ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE 269
gard to the weather on certain saint's days, Wehrenfels quotes the distich :
If Paul's Day be fair and clear It foreshows an happy Year.
and continues:
The
contrary has happened a thousand Times, but however this cannot destroy
the Rule. It once happened; certainly, say they, these Rules of the
Husbandmen are not to be despised; see how exactly they are made good
by Experience. Thus a great Part of Mankind reasons; which if one
consider, he will neither depend much upon the Content of the common
People in these Things, nor wonder at so great a Number of most silly
Opinions.™
VERSES ON SAINTS' DAYS AT VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE YEAR."
January 25. Saint Paul's Day :
If
the clouds make dark the sky, Great store of people then will die ; If
there be either snow or rain, Then will be dear all kinds of grain.
(Robin Forby, " Vocabulary of East Anglia," London, 1830.)
Somewhat different in a Latin form :
Clara dies Pauli multas segetes nitant amni, Si f uerint nebulffl, aut venti, erunt proelia genti.
February 2. Candlemas Day :
If
Candlemas day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight; If
on Candlemas day it be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not
come again.
(John Ray, "A Collection of English Proverbs," 2d ed., Cambridge, 1678.)
February 12. St. Eulalia's Day :
If the sun shines on St. Eulalie's day, It is good for apples and cider they say.
"
Wehrenfeie, " A Dissertation on Superstition," p. 36 ; prefixed to "
Occasional Thoughts on the Power of Curing the King's-Evil," London,
1748. "Lean's Collectanea, vol. i, Bristol, 1902, pp. 373-384.
