Plinies Natunii Hiftorie. 



^ tud to be a wile man and a true prophet . Moreover, it is a rule commonly given and obfervedj 

 That neither Reeds would be fet and planted but toward rainejnorcorn fowedbutagainfta good 

 iTiowre. And therefore fince this skill is of fuch importance^ I am content briefly to touch thofe 

 fignesthat forefhevvwhat weather will be, and make choice of fuch which by fearch and experi- 

 ence arc knowne principall and make moft for this purpofe. 



And firft begin I will at the Sun,thebeft prognofticator of all others : VVhcn he rifeth cleare 

 and not fiery red j it is a fignc that the day will be faire 5 but if he ihew pale and wan, it prefageth 

 a cold winter- like haile-ftorme that very day ; but in cafe hee went downe over-nigh t cleare and 

 bright, and fo rofe the next morning, fo much furer may you bee of faire weather .if the Sun in 

 rifing feeme hollowjie foretelleth raine : and when before his rifing the clowds be redjthe windi 



B will bee aloft that day: but iricafetherebcfomeblacke clowds intermingled among, you fhall 

 have raine withall. If thcraiesandbeames of the Sun be red^both when he rifeth and when hee 

 ferteth, there will fall good ftore of raine. Arc the clowds red about the Sun as he goeth down ? 

 you fhall have a faire day the morrow aftcr.If when the Sun doth rife you fee flying clowds dif^ 

 pearfed,fome into the South and others Northward (fay all be cleare and faire otherwiie about 

 him) make reckoning that day of wind and raine both. Markeat his rifing or going downe,if 

 his beames be flaort and as it were drawnc in^be fure of a good ihowrc . If at the Suns fctting ic 

 raine, or that his raies either lookc darkc and blew jor gather a bankc of clowds , furely thefc be 

 great tokens of tempeftuous vijeather & fiorms the morrow after. When in his rifing the beam^ 

 ihine not bright and cleare, although they be not over-calf with a clowd, yet they portend rain; 



C If before he rife, the clowds gather round togither like globes^ they threaten fharpe, cold ^ and 

 winter weather .-but in cafe hee drive them before him out of theEaft foas they retire into the 

 Weft, we have a promife thereby of a faire time* If there appeare about the bodie of the Sun, a 

 circle of clowds compaffing it round, the nearer they come about him and the lefie light thas 

 they leave him,the more troubled and tempeftuous weatherwill follow: but in cafe he be envi- 

 roned with a double circle, fo much more outragious and terrible will the tempeft be. If perad- 

 venture this happen at his rifing, fo as the faid cipwds be red againe which compafte the Sunne, 

 lookefor a mightie tempeft one time or other of that day . If haply thele clowds enclofehimi 

 not round,but confront and feeme as if they charged upon him,looke from whence they come, 

 from that quarter they portend great wind : and ifthey encounter him from the South, there 



D will be raine good ftorc and wind both. If as the Sun rifeth he becompaflfcd with 3circle,marke 

 on what fide thefame breaketh and openeth firft, and from ihencelooke forwind withoutfailc; 

 butif the faid circle pafte and vanifh away all at once equally, as well of one part as another, 

 you (hall have faire weather upon it. If at his rifing you fee him to caft his beams afar offamong 

 theclowds,and the mids between be void thereof, itfignifieth raine. If he fpread his beams be- 

 fore he be up and appeare in our Horizon,looke for windand water both. If about him toward 

 his going downe there be feene a white circle, there will bee fome little tempeft and troublefome 

 weather that night enfuing : bur if in ftead thereof hee be ovcr-caft with a thickc mift,the tem- 

 peft will be the greater and more violent. If the Sun couchant appeare fiery and ardent, diere is 

 like to bee wind . Finally,ifthe circle aforefaid bee blacke, marke on which fide the fame brca- 



B' kethjfrom thence fhall you have bluftering winds. And fo an end of the Sunncand hisprcgno^ 

 ftications. 



Now by right, the Moonechallengeth the next place for her prefages of weather to come; 

 Firft and foremoft,the Egyptians oblervc moft her PrimCjOr the fourth day after the chaunge i 

 for if fhe appeare then, pure, faire,andfhiningbright,they are verily pcrfuadedthat itwill bee 

 faire weather: if red, they make no other reckoning but of winds: if dim and blackiilijthey lookc 

 * for no better than afoule and rainie moneth, Marke the tips of her homes when fbc is five daies 

 old, if they be blunt,they forefhe w raine 5 if pricking upright and fharpe pointed withalLthcy al- 

 wajes tell ofwinds toward: but upon the fourth day efpecially, this rule faileih not, for that day 

 tellethtrueft.Nowifthat upper home of hers only which bendeth Northward, appeare fharpe 

 F pointed and ftiffe withall, it prefageth wind from that coafti if the nether home alone feeme fo, 

 the wind will come firom the South: if both ftand ftreightand pricking at the point, the night 

 following will be windie. If the fourth day after her chaunge, fhe have a red circle or Halo about 

 her^ihe lame giveth warning of wind and raine. As for r^rr^, hee (treating of the prefages ga- 

 thered from the Moone) wnteth thus : If (quoth he) the new nioone when llie is juft fouce daies 



