ΑΡΑΤΟΣ ΣΟΛΕΥΣ, Φαινόμενα καὶ Διοσημεῖα

Οὐχ ὁράαις; Ὀλίγη μὲν ὅταν κεράεσσι σελήνη
ἑσπερόθεν φαίνηται, ἀεξομένοιο διδάσκει
735 μηνός, ὅτε πρώτη ἀποκίδναται αὐτόθεν αὐγὴ
ὅσσον ἐπισκιάειν, ἐπὶ τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἰοῦσα·
ὀκτὼ δ’ ἐν διχάσει, διχόμηνα δὲ παντὶ προσώπῳ,
αἰεὶ δ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα παρακλίνουσα μέτωπα
εἴρει ὁποσταίη μηνὸς περιτέλλεται ἠώς.
740 Ἄκρα γε μὴν νυκτῶν κεῖναι δυοκαίδεκα μοῖραι
ἄρκιαι ἐξειπεῖν, τὰ δέ που μέγαν εἰς ἐνιαυτόν ⁴⁶,
ὥρη μέν τ’ ἀρόσαι νειούς, ὥρη δὲ φυτεῦσαι,
ἐκ Διὸς ἤδη πάντα πεφασμένα πάντοθι κεῖται.
Καὶ μέν τις καὶ νηὶ πολυκλύστου χειμῶνος
745 ἐφράσατ’ ἢ δεινοῦ μεμνημένος Ἀρκτούροιο
ἠέ τεων ἄλλων οἵ τ’ ὠκεανοῦ ἀρύονται
ἀστέρες ἀμφιλύκης, οἵ τε πρώτης ἔτι νυκτός.
Ἤτοι γὰρ τοὺς πάντας ἀμείβεται εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἠέλιος μέγαν ὄγμον ἐλαύνων, ἄλλοτε δ’ ἄλλῳ
750 ἐμπλήσσει, τοτὲ μέν τ’ ἀνιών, τοτὲ δ’ αὐτίκα δύνων,
ἄλλος δ’ ἀλλοίην ἀστὴρ ἐπιδέρκεται ἠῶ.
Γινώσκεις τάδε καὶ σύ· τὰ γὰρ συναείδεται ἤδη
ἐννεακαίδεκα κύκλα φαεινοῦ ἠελίοιο,
ὅσσα τ’ ἀπὸ ζώνης εἰς ἔσχατον Ὠρίωνα
755 νὺξ ἐπιδινεῖται Κύνα τε θρασὺν Ὠρίωνος,
οἵ τε Ποσειδάωνος ὁρώμενοι ἢ Διὸς αὐτοῦ
ἀστέρες ἀνθρώποισι τετυγμένα σημαίνουσι.

     Markest thou not? Whenever the Moon with slender horns shines forth in the West, she tells of a new month beginning: when first her rays are shed abroad just enough to cast a shadow, she is going to the fourth day: with orb half complete she proclaims eight days: with full face the mid-day of the month; and ever with varying phase she tells the date of the dawn that comes round. Those twelve signs of the Zodiac are sufficient to tell the limits of the night. But they to mark the great year – the season to plough and sow the fallow field and the season to plant the tree – are already revealed of Zeus and set on every side. Yea, and on the sea, too, many a sailor has marked the coming of the stormy tempest, remembering either dread Arcturus or other stars that draw from ocean in the morning twilight or tat he first fall of night. For verily through them all the Sun passes in yearly course, as he drives his mighty furrow, and now to one, now to another he draws near, now as he rises and anon as he sets, and ever another star looks upon another morn. This thou too knowest, for celebrated by all now are the nineteen cycles [Metonic cycle] of the bright Sun – thou knowest all the stars wheeled aloft by Night from Orion’s belt to the last of Orion and his bold hound, the stars of Poseidon, the stars of Zeus, which, if marked, display fit signs of the seasons.

Τῷ κείνων πεπόνησο, μέλοι δέ τοι, εἴ ποτε νηὶ
πιστεύεις, εὑρεῖν ὅσα που κεχρημένα κεῖται
760 σήματα χειμερίοις ἀνέμοις ἤ λαίλαπι πόντου.
Μόχθος μέν τ’ ὀλίγος, τὸ δὲ μυρίον αὐτίκ’ ὄνειαρ
γίνετ’ ἐπιφροσύνης αἰεὶ πεφυλαγμένωι ἀνδρί.
Αὐτὸς μὲν τὰ πρῶτα σαώτερος, εὖ δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
παρειπὼν ὤνησεν, ὅτ’ ἐγγύθεν ὤρορε χειμών.
765 Πολλάκι γὰρ καί τίς τε γαληναίῃ ὑπὸ νυκτὶ
νῆα περιστέλλει πεφοβημένος ἦρι θαλάσσης,
ἄλλοτε δὲ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐπιτρέχει, ἄλλοτε πέμπτον,
ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀπρόφατον κακὸν ἵκετο· πάντα γὰρ οὔπω
ἐκ Διὸς ἄνθρωποι γινώσκομεν, ἀλλ’ ἔτι πολλὰ
770 κέκρυπται, τῶν αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃ καὶ ἐς αὐτίκα δώσει
Ζεύς· ὁ γὰρ οὖν γενεὴν ἀνδρῶν ἀναφανδὸν ὀφέλλει
πάντοθεν εἰδόμενος, πάντη δ’ ὅ γε σήματα φαίνων.
Ἄλλα δέ τοι ἐρέει ἤ που διχόωσα σελήνη
πληθύος ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἢ αὐτίκα πεπληθυῖα,
775 ἄλλα δ’ ἀνερχόμενος, τοτὲ δ’ ἄκρηι νυκτὶ κελεύει
ἠέλιος· τὰ δέ που καὶ ἀπ’ ἄλλων ἔσσεται ἄλλα
σήματα καὶ περὶ νυκτὶ καὶ ἤματι ποιήσασθαι.

     Wherefore to them give careful heed and if ever they trust is in a ship, be it thine to watch what signs in the heavens are labouring under stormy winds or squall at sea. Small is the trouble and thousandfold the reward of his heedfulness who ever takes care. First he himself is safer, and well, too, he profits another by his warning, when a storm is rushing near. For oft, too, beneath a calm night the sailor shortens sail for fear of the morning sea. Sometimes the storm comes on the third day, sometimes on the fifth, but sometimes the evil comes all unforeseen. For not yet do we mortals know all from Zeus, but much still remains hidden, whereof, what he will, even hereafter will he reveal; for openly he aids the race of men, manifesting himself on every side and showing signs on every hand. Some messages the Moon will convey with orb half-full as she waxes or wanes, others when full; others the Sun by warnings at dawn and again at the edge of night, and other hints from other source can be drawn for day and night.

