a house with an open door and window, out of which several ladies anxiously peer. A boy dances outside [more...] [$]

A beast devours a human heart

This illustration appears in the entry for February 14th, St. Valentine’s Day. [more...] [$]

Pisces

The zodiacal sign of pisces, two fish, here with a ribbon or rope bound from the tail of one to that of the other. [more...] [$]

March

“—Sturdy March with brows full sternly bent
  And armed strongly, rode upon a ram,
  The same which over Hellespontus swam;
Yet in his hand a spade he also hent,
  And in a bag all sorts of weeds ysame,
Which on the earth he strewed as he went,
And fill’d her womb with fruitfull hope of nourishment.     Spenser.” (p. 311) [more...] [$]

Spring

Spring, the book informs us, commences on the 6th of March, and lasts ninety-three days. The woodcut shows a winged infant boy holding flowers. The following verse is printed beneath the engraving: [more...] [$]

Fourteenth Century Man

Showing how men dressed in the fourteenth century. [$]