THE SKY-LARK.O, earliest singer! O, care-charming bird,Married to Morning by a sweeter hymnThan priest e’er chaunted from his cloister dimAt midnight,—or veiled virgin’s holier wordAt sunrise or the paler evening heard,—To which of all Heaven’s young and lovely Hours,Who wreathe soft light in hyacinthine bowers,Beautiful Spirit, is thy suit preferred?—Unlike the creatures of this low dull earth,Still dost thou woo, although thy suit be won;And thus thy mistress bright is pleased ever.Oh! lose not thou this mark of finer birth—So may’st thou yet live on, from sun to sun,Thy joy uncheck’d, thy sweet song silent never.Barry Cornwall.
THE SKY-LARK.
O, earliest singer! O, care-charming bird,Married to Morning by a sweeter hymnThan priest e’er chaunted from his cloister dimAt midnight,—or veiled virgin’s holier wordAt sunrise or the paler evening heard,—To which of all Heaven’s young and lovely Hours,Who wreathe soft light in hyacinthine bowers,Beautiful Spirit, is thy suit preferred?—Unlike the creatures of this low dull earth,Still dost thou woo, although thy suit be won;And thus thy mistress bright is pleased ever.Oh! lose not thou this mark of finer birth—So may’st thou yet live on, from sun to sun,Thy joy uncheck’d, thy sweet song silent never.
O, earliest singer! O, care-charming bird,Married to Morning by a sweeter hymnThan priest e’er chaunted from his cloister dimAt midnight,—or veiled virgin’s holier wordAt sunrise or the paler evening heard,—To which of all Heaven’s young and lovely Hours,Who wreathe soft light in hyacinthine bowers,Beautiful Spirit, is thy suit preferred?—Unlike the creatures of this low dull earth,Still dost thou woo, although thy suit be won;And thus thy mistress bright is pleased ever.Oh! lose not thou this mark of finer birth—So may’st thou yet live on, from sun to sun,Thy joy uncheck’d, thy sweet song silent never.
Barry Cornwall.
To the indications respecting rain by the flight of the swallow, mentioned under April 23, should be added, that when the swallow is observed to fly high, the weather will probably be fair. There are also some other indications in a set of old rules which may be consulted; viz.
To be able to ascertain the future changes of the weather, is of infinite use to the farmer and gardener.
Animals are evidently sooner sensible of the ensuing change of the atmosphere than we are, and from their divers appearance, and apparent sensations, we may in many instances determine what changes are likely to take place.
The following maybe set down as general rules, and upon minute observation we shall find them correct.
When the raven is observed early in the morning at a great height in the air, soaring round and round, and uttering a hoarse croaking sound, we may be sure the day will be fine, and may conclude the weather is about to clear and become fair.
The loud and clamorous quackling of ducks, geese, and other water-fowl, is a sign of rain.
Before rain swine appear very uneasy, and rub in the dust, as do cocks and hens.
Before storms kine and also sheep assemble at one corner of the field, and are observed to turn all their heads toward the quarter from whence the wind doth not blow.
The appearance of sea gulls, petrels, or other sea fowl in the inlands, indicates stormy weather.
In fine weather the bat is observed to continue flying about very late of an evening.
In autumn before rain some flies bite, and others become very troublesome, and gnats are more apt to sting.
When flocks of wild geese are observed flying in a westward or southern direction in autumn, it indicates a hard winter.
The floating of gossamer, and its alighting on the rigging of ships, foretels fine weather.
The clamorous croaking of frogs indicates rainy weather.
The appearance of beetles flying about of an evening in summer, indicates that the next day will be fair.
Before rain dogs are apt to grow very sleepy and dull, and to lay all day before the fire.
Before rain moles throw up the earth more than usual.
The appearance of rare foreign birds in this country, such as rollers, hoopoos, &c. indicates hard weather.
When spiders are seen crawling on the walls more than usual, rain will probably ensue.
The much barking of dogs in the night frequently indicates a change in the weather.
When the trees and hedges are very full of berries, it indicates a hard winter.
The abundance of woodseare and honeydew on herbs indicates fair weather, as does floating gossamer.
It is said in Wiltshire, that the dunpickles or moor buzzards alight in great numbers on the downs before rain.
Before storms the missel thrush is observed to sing particularly loud, and to continue so till the commencement of the rain; from which circumstance it is in some places called the storm cock.
It is a sign of rain when pigeons return slowly to the dovehouses.
When bees do not go out as usual, but keep in or about their hives, rain may be expected.
Before wind, swine run squeaking about as though they were mad; which has given rise to the notion that pigs can see the wind.
Before rain the pintados called comebacks squall more than usual; as do peacocks.
The early appearance of woodcocks, snipes, swinepipes, fieldfares, &c. are prognostications of severe winters.
When the dew lies plenteously upon the grass in the evening, the next day will probably be fine; when there is little or no dew, probably wet.
Dr. Forster observes, on the authority of Virgil, “that the blowing about of feathers, or any light substances on the water, is also a sign of rain.”
In the “Indicator” Mr. Leigh Hunt discourses of this beautiful season with his usual grace. He says—
“The spring is now complete. The winds have done their work. The shaken air, well tempered and equalized, has subsided; the genial rains, however thickly they may come, do not saturate the ground, beyond the power of the sun to dry it up again. There are clear crystal mornings; noons of blue sky and white cloud; nights, in which the growing moon seems to lie looking at the stars, like a young shepherdess at her flock.
“Then the young green. This is the most apt and perfect mark of the season,—the true issuing forth of the spring. The trees and bushes are putting forth their crisp fans; the lilac is loaded with bud; the meadows are thick with the bright young grass, running into sweeps of white and gold with the daisies and buttercups. The orchards announce their riches, in a shower of silver blossoms. The earth in fertile woods is spread with yellow and blue carpets of primroses, violets, and hyacinths, over which the birch-trees, like stooping nymphs, hang with their thickening hair. Lilies of the valley, stocks, columbines, lady-smocks, and the intensely red piony which seems to anticipate the full glow of summertime, all come out to wait upon the season, like fairies from their subterraneous palaces.”
Cowslip.Primula Veris.Dedicated toSt. Catharineof Sienna.