Σκέπτεο δὲ πρῶτον κεράων ἑκάτερθε σελήνην.
Ἄλλοτε γάρ τ’ ἄλλῃ μιν ἐπιγράφει ἕσπερος αἴγλῃ,
780 ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀλλοῖαι μορφαὶ κερόωσι σελήνην
εὐθὺς ἀεξομένην, αἱ μὲν τρίτῃ, αἱ δὲ τετάρτῃ·
τάων καὶ περὶ μηνὸς ἐφεσταότος κε πύθοιο.
Λεπτὴ μὲν καθαρή τε περὶ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐοῦσα
εὔδιός κ’ εἴη· λεπτὴ δὲ καὶ εὖ μάλ’ ἐρευθὴς
785 πνευματίη· παχίων δὲ καὶ ἀμβλείῃσι κεραίαις
τέτρατον ἐκ τριτάτοιο φόως ἀμενηνὸν ἔχουσα
ἠὲ νότῳ ἀμβλύνετ’ ἤ ὕδατος ἐγγὺς ἐόντος.
Εἰ δέ κ’ ἀπ’ ἀμφοτέρων κεράων τρίτον ἦμαρ ἄγουσα
μήτ’ ἐπινευστ"άζῃ μήθ ὑπτιόωσα φαείνῃ,
790 ἀλλ’ ὀρθαὶ ἑκάτερθε περιγνάμπτωσι κεραῖαι,
ἑσπέριοί κ’ ἄνεμοι κείνην μέτα νύκτα φέροιντο.
Εἰ δ’ αὕτως ὀρθὴ καὶ τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἀγινεῖ,
ἦ τ’ ἂν χειμῶνος συναγειρομένοιο διδάσκοι.
Εἰ δέ κέ οἱ κεράων τὸ μετήορον εὖ ἐπινεύῃ,
795 δειδέχθαι βορέω, ὅτε δ’ ὑπτιάῃσι, νότοιο.
Αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τριτόωσαν ὅλος περὶ κύκλος ἑλίσσῃ
πάντη ἐρευθόμενος, μάλα κεν τότε χείμερος εἴη·
μείζονι δ’ ἂν χειμῶνι πυρώτερα φοινίσσοιτο.

     Scan first the horns on either side the Moon. For with varying hue from time to time the evening paints her and of different shape are her horns at different times as the Moon is waxing – one form on the third day and other on the fourth. From them thou canst learn touching the month that is begun. If she is slender and clear about the third day, she heralds calm: if slender and very ruddy, wind; but if thick and with blunted horns she show but a feeble light on the third and fourth night, her beams are blunted by the South wind or imminent rain. If on the third night neither horn nod forward or lean backward, if vertical they curve their tips on either side, winds from the West will follow that night. But if still with vertical crescent she bring the fourth day too, she gives warning of gathering storm. If her upper horn nod forward, expect thou the North wind, but if it lean backward, the South. But when on the third day a complete halo, blushing red, encircles her, she foretells storm and, the fierier her blush, the fiercer the tempest.

Σκέπτεο δ’ ἐς πληθύν τε καὶ ἀμφότερον διχόωσαν,
800 ἠμὲν ἀεξομένην ἠδ’ ἐς κέρας αὖθις ἰοῦσαν.
Καί οἱ ἐπὶ χροιῇ τεκμαίρεο μηνὸς ἑκάστου·
πάντη γὰρ καθαρῇ κε μάλ’ εὔδια τεκμήραιο,
πάντα δ’ ἐρευθομένῇ δοκέειν ἀνέμοιο κελεύθους,
ἄλλοθι δ’ ἄλλο μελαινομένῃ δοκέειν ὑετοῖο.
805 Σήματα δ’ οὐ μάλα πᾶσιν ἐπ’ ἤμασι πάντα τέτυκται,
ἀλλ’ ὅσα μὲν τριτάτῃ τε τεταρταίῃ τε πέλονται
μέσφα διχαιομένης, διχάδος γε μὲν ἄχρις ἐπ’ αὐτὴν
σημαίνει διχόμηνον, ἀτὰρ πάλιν ἐκ διχομήνου
ἐς διχάδα φθιμένην, ἔχεται δέ οἱ αὐτίκα τετρὰς
810 μηνὸς ἀποιχομένου, τῇ δὲ τριτάτη ἐπιόντος.
Εἰ δέ κέ μιν περὶ πᾶσαν ἀλωαὶ κυκλώσωνται
ἢ τρεῖς ἠὲ δύω περικείμεναι ἠὲ μί’ οἴη,
τῇ μὲν ἰῇ ἀνέμοιο γαληναίης τε δοκεύειν,
ῥηγνυμένῃ ἀνέμοιο, μαραινομένῃ δὲ γαλήνης,
815 ταὶ δύο δ’ ἂν χειμῶνι περιτροχάοιντο σελήνην,
μείζονα δ’ ἂν χειμῶνα φέροι τριέλικτος ἀλωή,
καὶ μᾶλλον μελανεῦσα, καὶ εἰ ῥηγνύατο μᾶλλον.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ μηνὶ σεληναίης κε πύθοιο.

   Scan her when full and when half-formed on either side of full, as she waxes from or wanes again to crescent form, and from her hue forecast each month. When quite bright her hue, forecast fair weather; when ruddy, expect the rushing wind; when dark stained with spots, look out for rain. But not for every day is appointed a separate sign, but the signs of the third and fourth day betoken the weather up to the half Moon; those of the half Moon up to full Moon; and in turn the signs of the full Moon up to the waning half Moon; the signs of the half Moon are followed by those of the fourth day from the end of the waning month, and they in their turn by those of the third day of the new month. But if halos encircle all the Moon, set triple or double about her or only single – with the single ring, expect wind or calm; when the ring is broken, wind; when faint and fading, calm; two rings girding the Moon forebode storm; a triple halo would bring a greater storm, and greater still, if black, and more furious still, if the rings are broken. Such warnings for the month thou canst learn from the Moon.

Ἠελίοιο δέ τοι μελέτω ἑκάτερθεν ἰόντος·
820 ἠελίῳ καὶ μᾶλλον ἐοικότα σήματα κεῖται
ἀμφότερον δύνοντι καὶ ἐκ περάτης ἀνιόντι.
Μή οἱ ποικίλλοιτο, νέον βάλλοντος ἀρούρας,
κύκλος, ὅτ’ εὐδίου κεχρημένος ἤματος εἴης,
μηδέ τι σῆμα φέροι, φαίνοιτο δὲ λιτὸς ἁπάντη.
825 Εἰ δ’ αὕτως καθαρόν μιν ἔχοι βουλύσιος ὥρη,
δύνοι δ’ ἀνέφελος μαλακὴν ὑποδείελος αἴγλην,
καί κεν ἐπερχομένης ἠοῦς ἔθ’ ὑπεύδιος εἴη,
ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὁππότε κοῖλος ἐειδόμενος περιτέλλῃ,
οὐδ’ ὁπότ’ ἀκτίνων αἱ μὲν νότον αἱ δὲ βορῆα
830 σχιζόμεναι βάλλωσι, τὰ δ’ αὖ περὶ μέσσα φαείνῃ,
ἀλλά που ἢ ὑετοῖο διέρχεται ἢ ἀνέμοιο.
Σκέπτεο δ’, εἴ κέ τοι αὐγαὶ ὑπείκωσ’ ἠελίοιο,
αὐτὸν ἐς ἠέλιον, τοῦ γὰρ σκοπιαὶ καὶ ἄρισται,
εἴ τί που ἤ οἱ ἔρευθος ἐπιτρέχει, οἷά τε πολλὰ
835 ἑλκομένων νεφέων ἐρυθαίνεται ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα,
ἢ εἴ που μελανεῖ· καί τοι τὰ μὲν ὕδατος ἔστω
σήματα μέλλοντος, τὰ δ’ ἐρεύθεα πάντ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἀμφοτέροις ἄμυδις κεχρωσμένος εἴη,
καί κεν ὕδωρ φορέοι καὶ ὑπηνέμιος τανύοιτο.

