Andrew's tide. 337 



DEC. 2. St, Bibiana, virgin and martyr, a.d. 363. 



St. Nonnus, bishop of Heliopolis? 



Obs. St. Bibiana received the crown of martyrdom when Apro- 

 nianus was governor of Rome. This holy virgin was a native of 

 that renowned city. Having been sentenced to be tied to a pillar, 

 and whipped with scourges loaded with leaden plummets till she 

 expired, she underwent this punishment cheerfully, and died in the 

 hands of the executioness. There is an Office for her in the Breviary. 



Lemon Geodorum Geodorum citrinum fl. in our con- 

 servatories. 



By the time that December sets in the leaves are all fallen ; of 

 which Horace, who wrote in a more southern clime than ours, is 

 nevertheless mindful when he says, Hie tertius December sylvis 

 honorem decusit. 



During the violent gales of wind and rain, and particularly during 

 a certain unhealthy continuance of such weather, which often takes 

 place in the winter, we have noticed a phenomenon to prevail, which 

 at all times of year happens before rain accompanied by wind, 

 namely, the snapping of the wicks of candles and lamps, and the 

 growth of a foul excrescence about them, called funguses. Virgil 

 represents the women at work by lamplight as foreknowing the 

 coming weather by these signs : Testa cum ardente viderent Scintil- 

 lare oleum ac putres concrescerefungos. Lights of all sorts, and 

 also fires, burn badly in this kind of weather ; and it is recorded 

 that the lamps burning before the figures of the Virgin Mary have 

 gone out prematurely, when their wicks were found to be full of 

 Fungi, i'he burning blue of candles, fabulously ascribed to the 

 coming of some ghostly phantom, seems also to be the eft'ect of a 

 peculiar state of the air. 



This day being usually in the season of Advent, we may introduce 

 the following ancient lines on the sports of the season : 



Three wetkes before the day whereon was borne the Lorde of Grace, 



And ou theThuisdaye boyes and irirls do runne in every place, 



And bounce and beate at every doore with blowes and lustie snaps. 



And cry, The Advent of the I'vOrd, not borne as yet, perhaps. 



And wisliin<? lo the neighbours all, that iu the houses dwell, 



A happie yeare, and every thing to spring and prosper well : 



Here have they Peares, and Plumbs, and Pence, ech man gives willinglee. 



For these three weclvs are always thought vnfortunate to bee : 



Wherein they are afrayde of sprites and caukred witches spight, 



And dreadfull devils blacke and grim, that then have chiefest might. 



