Chap. 64.] WORK FOB, WINTER. 83 



to be cut for torches : squared stays 52 for the vine may be pre- 

 pared, too, thirty in tho day time, and if rounded, 33 as many as 

 sixty. In the long hours of the evening, too, some five squared 

 stays, or ten rounded ones may be got ready, and the same 

 number while the day is breaking. 



CHAP. 64. WORK TO BE BONE BETWEEN THE WINTER SOLSTICE 

 AND THE PREVALENCE OF THE WEST WINDS. 



Between the winter solstice and the period when the west 

 winds begin to prevail, the following, according to Caesar, are the 

 more important signs afforded by the constellations : the Dog 

 sets in the morning, upon the third 54 day before the calends of 

 January ; a day on the evening of which the Eagle sets to tho 

 people of Attica and the adjoining countries. On the day be- 

 fore 55 the nones of January, according to Caesar's computation, 

 the Dolphin rises in the morning, and on the next day, tho 

 Lyre, upon the evening of which the Arrow sets to the peo- 

 ple of Egypt. Upon the sixth 56 day before the ides of Janu- 

 ary, the Dolphin sets in the evening, and Italy has many days 

 of continuous cold ; the same is the case also when the sun 

 enters Aquarius, about the sixteenth 57 day before the calends of 

 February. On the eighth 58 before the calends of February, tho 

 star which Tubero calls the Royal Star 59 sets in the morning in 

 the breast of Leo, and in the evening of the day before 60 tho 

 nones of February, the Lyre sets. 



During the latter days of this period, whenever the nature 

 of the weather will allow of it, the ground should be turned 

 u p with a double mattock, for planting the rose and the vine 

 sixty men to a jugerum. Ditches, too, should be cleaned 

 out, or new ones made ; and the time of day-break may be use- 

 fully employed in sharpening iron tools, fitting on handles, re- 

 pairing such dolia 61 as may have been broken, and rubbing up 

 and cleaning their staves. 



52 "Ridicas." 53 " Palos." 



54 Thirtieth of December. According to the Roman reckoning, the third 

 day would be the day but one before. 



55 Fourth of January. 66 Eighth of January. 



57 Seventeenth of January. 58 Twenty-fifth of January. 



59 " Regia Stella." m Fourth of February- 



61 Or wine- vats ; by the use of the word " lamina*," he seems to he 



speaking not of the ordinary earthen dolia, but the w< oden ones used in 



Gaul and the north of Italy, 



a 2 



