OF WINDS. 259 



of the flower, and when the grain itself is ripe, for then they 

 blow the corn out of the ear, and at the other two times 

 either they blast the flower or blow it off. 



25. While the south wind blows men s breath grows 

 ranker, all creatures appetites decay, pestilent diseases 

 reign, men wax more slow and dull. But when the wind 

 is northwardly, men are more lively, healthful, and greedy 

 after food. Yet the northern wind is hurtful for them that 

 are troubled with the phthisick, cough, gout, or any other 

 sharp defluxions. 



26. An east wind is dry, piercing, and mortifying. The 

 west wind moist, meek, and nourishing. 



27. If the east wind blow when the spring is any thing 

 forward, it is hurtful to fruits, bringing in of worms and 

 caterpillars, so that the leaves are hardly spared : neither 

 is it very good to grain. Contrariwise, the west wind is 

 very propitious and friendly to herbs, flowers, and all man 

 ner of vegetables. And so is the east wind too about the 

 autumnal equinox. 



28. Western winds are more vehement than eastern 

 winds, and bow and bend trees more. 



29. Rainy weather, which begins when the east wind 

 blows, doth last longer than that which begins when a 

 west wind blows, and may peradventure hold out for a 

 whole day. 



30. The east and north wind, when they once begin to 

 blow, blow more constantly ; the south and west wind are 

 more mutable. 



31. In an eastern wind all visible things do appear 

 bigger; but in a western wind all audible things are heard 

 further, as sounds of bells and the like. 



32. The east-north-east wind draws clouds to it. It is 

 a proverb amongst the Greeks to compare it to usurers, 

 who by laying out money do swallow it up. It is a vehe 

 ment arid large wind, which cannot remove clouds so fast, 

 as they will turn back and press upon it. Which is like 

 wise seen in great fires, which grow stronger against the 

 wind. 



33. Cardinal or semicardinal winds are not so stormy 

 as the Median. 



34. Median winds from north to north-east are more 

 fair, from north-east to east more stormy. Likewise from 

 east to south-east more fair, from south-east to south more 

 stormy. Likewise from south to south-west more fair, 

 from south-west to west more stormy. Likewise from west 