     To the Sun’s march at East and West give heed. His hints give even more pertinent warning both at setting, and when he comes from below the verge. May not his orb, whenever thou desirest a fair day, be variegated when first his arrows strike the earth, and may he wear no mark at all but shine stainless altogether. If again thus all pure he be in the hour when the oxen are loosed, and set cloudless in the evening with gentle beam, he will still be at the coming dawn attended with fair weather. But not so, when he rises with seemingly hollow disk, nor when his beams part to strike or North or South, while his centre is bright. But then in truth he journeys either through rain or through wind. Scan closely, if his beams allow thee, the Sun himself, for scanning him is best, to see if either some blush run over him, as often he shows a blush or here or there, when he fares through trailing clouds, or if haply he is darkened. Let the dark stain be sign to thee of coming rain, and every blush be sign of wind. But if he is draped both black and red at once, he will bring rain and will strain beneath the wind.

840 Εἰ δέ οἱ ἢ ἀνιόντος ἤ αὐτίκα δυομένοιο
ἀκτῖνες συνίωσι καὶ ἀμφ’ ἑνὶ πεπλήθωσιν,
ἤ ποτε καὶ νεφέων πεπιεσμένος ἢ ὅ γ’ ἐς ἠῶ
ἔρχηται παρὰ νυκτὸς ἢ ἐξ ἠοῦς ἐπὶ νύκτα,
ὕδατί κεν κατιόντι παρατρέχοι ἤματα κεῖνα.
845 Μηδ’ ὅτε οἱ ὀλίγη νεφέλη πάρος ἀντέλλῄσι,
τὴν δὲ μέτ’ ἀκτίνων κεχρημένος αὐτὸς ἀερθῇ,
ἀμνηστεῖν ὑετοῖο. Πολὺς δ’ ὅτε οἱ περὶ κύκλος
οἷον τηκομένῳ ἐναλίγκιος εὐρύνηται
πρῶτον ἀνερχομένοιο καὶ ἂψ ἐπὶ μεῖον ἴηισιν,
850 εὔδιός κε φέροιτο, καὶ εἴ ποτε χείματος ὥρῃ
ὠχρήσῃ κατιὼν. Ἀτὰρ ὕδατος ἡμερίοιο
γινομένου, κατόπισθε περὶ νέφεα σκοπέεσθαι·
καὶ δὴ δυομένου τετραμμένος ἠελίοιο,
ἢν μὲν ὑποσκιάῃσι μελαινομένῃ εἰκυῖα
855 ἠέλιον νεφέλη, ταὶ δ’ ἀμφί μιν ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
ἀκτῖνες μεσσηγὺς ἑλισσόμεναι διχόωνται,
ἦ τ’ ἂν ἔτ’ εἰς ἠῶ σκέπαος κεχρημένος εἴης.
Εἰ δ’ ὁ μὲν ἀνέφελος βάπτηι ῥόου ἑσπερίοιο,
ταὶ δὲ κατερχομένου νεφέλαι καὶ ἔτ’ οἰχομένοιο
860 πλησίαι ἑστήκωσιν ἐρευθέες, οὔ σε μάλα χρὴ
αὔριον οὐδ’ ἐπὶ νυκτὶ περιτρομέειν ὑετοῖο,
ἀλλ’ ὁπότ’ ἠελίοιο μαραινομένηισιν ὁμοῖαι
ἐξαπίνης ἀκτῖνες ἀπ’ οὐρανόθεν τανύωνται,
οἷον ἀμαλδύνονται ὅτε σκιάῃσι κατ’ ἰθὺ
865 ἱσταμένη γαίης τε καὶ ἠελίοιο σελήνη.

     But if the rays of the rising or setting Sun converge and crowd on one spot, or if he go from night to dawn, or from dawn to night, closely beset with clouds, those days will run in company with rushing rain. Nor be thou heedless of rain, what time before him rises a thin mist, after which the Sun himself ascends with scanty beams. But when a broad belt of mist seems to melt and widen before the rising Sun and anon narrows to less, fair will be his course, and fair too, if in the season of winter his hue wax wan at eventide. But for tomorrow’s rain face the setting Sun and scan the clouds. If a darkening cloud the beams that wheel between the Sun and it part to either side of the cloud, thou shalt still need shelter for the dawn. But if without a cloud he dip in the western ocean, and as he is sinking, or still when he is gone, the clouds stand near him blushing red, neither on the morrow nor in the night needst thou be over-fearful of rain. But fear the coming rain when on a sudden the Sun’s rays seem to thin and pale – just as they often fade when the Moon overshadows them, what time she stands straight between the earth and Sun.

Οὐδ’ ὅτε οἱ ἐπέχοντι φανήμεναι ἠῶθι πρὸ
φαίνωνται νεφέλαι ὑπερευθέες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαι,
ἄρραντοι γίνονται ἐπ’ ἤματι κείνῳ ἄρουραι.
Μηδ’ αὕτως, ἔτ’ ἐόντι πέρην ὁπότε προταθεῖσαι
870 ἀκτῖνες φαίνωνται ἐπίσκιοι ἠῶθι πρό,
ὕδατος ἢ ἀνέμοιο κατοισομένου λελαθέσθαι.
Ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν κεῖναι μᾶλλον κνέφαος φορέοιντο
ἀκτῖνες, μᾶλλόν κεν ἐφ’ ὕδατι σημαίνοιεν·
εἰ δ’ ὀλίγος τανύοιτο περὶ δνόφος ἀκτίνεσσιν,
875 οἷόν που μαλακαὶ νεφέλαι φορέουσι μάλιστα,
ἦ τ’ ἂν ἐπερχομένοιο περιδνοφέοιντ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Οὐδὲ μὲν ἠελίου σχεδόθεν μελανεῦσαι ἀλωαὶ
εὔδιοι· ἀσσότεραι δὲ καὶ ἀστεμφὲς μελανεῦσαι
μᾶλλον χειμέριαι, δύο δ’ ἂν χαλεπώτεραι εἶεν.
880 Σκέπτεο δ’ ἢ ἀνιόντος ἢ αὐτίκα δυομένοιο
εἴ πού οἱ νεφέων τὰ παρήλια κικλήσκονται
ἢ νότου ἠὲ βορῆος ἐρεύθεται ἢ ἑκάτρθεν,
μηδ’ αὕτως σκοπιὴν ταύτην ἀμενηνὰ φυλάσσειν.
Οὐ γάρ, ὅτ’ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ὁμοῦ περὶ μέσσον ἔχωσιν
885 ἠέλιον κεῖναι νεφέλαι σχεδὸν ὠκεανοῖο,
γίνεται ἀμβολίη Διόθεν χειμῶνος ἰόντος.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἐκ βορέαο μί’ οἴη φοινίσσοιτο,
ἐκ βορέω πνοιάς κε φέροι, νοτίη δὲ νότοιο·
ἢ καί που ῥαθάμιγγες ἐπιτροχόωσ’ ὑετοῖο.

     Nor are the fields unwetted on that day, when before the dawn, as the Sun delays to shine, reddish clouds appear here or there. Be not heedless either of wind or rain to come, when, while the Sun is still below the verge, his precursor beams shine shadowy in the dawn. The more those beams are borne in shadow, the surer the sign they give of rain, but if but faint the dusk that veils his beams, like a soft mist of vapour, that veil of dusk portends wind. Nor are dark halos near the Sun signs of fair weather: when nearer the Sun and dark without relief, they portend greater storms; if there are two rings, they will herald tempests fiercer still. Marks as the Sun is rising or setting, whether the clouds, called parhelia, blush (on South or North or both), nor make the observation in careless mood. For when on both sides at once those clouds gird the Sun, low down upon the horizon, there is no lingering of the storm that comes from Zeus. But if only one shine purple to the North, form the North will it bring the blast; if in the South, from the South; or down pour the pattering raindrops.

