Spring am I, too soft of heart Much to speak ere I depart: Ask the Summer-tide to prove The abundance of my love Summer looked of long am I; Much shall change or ere I die Prithee take it not amiss Though I weary thee with bliss Laden Autumn here I stand Worn of heart, and weak of hand Nought but rest seems good to me, Speak the word that sets me free I and Winter, that do keep Longing safe amidst of sleep: Who shall say if I were dead What should be remembered From "The lapse of the year" - William Morris 1869 which appeared first in Morris's A Book of Verse , 1870 which he presented to Georgiana Burne-Jones as a birthday gift. The verses were used on labels in the paintings of the Seasons 1869-70. Fitzwilliam work list 1873 ... designed the dance of the seasons for Hugh Bell Hugh Bell 1844-1931 was the son of Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell whose wife, Margaret commissioned the Romaunt of the Rose tapestries.
This is a masque of the four seasons whose subject is derived from William Morris's 1869 poem, 'The Lapse of the Year'. The four figures from left to right personify, Spring (nude), Summer (nude), Autumn (draped) and Winter (draped). This is a masque of the four seasons whose subject is derived from William Morris's 1869 poem, 'The Lapse of the Year'. The verses, peculiar to each season, are written on scrolls beneath the stage on which the seasons are having their masque. Burne-Jones had already undertaken 4 gouaches of the seasons in 1869 (now in a Private Collection), also quoting Morris's verses from 'Lapse of the Year', but each season was on a separate panel and not part of a linear nexus as in this exquisite drawing, probably executed in the early 1870's, most likely 1873. It is also very likely that Walter Crane used this particular drawing as a study for his own 'Masque of the Four Seasons', circa 1885, substituting a changing landscape for the classical architecture.The lines from Morris' poem, 'The Lapse of the Year' are:Spring: 'Spring am I too soft of heart Summer: 'Summer looked for long am I Much to speak ere I depart Much shall change or ere I die Ask the Summertide to prove Prithee take it not amiss The abundance of my love' Though I weary thee with bliss'Autumn: 'Laden Autumn here I stand Winter: 'I am Winter that do keep Worn of heart and weak of hand Longing safe amidst of sleep Nought but rest seems good to me Who shall say if I were dead Speak the word that sets me free' What should be remembered'