74 PLINY'S NATUBAL HISTORY. [Book XVIII. 



mind of the rustic ; still, however, with a view to such vast 

 practical results as mast be derived from this kind of know- 

 ledge, I shall make the attempt. There are some astronomical 

 difficulties, however, which have been experienced by the 

 learned even, that ought to be first submitted for consideration, 

 in order that the mind may feel some encouragement on aban- 

 doning the study of the heavens, and may be acquainted with 

 facts at least, even though it is still unable to see into fu- 

 turity. 



CHAP. 57. (25.) ARRANGEMENT OF THE STARS ACCORDING TO THE 



TERRESTRIAL DAYS AND NIGHTS. 



In the first place, it is almost an utter impossibility to cal- 

 culate with a fair degree of accuracy the days of the year and 

 the movements of the sun. To the three hundred and sixty- 

 five days there are still to be added the intercalary days, the 

 result of the additional quarters of a day and night : hence it 

 is, that it is found impossible to ascertain with exactness the 

 proper periods for the appearance of the stars. To this we 

 must add, too, a certain degree of uncertainty connected with 

 these matters, that is universally admitted ; thus, for instance, 

 bad and wintry weather will often precede, by several days, 

 the proper period for the advent of that season, a state of things 

 known to the Greeks as ^pQ^s/fj^d^iv ; n while at another time, 

 it will last longer than usual, a state of circumstances known as 

 stfixsi/Adfyiv. 12 The effects, too, of the changes that take place 

 in the seasons will sometimes be felt later, and at other times 

 earlier, upon their reaching the face of the earth ; and we not 

 unfrequently hear the remark made, upon the return of fine 

 weather, that the action of such and such a constellation is 

 now completed. 13 And then, again, as all these phsenomena de- 

 pend upon certain stars, arranged and regulated in the vault of 

 heaven, we find intervening, in accordance with the movements 

 of certain stars, hailstorms and showers, themselves productive 

 of no slight results, as we have already observed, 14 and apt to 

 interfere with the anticipated regular recurrence of the seasons. 

 Nor are we to suppose that these disappointments fall upon the 

 human race only, for other animated beings, as well as ourselves^ 



11 " To be an early winter." 12 " To be a long winter.'* 



13 Confectum sidus. u In B. xvii. c. 2. 



