CHAP. 10. 1. ANTIQUITIES, & t -. $-jZ 



account of the popular belief in the prognos- 

 ticks deducible from the .weather of this day, 

 and the following lines are given in proof of 

 it: 



" Clara dies Pauli bona tempora denotet Anni, 

 Si fuerint Venti, designant proelia Genti, 

 Si fuerint Nebulae, pereunt Animalia quaeque 

 Si Nix, si Pluvia, designent tempora cara." 



According to the old Almanacks, when this 

 day was clear, the common people expected a 

 fruitful year : but I have never discovered by 

 examination of journals, that after clear weather 

 at this time of year, Pomona, the following 

 autumn, has evacuated her cornucopia more 

 bounteously than in less auspicious seasons. 

 Cold and clear weather at the end of January 

 is, nevertheless, admittedly both salubrious and 

 productive often of a good spring. We find 

 the following lines recorded in Bourne's Anti- 

 quities of the Common People : 



" If St. Paul's Day be faire and cleare, 

 It doth betide a happie yeare." 



Hospitian observes Est hie dies apudplebem 

 criticus utpote cuius serenitas fructuum abundan- 

 tiam, venti bella, nebulae pestem, nix et pluvia 

 caritatem indicare creduntur. 



Latin verses, to the same effect as those cited 



T 2 



