The Stones of Venice, Volume 2 (of 3), by John Ruskin

very unusual representation, even in Italy; where, as in the North, he is almost always riding out hunting or hawking, sometimes playing on a musical instrument. In Spenser, this month is personified as "the fayrest mayd on ground," borne on the shoulders of the Twins. In this archivolt there are only two heads to represent the zodiacal sign. The summer and autumnal months are always represented in a series of agricultural occupations, which, of course, vary with the locality in which they occur; but generally in their order only. Thus, if June is mowing, July is reaping; if July is mowing, August is reaping; and so on. I shall give a parallel view of some of these varieties presently; but, meantime, we had better follow the St Mark's series, as it is peculiar in some respects.