SOLSTITIUM

The ghost of WillNSWRIRIERS) assigned to speak the prologue to the play, is irritated that he has not been given a better part, and decides to remain on stage throughout the play and mock the actors. Siiiiier is mortally ill, He summons his officers to account for the wealth with which he has entrusted them. All M8, the Spring, has to show for his stewardship is a morris dance and other seasonal sports; he justifies his prodigality with the argument that gold is contemptible. Summer imposes a penance: he will always be attended with the abstinence of Lent. SGIStiEMm received little from Summer in the first place and can only render his loyalty and faithful service. Sol is criticized for arrogance above his station: he withers plants and dries up rivers, most recently the Thames. He insists that his haughty demeanour is appropriate for a servant of the great Summer, and tries to blame the moon for his misdeeds; so Summer sentences him to be eclipsed. @HiGh has left his celestial hunting-ground to look for game on Earth. After Abin disparages dogs, he declares their glories at length. He has no tribute to offer Summer, so he is banished for a year. H@EVE8t is more interested in singing than in rendering his account. He faces charges of corruption and hoarding corn, but denies them: it has simply been a poor harvest this year. Summer is satisfied and awards him a year’s rest from his labours. is too busy drinking to answer questions. He gets Will Summers drunk and ‘knights’ him with a jack of ale. Summer is unimpressed, Bacchus’ sentence is to be imprisoned in cellars and never entrusted with men’s secrets. Bacchus curses Summer with the absence of good cheer. Despairing of his servants’ negligence, Summer makes his will. Since he has no children, all he has must go to Autumn and Wintér. Autumn is over-eager to get his hands on Summer's crown, and Winter presents himself as a worthier successor. He disapproves of what he considers to be unprofitable members of the commonwealth, such as poets and philosophers, and feels that the only good books are works of divinity. Summer appoints Winter as Autumn’s overseer, treasurer, and protector; Autumn will be able to rule only with Winter’s consent. Autumn will not accept this, and warns Summer of the threat posed by Winter’s sons, Ghtistimas and BaekWinter. Called to answer the changes, Christmas proves hostile to the humbug of seasonal cheer and hospitality, and the mean-spirited Backwinter hates all warmth and…