178 



clearly indicating the occasional occurrence and expectation of fine 

 weather, even at those late periods of the season. Thus in the 

 First Part of King Henry IV. (Act 1. Sc. 2.), we have— 



" Farewell, thou latter Spring ! farewell All-hallow'n Sjummer." 

 and in the First Part of K. Hen. VI. (Act. 1, Sc. 2.), we read — 



Expect St. Martin's summer, halcyon days. 

 From the latter expression we might infer that the fine weather 

 sometimes continued till near the end of the year, the halcyon 

 days being " the seven days preceding, and the seven days follow- 

 ing the shortest day, or the winter solstice.* And sxich was 

 particularly the case in the two consecutive years of 1842 and 

 1843, in both which extraordinary fine and mild weather prevailed 

 in December quite up to Christmas. 



Thus then there would seem to be an element of truth in the 

 popular weather sayings connected with the several Saints'-Days 

 above alhided to, which after long sifting it is possible to eliminate 

 from much of error and superstition with which it is mixed up, 

 and to turn to scientific account. Many and many a time 

 probably have these sayings been declared valueless and untrue, 

 nor in any one instance taken singly were they likely to be 

 fulfilled. But they must have originated in a few marked co- 

 incidences, which if only accidental and not found to receive 

 support from comparison with facts in a long run of years — the 

 sayings wovild have passed away and been forgotten. The very 

 circumstance of their having continued, and continued to be 

 believed by some to this day, substantiates them to a certain 

 extent, the real truth coming out more and more in proportion to 

 the length of time for which they have prevailed, just as the 

 averages deduced by the meteorologist approach more and more to 

 correctness the longer the period over which his observations 

 extend. 



After speaking of these Watery Saints it would be an omission 

 not to mention three " Icy Saints," Saints de Glace, as they are 

 termed in France, where there is the following adage relating to 

 them : — 



* A note to the above passage in Ayscough's edition of Shakspeare says — 

 " That is, expect prosperity alter misfortune, like fair weather at Martlemas, 

 after winter has begun" 



