The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NATURAL HISTORY OF WINDS. 459
6. If before sunrising there appear some rays I or dusky, or any way blemished, it signifies
as forerunners, it signifies both wind and rain. stormy and tempestuous days before the full
7. If the sun at its rising diffuses its rays moon; if it be ill coloured in the middle, tenmthrough the clouds, the middle of the sun re- pests will come about the full of the moon; if
maining still under clouds, it shall signify rain, it be so about the upper part of the horn, they
especially if those beams break out downwards, will be about the decreasing of the moon.
that the sun appears as it -were with a beard. 20. If at the fourth rising the moon appear
But if the rays break forth out of the middle, or bright, with sharp horns, not lying flat, nor standdispersed, and its exterior body, or the out parts ing upright, but in a middle kind of posture beof it, be covered with clouds, it foreshows great tween both, it promises fair weather for the most
tempests both of wind and rain. part until the next new moon.
8. If the sun, when it rises, be encompassed 21. If at the same rising it be red, it portends
with a circle, let wind be expected from that side winds; if dusky or black, rain; but, howsoever,
on which the circle opens. But if the circle fall it signifies nothing beyond the full moon.
off all at one time it will be fair weather. 29. An upright moon is almost always threaten9. If at the setting of the sun there appears a ing and hurtful, but it chiefly portends winds;
white circle about it, it signifies some small storm but if it have blunt horns, and as it were cut off
the same night; if black or darkness, much wind short, it rather signifies rain.
the day following. 23. If one horn of the moon be sharp and the
10. If the clouds look red at sunrising, they other blunt, it signifies wind; if both be blunt,
are prognostics of wind; if at sunsetting, of a rain.
fair ensuing day. 24. If a circle or halo appear about the moon,
11. If about the rising of the sun clouds do it signifies rain rather than wind, unless tile
gather themselves about it, they foreshow rough moon stands directly within that circle, for then
storms that day; but if they be driven back from it signifies both.
the rising towards the setting of the sun, they 25. Circles about the moon always foreshow
signify fair weather. winds on that side where they break; also a no12. If at sunrising the clouds be dispersed table shining in some part of the circle, signifies
from the sides of the sun, some southward, and winds from that part where the shining is.
some northward, though the sky be clear about 26. If the circles about the moon be double or
the sun, it foreshows wind. treble, they foreshow horrible and rough tem13. If the sun goes down in a cloud, it fore- pests, and especially if those circles be not whole,
shows rain the next day; but if it rains at sun- but spotted and divided.
setting it is a token of wind rather. But if the 27. Full moons, as concerning the colours and
clouds seem to be as it were drawn towards the circles, do in a manner foreshow the same things,
sun, it signifies both wind and storms. as the fourth rising, but more present, and not so
14. If clouds at the rising of the sun seem not long delayed.
to encompass it, but to lie over it, as if they were 28. Full moons use to be more clear than the
about to eclipse it, they foreshow the rising of other ages of the moon, and in winter use to be
winds on that side as the clouds incline. And far colder.
if they do this about noon, they signify both 29. The moon appearing larger at the going
wind and rain. down of the sun, if it be splendent and not dusky,
15. If the clouds have encompassed the sun, betokens fair weather for many days.
the less light they leave it, and the lesser the orb 30. Winds almost continually follow the
of the sun appears, so much the more raging eclipses of the moon, and fair weather the
shall the tempest be; but if there appear a double eclipses of the sun; rain comes after neither.
or treble orb, as though there were two or three 31. From the conjunctions of any of the planets,
suns, the tempest will be so much the more vio- but only the sun, you may expect winds both belent for many days. fore and after; from their conjunctions with the
16. New moons presage the dispositions of the sun, fair weather.
air; but especially the fourth rising of it, as if it 32. At the rising of the Pleiades and Hyades
were a confirmed new moon. The full moons come showers of rain, but calm ones; after the
likewise do presage more than the days which rising of Arcturus and Orion, tempests.
come after. 33. Returning and shooting stars (as we call
17. By long observation the fifth day of the them) signify winds to come from that place
moon is feared by mariners for stormy. whence they run, or are shot; but if they fly
18. If the new moon do not appear before the from several, or contrary parts, it is a sign of
fourth day, it foreshows a troubled air for the great approaching storms of wind and rain.
whole month. 34. When such little stars as those which ai,
19. If the new moon, at her first appearance, called Aselli are not seen generally all over thu
or within a few days, have its lower horn obscure sky, it foreshows great temipests and rain within