890 Ἑσπερίοις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπίτρεπε σήμασι τούτοις·
ἑσπερόθεν γὰρ ὁμῶς σημαίνεται ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
Σκέπτεο καὶ Φάτνην. Ἡ μέν τ’ ὀλίγῃ εἰκυῖα
ἀχλύι βορραίη ὑπὸ Καρκίνῳ ἡγηλάζει,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν δύο λεπτὰ φαεινόμενοι φορέονται
895 ἀστέρες, οὔτε τι πολλὸν ἀπήοροι οὔτε μάλ’ ἐγγύς,
ἀλλ’ ὅσσον τε μάλιστα πυγούσιον ὠίσασθαι,
εἷς μὲν πὰρ βορέαο, νότῳ δ’ ἐπικέκλιται ἄλλος.
Καὶ τοὶ μὲν καλέονται Ὄνοι, μέσση δέ τε Φάτνη,
Ἥ τε κεἰ ἐξαπίνης πάντη Διὸς εὐδιόωντος
900 γίνετ’ ἄφαντος ὅλη, τοὶ δ’ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἰόντες
ἀστέρες ἀλλήλων ἀυτοσχεδὸν ἰνδάλλονται,
οὐκ ὀλίγωι χειμῶνι τότε κλύζονται ἄρουραι.
Εἰ δὲ μελαίνηται, τοὶ δ’ αὐτίκ’ ἐοικότες ὦσιν
ἀστέρες ἀμφότεροι, ἐπί χ’ ὕδατι σημαίνοιεν.
905 Εἰ δ’ ὁ μὲν ἐκ βορέω Φάτνης ἀμενηνὰ φαείνοι
λεπτὸν ἐπαχλύων, νότιος δ’ Ὄνος ἀγλαὸς εἴη,
δειδέχθαι ἀνέμοιο νότου, βορέω δὲ μάλα χρὴ
ἔμπαλιν ἀχλυόεντι φαεινομένῳ τε δοκεύειν.

     With even greater care mark those signals when in the West, for from the West the warnings are given ever with equal and unfailing certainty. Watch, too, the Manger. Like a faint mist in the North it plays the guide beneath Cancer. Around it are borne two faintly gleaming stars, not far apart nor very near but distant to the view a cubit’s length, one on the North, while the other looks towards the South. They are called the Asses, and between them is the Manger. On a sudden, when all the sky is clear, the Manger wholly disappears, while the stars that go on either side seem nearer drawn to one another: not slight then is the storm with which the fields are deluged. If the Manger darken and both stars remain unaltered, they herald rain. But if the Ass to the North of the Manger shine feebly through a faint mist, while the Southern Ass is gleaming bright, expect wind from the South: but if in turn the Southern Ass is cloudy and the Northern bright, watch for the North wind.

Σῆμα δέ τοι ἀνέμοιο καὶ οἰδαίνουσα θάλασσα
910 γινέσθω καὶ μακρὸν ἔπ’ αἰγιαλοὶ βοόωντες,
ἀκταί τ’ εἰνάλιαι ὁπότ’ εὔδιοι ἠχήεσσαι
γίνονται, κορυφαί τε βοώμεναι οὔρεος ἄκραι.
Καὶ δ’ ἂν ἐπὶ ξηρὴν ὅτ’ ἐρωδιὸς οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
ἐξ ἁλὸς ἔρχηται φωνῇ περιπολλὰ λεληκὼς,
915 κινυμένου κε θάλασσαν ὕπερ φορέοιτ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Καί ποτε καὶ κέπφοι, ὁπότ’ εὔδιοι ποτέωνται,
ἀντία μελλόντων ἀνέμων εἰληδὰ φέρονται.
Πολλάκι δ’ ἀγριάδες νῆσσαι ἢ εἰναλιδῖναι
αἴθυιαι χερσαῖα τινάσσονται πτερύγεσσιν,
920 ἢ νεφέλη ὄρεος μηκύνεται ἐν κορυφῇσιν.
Ἤδη καὶ πάπποι, λευκῆς γήρειον ἀκάνθης,
σῆμ’ ἐγένοντ’ ἀνέμου, κωφῆς ἁλὸς ὁππότε πολλοὶ
ἄκρον ἐπιπλώωσι, τὰ μὲν πάρος, ἄλλα δ’ ὀπίσσω.
Καὶ θέρεος βρονταί τε καὶ ἀστραπαὶ ἔνθεν ἴωσιν,
925 ἔνθεν ἐπερχομένοιο περισκοπέειν ἀνέμοιο.
Καὶ διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν ὅτ’ ἀστέρες ἀΐσσωσι
ταρφέα, τοὶ δ’ ὄπιθεν ῥυμοὶ ὑπολευκαίνωνται,
δειδέχθαι κείνοις αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἐρχομένοιο
πνεύματος· ἢν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι ἐναντίοι ἀΐσσωσιν,
930 ἄλλοι δ’ ἐξ ἄλλων μερέων, τότε δὴ πεφύλαξο
παντοίων ἀνέμων, οἵ τ’ ἄκριτοί εἰσι μάλιστα,
ἄκριτα δὲ πνείουσιν ἐπ’ ἀνδράσι τεκμήρασθαι.

     A sign of wind be the swelling sea, the far sounding beach, the sea-crags when in calm they echo, and the moaning of the mountain crests. When, too, the heron in disordered flight comes landward from the sea with many a scream, he is precursor of the gale at sea. Anon, too, the stormy petrels when the flit in calm, move in companies to face the coming winds. Oft before a gale the wild ducks or sea-wheeling gulls beat their wings on the shore, or a cloud is lengthwise resting on the mountain peaks. Marked, too, ere now as sign of wind have been the withered petals, the down of the white thistle, when they abundant float, some in front and others behind, on the surface of the silent sea. From the quarter whence come the peals of summer thunder and the lightning flash, thence expect the onset of the gale. When through the dark night shooting stars fly thick and their track behind is white, except a wind coming in the same path. If other shooting stars confront them and others from other quarters dart, then be on they guard for winds from every quarter – winds, which beyond all else are hard to judge, and blow beyond man’s power to predict.

Αὐτὰρ ὅτ’ ἐξ εὔροιο καὶ ἐκ νότου ἀστράπτῃσιν,
ἄλλοτε δ’ ἐκ ζεφύροιο καὶ ἄλλοτε πὰρ βορέαο,
935 δὴ τότε τις πελάγει ἔνι δείδιε ναυτίλος ἀνὴρ
μή μιν τῇ μὲν ἔχῃ πέλαγος, τῇ δ’ ἐκ Διὸς ὕδωρ.
Ὕδατι γὰρ τοσσαί δε περὶ στεροπαὶ φορέονται.
Πολλάκι δ’ ἐρχομένων ὑετῶν νέφεα προπάροιθεν
οἷα μάλιστα πόκοισιν ἐοικότα ἰνδάλλονται,
940 ἢ διδύμη ἔζωσε διὰ μέγαν οὐρανὸν ἶρις,
ἢ καί πού τις ἅλωα μελαινομένην ἔχει ἀστήρ.
Πολλάκι λιμναῖαι ἢ εἰνάλιαι ὄρνιθες
ἄπληστον κλύζονται ἐνιέμεναι ὑδάτεσσιν,
ἢ λίμνην πέρι δηθὰ χελιδόνες ἀΐσσονται
945 γαστέρι τύπτουσαι αὔτως εἰλυμένον ὕδωρ,
ἢ μᾶλλον δειλαὶ γενεαί, ὕδροισιν ὄνειαρ,
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ὕδατος πατέρες βοόωσι γυρίνων,
ἢ τρύζει ὀρθρινὸν ἐρημαίη ὀλολυγών,
ἤ που καὶ λακέρυζα παρ’ ἠϊόνι προυχούσῃ
950 χείματος ἐρχομένου χέρσῳ ὑπέτυψε κορώνη,
ἤ που καὶ ποταμοῖο ἐβάψατο μέχρι παρ’ ἄκρους
ὤμους ἐκ κεφαλῆς, ἢ καὶ μάλα πᾶσα κολυμβᾷ,
ἢ πολλὴ στρέφεται παρ’ ὕδωρ παχέα κρώζουσα.

