IN PROVERBS AND RIDDLES 107 



This proverb, is old, going back to Greek 

 times when its form was : — 



One swallow does not make a spring. 



A quaint combination of the two proverbs is 

 current in the Balearic Isles, near the coast 

 of Spain : — 



One swallow makes neither a summer, nor two springs. 



As the swallow leaves Italy about the 

 middle of August, the devout folk naturally 

 , associate the event with the feast days of 

 their August saints, Saint Roch (August 16) 

 and Saint Bartholomew (August 24), and we 

 hear : — 



On Blessed Saint Roch's day. 

 The swallows fly away, 



and 



O Saint Bartholomew, 

 With God the swallows flew. 



Instead of suggesting a saint, the bird's de- 

 parture from Gascony calls to mind the 

 work to be done in the fields : — 



When the swallows go away. 

 Get the plow and work all day. 



