Murie sing cuccu,
Cuccu, cuccu,
Wel singes this cuccu;
Ne swik thu naver.


_Glossary_--Sumer, summer--icumen, a coming--lhude, loud--sed,
seed--med, mead--wde, wood--nu, new--awe, ewe--lomb, lamb--lhouth,
loweth--cu, cow--murie, merry--singes, sing'st--thu, thou--Ne swik thu
naver, May'st thou never cease.

* * * * *




MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.

* * * * *


MAY DAY.


It would seem that among our Pagan ancestors, before the introduction
of Christianity, the _first day of May_ was the great festival in
honour of the sun, and that fires were then kindled and rejoicings
made, in honour of that great luminary. The first day of May is still
called _Beltan_, or _Baal-tein_, "the fire of Baal." In some parts of
the country the shepherds still make festivals of milk and eggs on