     But when from East and South the lightnings flash, and again from the West and anon from the North, verily then the sailor on the sea fears to be caught at once by the waves beneath and the rain from heaven. For such lightnings herald rain. Often before the coming rain fleece-like clouds appear or a double rainbow girds the wide sky or some star is rings with darkening halo. Often the birds of lake or sea insatiably dive and plunge in the water, or around the mere for long the swallows dart, smiting with their breasts the rippling water, or more hapless tribes, a boon to watersnakes, the fathers of the tadpoles croak from the lake itself, or from the lonely tree-frog drones his matin lay, or by jutting bank the chattering crow stalks on the dry land before the coming storm, or it may be dips from head to shoulder in the river, or even dives completely, or hoarsely cawing ruffles it beside the water.

Καὶ βόες ἤδη τοι πάρος ὕδατος ἐνδίοιο
955 οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδόντες ἀπ’ αἰθέρος ὀσφρήσαντο,
καὶ κοίλης μύρμηκες ὀχῆς ἐξ ὤεα πάντα
θᾶσσον ἀνηνέγκαντο, καὶ ἀθρόοι ὦφθεν ἴουλοι ⁴⁷
τείχε’ ἀνέρποντες, καὶ πλαζόμενοι σκώληκες
κεῖνοι τοὺς καλέουσι μελαίνης ἔντερα γαίης.
960 καὶ τιθαὶ ὄρνιθες, ταὶ ἀλέκτορος ἐξεγένοντο,
εὖ ἐφθειρίσσαντο καὶ ἔκρωξαν μάλα φωνῇ,
οἷόν τε σταλάον ψοφέει ἐπὶ ὕδατι ὕδωρ.
Δή ποτε καὶ γενεαὶ κοράκων καὶ φῦλα κολοιῶν
ὕδατος ἐρχομένοιο Διὸς πάρα σῆμ’ ἐγένοντο
965 φαινόμενοι ἀγεληδὰ καὶ ἰρήκεσσιν ὁμοῖα
φθεγξάμενοι· καί που κόρακες δίους σταλαγμοὺς
φωνῇ ἐμιμήσαντο σὺν ὕδατος ἐρχομένοιο,
ἐρχόμεναι σταθμὸν δὲ βόες βουλύσιον ὥρην,
ἤ ποτε καὶ κρώξαν τε βαρείῃ δισσάκι φωνῇ
970 μακρὸν ἐπιρροιζεῦσι τιναξάμενοι πτερὰ πυκνά,
καὶ νῆσσαι οἰκουροὶ ὑπωρόφιοί τε κολοιοὶ
ἐρχόμενοι κατὰ γεῖσα τινάσσονται πτερύγεσσιν,
ἢ ἐπὶ κῦμα διώκει ἐρωδιὸς ὀξὺ λεληκώς.

     And ere now before rain from the sky, the oxen gazing heavenward have been seen to sniff the air, and the ants from their hollow nests bring up in haste all their eggs, and in swarms the centipedes are seen to climb the walls, and wandering forth crawl those worms that men call dark earth’s intestines (earthworms). Tame fowl with father Chanticleer well preen their plumes and cluck aloud with voices like noise of water dripping upon water. Ere now, too, the generations of crows and tribes of jackdaws have been a sign of rain to come from Zeus, when they appear in flocks and screech like hawks. Crows, too, imitate with their note the heavy splash of clashing rain, or after twice croaking deeply they raise a loud whirring with frequent flapping of their wings, and ducks of the homestead and jackdaws which haunt the roof seek cover under the eaves and clap their wings, or seaward flies the heron with shrill screams.

Τῶν τοι μηδὲν ἀπόβλητον πεφυλαγμένωι ὕδωρ
975 γινέσθω, μηδ’ εἴ κεν ἐπιπλέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν
δάκνωσιν μυῖαι καὶ ἐφ’ αἵματος ἱμείρωνται,
ἢ λύχνοιο μύκητες ἀγείρωνται περὶ μύξαν
νύκτα κατὰ νοτίην, μηδ’ ἢν ὑπὸ χείματος ὥρην
λύχνων ἄλλοτε μέν τε φάος κατὰ κόσμον ὀρώρῃ,
980 ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀΐσσωσιν ἄπο φλόγες ἠΰτε κοῦφαι
πομφόλυγες, μηδ’ εἴ κεν ἐπ’ αὐτόφι μαρμαίρωσιν
ἀκτῖνες, μηδ’ ἢν θέρεος μέγα πεπταμένοιο
νησαῖοι ὄρνιθες ἐπασσύτεροι φορέωνται.
Μηδὲ σύ γ’ ἢ χύτρης ἠὲ τρίποδος πυριβήτεω
985 σπινθῆρες ὅτ’ ἔωσι πέρι πλέονες, λελαθέσθαι,
μηδὲ κατὰ σποδιὴν ὁπότ’ ἄνθρακος αἰθομένοιο
λάμπηται πέρι σήματ’ ἐοικότα κεγχρείοισιν.
Ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ καὶ τὰ δόκευε περισκοπέων ὑετοῖο.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἠερόεσσα παρὲξ ὄρεος μεγάλοιο
990 πυθμένα τείνηται νεφέλη, ἄκραι δὲ κολῶναι
φαίνωνται καθαραί, μάλα κεν τόθ’ ὑπεύδιος εἴης.
Εὔδιος κ’ εἴης καὶ ὅτε πλατέος παρὰ πόντου
φαίνηται χθαμαλὴ νεφέλη, μηδ’ ὑψόθι κύρῃ,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ πλαταμῶνι παραθλίβηται ὁμοίη.
995 Σκέπτεο δ’ εὔδιος μὲν ἐὼν ἐπὶ χείματι μᾶλλον,
ἐς δὲ γαληναίην χειμωνόθεν. Εὖ δὲ μάλα χρὴ
ἐς Φάτνην ὁράαν, τὴν Καρκίνος ἀμφιελίσσει,
πρῶτα καθαιρομένην πάσης ὑπένερθεν ὀμίχλης·
κείνη γὰρ φθίνοντι καθαίρεται ἐν χειμῶνι.

     Slight not aught of these things when on thy guard for rain, and heed the warning, if beyond their wont the midges sting and are fain for blood, or if on a misty night snuff gather on the nozzle of the lamp, or if in winter’s season the flame of the lamp now rise steadily and anon sparks fly fast from it, like light bubbles, or if on the light itself there dart quivering rays, or if in height of summer the island birds are borne in crowding companies. Be not heedless of the pot or tripod on the fire, if many sparks encircle it, nor heedless when in the ashes of blazing coal there gleam spots like millet seed, but scan those too when seeking signs of rain. But if a misty cloud be stretched along the base of a high hill, while the upper peaks shine clear, very bright will be the sky. Fair weather, too, shalt thou have, when by the sea-verge is seen a cloud low on the ground, never reaching a height, but penned there like a flat reef of rock. Seek in clam for signs of storms, and in storm for signs of calm. Scan well the Manger, whereby wheels the Crab, when first it is freed of every covering cloud. For its clearing marks the waning tempest.

