CHAP. IIII.
ANd hauing resolued this question, I might dismisse and repose my selfe, but I will giue thee full measure, since I haue begun to be troublesome vnto thee, I will relate whatsoeuer it be, that may grow in question vpon this matter. The question is then why it snoweth in winter, and haileth not, and after that the cold hath beene broken by a milder weather, the haile falleth? Although thou thinkest that I am deceiued, yet account I it for true, which I apprehend in my minde, which permitteth it selfe to beleeue these trifling tales, wherein men are accu∣stomed to nip our tongues, and not to pull out our eyes. In winter the aire free∣seth, by meanes whereof it resolueth not himselfe into water, but into snow, to which the aire is more neerer. In the beginning of the Spring there followeth a great change of weather, and the aire being become more warme, there suc∣ceed more greater raine. Vpon which occasion our Poet Virgil saith,
When as showre-bearing spring,Discouereth it selfe, the change of the ayre being opened, and resolued euery wayes by the assistance of the season, is farre more vehement. For this cause the raynes fall more waightie and thicke, but they continue not. The Winter hath lent, and thick showers, which we see oftentimes happen when the snow falleth amidst a rare and thin raine. We say that it is a snowie day when it is colde and the heauen is couered: contrariwise, when the Northeast winde bloweth and gouerneth in the ayre, the raines are more small; but when the Southern winde rayneth the raine is more strong, and the drops greater.