TALE VI - ISABELLA; THE VOTARESS

Summary

“A thing ensky'd, and sainted;”

Measure for Measure.

All the Vienna world was abroad, and gay, and well-dressed, and bent on pleasure; for it was the first of May,—when every Viennese puts on new clothes, and sallies forth, and makes holiday; and the city becomes a scene of colour and animation.

Through the public thoroughfares, the croud streamed on; rich and poor, high and low, haughty and humble, gentle and simple, the virtuous and the vicious, the nobleman and the tradesman, the lady, the milliner, the man of wealth, the artisan, the honest, the profligate, the wise, the foolish, the sober, the dissipated, the careless, the studious, the indolent, the industrious, the witty, the silly, the insolent, the modest, the proud, the coquette, the housewife, the flirt, the spendthrift, the miser, the home-lover, and the gad-about; all with one accord, joined the band of idlers, and swelled the throng that poured through the streets that fine May-morning, in holiday trim, and holiday talk, and holiday mirth and laughter, and in the freedom of universal association which holiday pursuit brings about.

For all the groups in this gay croud, whatever their class, or degree, or habit, or profession, or calling, or ordinary pursuit, had that day but one pursuit, and jostled and elbowed each other in temporary equality and unanimity; for it was the first of May, and all the Vienna world was abroad, and wending to see the foot-racing on the Prater.