1000 Καὶ φλόγες ἡσύχιαι λύχνων καὶ νυκτερίη γλαὺξ
ἥσυχον ἀείδουσα μαραινομένου χειμῶνος
γινέσθω τοι σῆμα, καὶ ἥσυχα ποικίλλουσα
ὥρῃ ἐν ἑσπερίῃ κρώζῃ πολύφωνα κορώνη,
καὶ κόρακες μοῦνοι μὲν ἐρημαῖον βοόωντες
1005 δισσάκις, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα μέγ’ ἀθρόα κεκλήγοντες,
πλειότεροι δ’ ἀγεληδόν, ἐπὴν κοίτοιο μέδωνται,
φωνῆς ἔμπλειοι· χαίρειν κέ τις οἰίσσαιτο,
οἷα τὰ μὲν βοόωσι λιγαινομένοισιν ὁμοῖα,
πολλὰ δὲ δενδρείοιο περὶ φλόον, ἄλλοτ’ ἐπ’ αὐτοῦ
1010 ἧχί τε κείουσιν καὶ ὑπότροποι ἀπτερύονται.
Καὶ δ’ ἄν που γέρανοι μαλακῆς προπάροιθε γαλήνης
ἀσφαλέως τανύσαιεν ἕνα δρόμον ἤλιθα πᾶσαι,
οὐδὲ παλιρρόθιοί κεν ὑπεύδιοι φορέοιντο.
Ἦμος δ’ ἀστερόθεν καθαρὸν φάος ἀμβλύνηται,
1015 οὐδέ ποθεν νεφέλαι πεπιεσμέναι ἀντιόωσιν,
οὐδέ ποθεν ζόφος ἄλλος ὑποτρέχῃ οὐδὲ σελήνη,
ἀλλὰ τά γ’ ἐξαπίνης αὕτως ἀμενηνὰ φέρωνται,
μηκέτι τοι τόδε σῆμα γαληναίης ἐπικείσθω,
ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ χεῖμα δόκευε· καὶ ὁππότε ταὶ μένωσιν
1020 αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ νεφέλαι, ταὶ δ’ ἄλλαι ἐπ’ αὐταῖς,
ταὶ μὲν ἀμειβόμεναι, ταὶ δ’ ἐξόπιθεν, φορέωνται.

     Take for sign of storm abating the steady-burning flame of the lamp, the gentle hooting of the owl at night, and the crow if with gentle varying note she caw at eventide, and the rooks, when singly they utter two lonely notes followed by frequent rapid screams, and when in fuller company they bethink them of the roost, full of voice. One would think them glad, seeing how they caw now in shrill screams, now with frequent flight around the foliage of the tree, now on the tree, whereon they roost, and anon they wheel and clap their wings. Cranes, too, before a gentle clam will wing their way steadily onward in one track, all in company, and in fair weather will be borne in no disordered flight. But when the clear light from the stars is dimmed, though no thronging clouds veil, nor other darkness hide nor Moon obscure, but the stars on a sudden thus causelessly wax wan, hold that no more for sign of calm but look for storm. Foul weather, too, will come, when of the clouds some are stationary, but others passing by and others following after.

Καὶ χῆνες κλαγγηδὸν ἐπειγόμεναι βρώμοιο
χειμῶνος μέγα σῆμα, καὶ ἐννεάγηρα κορώνη
νύκτερον ἀείδουσα, καὶ ὀψὲ βοῶντε κολοιοί,
1025 καὶ σπίνος ἠῷα σπίζων, καὶ ὄρνεα πάντα
ἐκ πελάγους φεύγοντα, καὶ ὀρχίλος ἢ καὶ ἐριθεὺς
δύνων ἐς κοίλας ὀχεάς, καὶ φῦλα κολοιῶν
ἐκ νομοῦ ἐρχόμενα τραφεροῦ ἐπὶ ὄψιον αὖλιν.
Οὐδ’ ἂν ἔτι ξουθαὶ μεγάλου χειμῶνος ἰόντος
1030 πρόσσω ποιήσαιντο νομὸν κηροῖο μέλισσαι,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ μέλιτός τε καὶ ἔργων εἱλίσσονται.
Οὐδ’ ὑψοῦ γεράνων μακραὶ στίχες αὐτὰ κέλευθα
τείνονται, στροφάδες δὲ παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέονται.
Μηδ, ὅτε νηνεμίῃ κεν ἀράχνια λεπτὰ φέρηται,
1035 καὶ φλόγες αἰθύσσωσι μελαινόμεναι λύχνοιο,
ἢ πῦρ αὔηται σπουδῇ καὶ ὑπεύδια λύχνα,
πιστεύειν χειμῶνι. Τί τοι λέγω ὅσσα πέλονται
σήματ’ ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπους; Δὴ γὰρ καὶ ἀεικέι τέφρῃ
αὐτοῦ πηγνυμένῃ νιφετοῦ ἐπιτεκμήραιο,
1040 καὶ λυχνῳ χιόνος, κέγχροις ὅτ’ ἐοικότα πάντη
κύκλῳ σήματ’ ἔχει πυριλαμπέος ἐγγύθι μύξης·
ἄνθρακι δὲ ζώοντι χαλάζης, ὁππότε λαμπρὸς
αὐτὸς ἐείδηται, μέσσῳ δέ οἱ ἠΰτε λεπτὴ
φαίνηται νεφέλη πυρὸς ἔνδοθεν αἰθομένοιο.
1045 Πρῖνοι δ’ αὖ καρποῖο καταχθέες, οὐδὲ μέλαιναι
σχῖνοι ἀπείρητοι, πάντη δέ τε πολλὸς ἀλωεὺς
αἰεὶ παπταίνει, μή οἱ θέρος ἐκ χερὸς ἔρρῃ.
Πρῖνοι μὲν θαμινῆς ἀκύλου κατὰ μέτρον ἔχουσαι
χειμῶνός κε λέγοιεν ἐπὶ πλέον ἰσχύσοντος.
1050 Μηδὲ ἄδην ἔκπαγλα περιβρίθοιεν ἁπάντη,
τηλοτέρω δ’ αὐχμοῖο συνασταχύοιεν ἄρουραι.

     Sure signs of storm are geese hastening with many a cackle to their food, the nine-generation crow cawing at night, the jackdaw chattering late, the chaffinch piping in the dawn, waterfowl all fleeing inward from the sea, the wren or the robin retreating into hollow clefts, and tribes of jackdaws returning late to roost from dry feeding-grounds. When the furious tempest is imminent, the tawny bees go not far afield to cull wax, but wheel hard by their honey and their stores, nor do cranes on high in long lines wing their steady onward course, but wheel and double in their flight. Look, too, for foul weather, when in windless clam airy gossamers are flying, and when the rays of the lamp are wan and flickering, or when in fair weather fire and torches are hard to kindle. Why recount all the warning hints that come to men? The unsightly clotting of the ash is sign of snow: the ring of spots like millet seed around the blazing wick of the lamp betokens snow; but sign of hail are live coals, when they outward brightly shine, but in their centre appears, as it were, a hazy mist within the glowing fire. Nor are holm-oaks, laden with acorns, and the dark mastich untried. With frequent glance on every side the miller ever peers, anxious lest the summer slip from his hand. Holm-oaks with moderate crops of frequent acorns will tell of heavy storm to come. Pray that they may not be exceedingly heavy laden, but only that far from drought the cornfields flourish even as they.

Τριπλόα δὲ σχῖνος κυέει, τρισσαὶ δέ οἱ αὖξαι
γίνονται καρποῖο, φέρει δέ τε σήμαθ’ ἑκάστη
ἑξείης ἀρότῳ. Καὶ γάρ τ’ ἀροτήσιον ὥρην
1055 τριπλόα μείρονται, μέσσην καὶ ἐπ’ ἀμφότερ’ ἄκρα·
πρῶτος μὲν πρώτην ἄροσιν, μέσσος δέ τε μέσσην
καρπὸς ἀπαγγέλλει, πυμάτην γε μὲν ἔσχατος ἄλλων.
ὅντινα γὰρ κάλλιστα λοχαίη σχῖνος ἄρηται,
κείνῳ κ’ ἐξ ἄλλων ἄροσις πολυλήιος εἴη,
1060 τῷ δέ γ’ ἀφαυροτάτῳ ὀλίγη, μέσσῳ δέ τε μέσση.
Αὕτως δ’ ἀνθέρικος τριχθὰ σκίλλης ὑπερανθεῖ,
σήματ’ ἐπιφράσσασθαι ὁμοίϊου ἀμήτοιο.
ὅσσα δ’ ἐπὶ σχίνου ἀροτὴρ ἐφράσσατο καρπῷ,
τοσσάδε καὶ σκίλλης τεκμαίρεται ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ.
1065 Αὐτὰρ ὅτε σφῆκες μετοπωρινὸν ἤλιθα πολλοὶ
πάντη βεβρίθωσι, καὶ ἑσπερίων προπάροιθεν
Πληιάδων εἴποι τις ἐπερχόμενον χειμῶνα,
οἷος ἐπὶ σφήκεσσιν ἑλίσσεται αὐτίκα δῖνος.
Θήλειαι δὲ σύες, θήλεια δὲ μῆλα καὶ αἶγες
1070 ὁππότ’ ἀναστρωφῶσιν ὀχῆς, τὰ δέ γ’ ἄρσενα πάντα
δεξάμεναι πάλιν αὖτις ἀναβλήδην ὀχέωνται,
αὔτως κε σφήκεσσι μέγαν χειμῶνα λέγοιεν.
Ὀψὲ δὲ μισγομένων αἰγῶν μήλων τε συῶν τε
χαίρει ἄνολβος ἀνήρ, ὅ οἱ οὐ μάλα θαλπιόωντι
1075 εὔδιον φαίνουσι βιβαζόμεναι ἐνιαυτόν.
Χαίρει καὶ γεράνων ἀγέλαις ὡραῖος ἀροτρεὺς
ὥριον ἐρχομέναις, ὁ δ’ ἀώροις αὐτίκα μᾶλλον·

     Thrice the mastich buds and thrice wax ripe its berries. Each crop in turn brings a sign for the sowing. For men divide the sowing season into three – early, middle, late. The first crop of mastich heralds the first of grain; the second the middle; the latest the last of all. The richest crop that the teaming mastich bears will hint of the wealthiest harvest from the plough: the meanest crop foretells scanty grain, and average mastich heralds average corn. Likewise the stalk of the squill flowers thrice to give hint of corresponding harvest. All the hints the farmer marked in the mastich crop, the same he learns from the white blossom of the squill. But when in autumn frequent swarms of wasps crowd on every side, one can foretell the winter-storm to come even before the Pleiads are westering, swift and sudden as thee eddy wherein the wasps are wheeling. Sows and ewes and she-goats, when after mating with the male they mate again, equally with wasps foretell heavy storm. When she-goats and ewes and sows mate late in the season, the poor man rejoices, because their mating reveals to him that is thinly clad the coming of an open winter. In seasonable flight of thronging cranes rejoices the seasonable farmer: in untimely flight the untimely ploughman.

αὔτως γὰρ χειμῶνες ἐπέρχονται γεράνοισι,
πρώια μὲν καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμιλαδὸν ἐρχομένῃσιν
1080 πρώιοι· αὐτὰρ ὅτ’ ὀψὲ καὶ οὐκ ἀγεληδὰ φανεῖσαι
πλειότερον φορέονται ἐπὶ χρόνον, οὐδ’ ἅμα πολλαί,
ἀμβολίῃ χειμῶνος ὀφέλλεται ὕστερα ἔργα.
Εἰ δὲ βόες καὶ μῆλα μετὰ βρίθουσαν ὀπώρην
γαῖαν ὀρύσσωσιν, κεφαλὰς δ’ ἀνέμοιο βορῆος
1085 ἀντία τείνωσιν, μάλα κεν τότε χείμερον αὐταὶ
Πληιάδες χειμῶνα κατερχόμεναι φορέοιεν.
Μὴ δὲ λίην ὀρύχοιεν, ἐπεὶ μέγας οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
γίνεται οὔτε φυτοῖς χειμὼν φίλος οὔτ’ ἀρότοισιν.
Ἀλλὰ χιὼν εἴη πολλὴ μεγάλαις ἐπ’ ἀρούραις
1090 μήπω κεκριμένῃ μηδὲ βλωθρῇ ἐπὶ ποίῃ,
ὄφρα τις εὐεστοῖ χαίρῃ ποτιδέγμενος ἀνήρ.
μηδ’ εἶεν καθύπερθεν ἐοικότες ἀστέρες αἰεί,
μηδ’ εἷς μηδὲ δύω μηδὲ πλέονες κομόωντες·
πολλοὶ γὰρ κομόωσιν ἐπ’ αὐχμηρῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.
1095 Οὐδὲ μὲν ὀρνίθων ἀγέλαις ἠπειρόθεν ἀνήρ,
ἐκ νήσων ὅτε πολλαὶ ἐπιπλήσσωσιν ἀρούραις
ἐρχομένου θέρεος, χαίρει, περιδείδιε δ’ αἰνῶς
ἀμητῷ, μή οἱ κενεὸς καὶ ἀχύρμιος ἔλθῃ
αὐχμῷ ἀνιηθεὶς. Χαίρει δέ που αἰπόλος ἀνὴρ
1100 αὐταῖς ὀρνίθεσσιν, ἐπὴν κατὰ μέτρον ἴωσιν,
ἐλπόμενος μετέπειτα πολυγλαγέος ἐνιαυτοῦ.
Οὕτω γὰρ μογεροὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοι
ζώομεν ἄνθρωποι, τὰ δὲ πὰρ ποσὶ πάντες ἑτοῖμοι
σήματ’ ἐπιγνῶναι καὶ ἐς αὐτίκα ποιήσασθαι.

     For ever so the winters follow the cranes: early winters, when their flight is early and in flocks: when they fly late and not in flocks, but over a longer period in small bands, the later farming benefits by the delay of winter. If oxen and sheep after the heavy-laden Autumn dig the ground and stretch their heads to face the North wind, verily the Pleiads at their setting will bring a stormy winter. Pray that their digging be not excessive, for then is the winter exceedingly severe and a foe both to tree and tilth. May deep snow clothe the mighty fields, veiling the tender shoot, not yet separate nor tall, so that the anxious husbandman may rejoice in well-being. May the stars above shine ever with due brightness; and may no comets, one nor two nor more, appear! for many comets herald a season of drought. Nor on the mainland does the husbandman rejoice at the coming of summer to see trooping flocks of birds, when from the islands they alight upon his fields, but exceeding dread is his for the harvest, lest vexed by drought it come with empty ears and chaff. But the goat-herd rejoices even in the birds, when they come in moderate flocks with promise of a season of plenteous milk. For thus do we poor, changeful mortals win in divers ways our livelihood, and all are ready to mark the warnings at their feet and adopt them for the moment.

1105 Ἀρνάσι μὲν χειμῶνας ἐτεκμήραντο νομῆες,
ἐς νομὸν ὁππότε μᾶλλον ἐπειγόμενοι τροχόωσιν,
ἄλλοι δ’ ἐξ ἀγέλης κριοί, ἄλλοι δὲ καὶ ἀμνοὶ
εἰνόδιοι παίζωσιν ἐρειδόμενοι κεράεσσιν·
ἢ ὁπότ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοι ἀναπλίσσωσι πόδεσσιν
1110 τέτρασιν οἱ κοῦφοι, κεραοί γε μὲν ἀμφοτέροισιν·
ἢ καὶ ὅτ’ ἐξ ἀγέλης ἀεκούσια κινήσωσιν
δείελον εἰσελάοντες ὅμως, τὰ δὲ πάντοθι ποίης
δάκνωσιν πυκινῇσι κελευόμενα λιθάκεσσιν.
Ἐκ δὲ βοῶν ἐπύθοντ’ ἀρόται καὶ βουκόλοι ἄνδρες
1115 κινυμένου χειμῶνος, ἐπεὶ βόες ὁππότε χηλὰς
γλῶσσῃ ὑπωμαίοιο ποδὸς περιλιχμήσωνται
ἢ κοίτῳ πλευρὰς ἐπὶ δεξιτερὰς τανύσωνται,
ἀμβολίην ἀρότοιο γέρων ἐπιέλπετ’ ἀροτρεύς.
Οὐδ’ ὅτε μυκηθμοῖο περίπλειοι ἀγέρωνται
1120 ἐρχόμεναι σταθμόν δε βόες βουλύσιῳ ὥρῃ
σκυθραὶ λειμῶνος πόριες καὶ βουβοσίοιο,
αὐτίκα τεκμαίρονται ἀχείμεροι ἐμπλήσεσθαι.
Οὐδ’ αἶγες πρίνοιο περὶ σπεύδουσαι ἀκάνθαις
εὔδιοι, οὐδὲ σύες φορυτῷ ἐπὶ μαργαίνουσαι.
1125 Καὶ λύκος ὁππότε μακρὰ μονόλυκος ὠρύηται,
ἢ ὅτ’ ἀροτρήων ὀλίγον πεφυλαγμένος ἀνδρῶν
ἔργα κατέρχηται, σκέπαος χατέοντι ἐοικὼς,
ἐγγύθεν ἀνθρώπων, ἵνα οἱ λέχος αὐτόθεν εἴη,
τρὶς περιτελλομένης ἠοῦς χειμῶνα δοκεύειν.

     Sheep warn the shepherd of coming storm when they rush to pasture in haste beyond their wont, but some behind the flock, now rams, now lambs, sport by the way with butting horns, when some here, some there, they bound aloft, the sillier young with four feet off the ground, the horned elders with two, or when the shepherd moves an unwilling flock, though it be evening when he drives them to their pens, while ever and anon they pluck the grass, through urged by many a stone. From oxen too the ploughman and neat-herd learn of the stirring of the storm. When oxen lick with their tongue around the hooves of their fore-feet or in their stalls stretch themselves on their right side, the old ploughman expects the sowing to be delayed. When with ceaseless lowing the kine collectas they wend at eventide to their stalls, the heifers reluctant to leave the meadow pastureland give warning that anon they will not feed in stormless weather. Not fair weather do the goats betide when greedy for prickly holm-oak, and the sows rage furiously over their bedding. When a solitary wolf howls loud, or when, as if he sought for shelter, recking little of farmer men, he descends to the cultivated lands near to men to seek a lair there, expect a storm when the third dawn comes round.

1130 Οὕτω καὶ προτέροις ἐπὶ σήμασι τεκμήραιο
ἐσσομένων ἀνέμων ἢ χείματος ἢ ὑετοῖο
αὐτὴν ἤ μετὰ τὴν ἢ καὶ τριτάτην ἔτ’ ἐς ἠῶ.
Ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐδὲ μύες, τετριγότες εἴ ποτε μᾶλλον
εὔδιοι ἐσκίρτησαν ἐοικότα ὀρχηθμοῖσιν,
1135 ἄσκεπτοι ἐγένοντο παλαιοτέροις ἀνθρώποις,
οὐδὲ κύνες· καὶ γάρ τε κύων ὠρύξατο ποσσὶν
ἀμφοτέροις χειμῶνος ἐπερχομένοιο δοκεύων,
Καὶ μὴν ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ καρκίνος ᾤχετο χέρσῳ
χειμῶνος μέλλοντος, ἐπαΐσσεσθαι ὁδοῖο.
1140 καὶ μύες ἡμέριοι ποσσὶ στιβάδα στρωφῶντες
κοίτης ἱμείρονται ὅτ’ ὄμβρου σήματα φαίνοι,
κἀκεῖνοι χειμῶνα μύες τότε μαντεύονται.
Τῶν μηδὲν κατόκνησο. Καλὸν δ’ ἐπὶ σήματι σῆμα
σκέπτεσθαι· μᾶλλον δὲ δύειν εἰς ταὐτὸν ἰόντων
1145 ἐλπωρὴ τελέθοι, τριτάτῳ δέ κε θαρσήσειας.
Αἰεὶ δ’ ἂν παριόντος ἀριθμοίης ἐνιαυτοῦ
σήματα συμβάλλων εἴ που καὶ ἐπ’ ἀστέρι τοίη
ἠὼς ἀντέλλοντι φαείνεται ἢ κατιόντι,
ὁπποίην καὶ σῆμα λέγοι. Μάλα δ’ ἄρκιον εἴη
1150 φράζεσθαι φθίνοντος ἐφισταμένοιό τε μηνὸς
τετράδας ἀμφοτέρας· αἱ γάρ τ’ ἄμυδις συνιόντων
μηνῶν πείρατ’ ἔχουσιν, ὅτε σφαλερώτερος αἰθὴρ
ὀκτὼ νυξὶ πέλει χήτει χαροποῖο σελήνης.
Τῶν ἄμυδις πάντων ἐσκεμμένος εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
1155 οὐδέποτε σχεδίως κεν ἐπ’ αἰθέρι τεκμήραιο.

     So, too, by the previous signs thou canst forecast the winds or storm or rain to come on the self-same day or on the morrow or it may be on the third morn. Mice, too, as sign of storm, whenever with louder squeaking than their wont they gamboled and seemed to dance in fair weather, were not unmarked by the weather-seers of old. Nor were dogs. The dog with both his paws digs when he suspects the coming of a storm, and then too those mice turn prophets. And landward comes the crab, when the storm is about to burse. Mice in the daytime toss straw and are fain to build a nest when Zeus shows signs of rain. Make light of none of these warnings. Good rule it is to look for sign confirming sign. When two point the same way, forecast with hope; when three, with confidence. Thou canst always add the signs of the passing season, comparing whether at rising or at setting of a start the day dawn such as the calendar would herald. It would profit much to mark the last four days of the old and first four of the new month. They hold the terms of the meeting months, when the sky on eight nights is deceptive beyond its wont for lack of the bright-eyed moon. Study all the signs together throughout the year and never shall thy forecast of the weather be a random guess.