§3.38ΙΙΙ. Χειμῶνος δὲ τάδε.
III. The signs of winter are as follows.
ἥλιος δυόμενος εἰς μὴ καθαρόν.
The sun setting into a sky that is not clear.
καὶ ὡς ἂν μερισθῇ δυόμενος, οὕτως αἱ ἡμέραι ἐπιτελοῦνται. οἷον εἰ τὸ τρίτον μέρος ἀπολειφθείη ἢ τὸ ἥμισυ.
And according as the setting sun is divided, so the days are fulfilled; for example, if a third part or a half should be left.
τὸ σελήνιον ἐὰν ὀρὸν ᾖ μέχρι τετράδος καὶ εἰ εὔκυκλον, χειμάσει μέχρι διχοτόμου·
If the crescent moon is of a wheyish color up to the fourth day and well-rounded, it will be stormy until the first quarter.
γέρανοι ἐὰν πρωῒ πέτωνται καὶ ἀθρόοι, πρωῒ χειμάσει, ἐὰν δὲ ὀψὲ καὶ πολὺν χρόνον, ὀψὲ χειμάσει.
If cranes fly early and in flocks, the winter will come early; but if late and for a long time, it will come late.
καὶ ἐὰν ὑποστραφῶσι πετόμενοι, χειμῶνα σημαίνουσι.
And if they turn back in their flight, they indicate winter.
§3.39Χῆνες βοῶντες μᾶλλον ἢ περὶ σῖτον μαχόμενοι χειμέριον.
Geese cackling more than usual or fighting for food indicate wintry weather.
σπίνος στρουθὸς σπίζων ἕωθεν χειμέριον.
A chaffinch chirping at dawn indicates wintry weather.
ὄρχιλος εἰσιὼν καὶ εἰσδυόμενος εἰς ὀπὰς χειμῶνα σημαίνουσι καὶ ἐριθεὺς ὡσαύτως.
The wren entering and creeping into holes indicates winter, and the robin likewise.
κορώνη ἐὰν ταχὺ δὶς κρώζῃ καὶ τρίτον, χειμερία.
If a crow caws quickly twice and then a third time, it indicates wintry weather.
καὶ κορώνη καὶ κόραξ καὶ κολοιὸς ὀψὲ ᾄδοντες χειμέριοι.
And a crow, a raven, and a jackdaw singing late in the day indicate wintry weather.
στρουθὸς ἐὰν λευκὸς ἢ χελιδὼν ἢ ἄλλο τι τῶν μὴ εἰωθότων λευκῶν, χειμῶνα μέγαν σημαίνουσιν, ὥσπερ καί, μέλανες ἐὰν πολλοὶ φανῶσιν, ὕδωρ.
If a sparrow or a swallow or any other bird not usually white appears white, they indicate a severe winter; just as if many black ones appear, they indicate rain.
§3.40Καὶ ἐὰν ἐκ πελάγους ὄρνιθες φεύγωσι, χειμῶνα σημαίνουσι.
And if birds flee from the open sea, they indicate winter.
καὶ σπίνος ἐν οἰκίᾳ οἰκουμένῃ φθεγγόμενος χειμέριον.
And a chaffinch chirping in an inhabited house indicates wintry weather.
ὅσα ὕδωρ σημαίνει, χειμῶνα ἄγει, ἐὰν μὴ ὕδωρ, χιόνα καὶ χειμῶνα.
Whatever signs indicate rain bring winter; and if not rain, they bring snow and winter.
κόραξ φωνὰς πολλὰς μεταβάλλων χειμῶνος χειμέριον.
In winter, a raven uttering many different cries indicates wintry weather.
κολοιοὶ ἐκ τοῦ νότου πετόμενοι καὶ τευθίδες χειμέριαι.
Jackdaws flying from the south and squids indicate wintry weather.
φωνὴ ἐν λιμένι ἀποψοφοῦσα καὶ πολύπλοκον ἠχοῦσα χειμέριον.
A sound echoing in a harbor and producing a complex reverberation indicates wintry weather.
καὶ οἱ πνεύμονες οἱ θαλάττιοι ἐὰν πολλοὶ φαίνωνται ἐν τῷ πελάγει. χειμερινοῦ ἔτους σημεῖον.
And if many sea-lungs appear in the open sea, it is a sign of a wintry year.
πρόβατα ἐὰν πρωῒ ὀχεύηται, πρώϊον χειμῶνα σημαίνουσι.
If sheep mate early, they indicate an early winter.
§3.41Μετοπώρῳ ἐὰν πρόβατα ἢ βόες ὀρύττωσι καὶ κοιμῶνται ἀθρόοι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔχοντες τὰς κεφαλάς, τὸν χειμῶνα χειμέριον σημαίνει.
In autumn, if sheep or oxen dig the ground and sleep in a heap with their heads close to one another, it indicates that the winter will be severe.
ἐν δὲ τῷ Πόντῳ φασίν, ὅταν Ἀρκτοῦρος ἀνατείλῃ θᾶττον, ἐναντίους τῷ βορρᾷ νέμεσθαι.
And in Pontus they say that when Arcturus rises, they feed with their faces against the north wind.
βόες μᾶλλον ἐσθίοντες τοῦ εἰωθότος καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ δεξιὸν κατακλινόμενοι χειμέριον.
Oxen eating more than usual and lying down on their right side indicate wintry weather.
καὶ ὦτα κρούων ὄνος χειμέριον· καὶ μαχόμενα πρόβατα καὶ ὄρνιθες περὶ σίτου παρὰ τὸ ἔθος· προπαρασκευάζονται γάρ· καὶ μῦες τρίζοντες καὶ ὀρχούμενοι χειμέριον.
And an ass shaking its ears indicates wintry weather; and sheep and birds fighting for food contrary to their custom; for they are preparing themselves beforehand; and mice squeaking and dancing indicate wintry weather.
§3.42Καὶ κύων τοῖς ποσὶν ὀρύττουσα καὶ ὀλολυγὼν ᾄδουσα μόνη ἀκρωρίας χειμέριον.
And a dog digging with its paws, and a screech-owl hooting alone at dusk, indicate wintry weather.
γῆς ἔντερα πολλὰ φαινόμενα χειμῶνα σημαίνει.
Many earthworms appearing indicates winter.
καὶ ἐὰν πῦρ μὴ θέλῃ ἅπτεσθαι, χειμέριον· καὶ ἐὰν λύχνος ἅπτεσθαι μὴ ἐθέλῃ, χειμῶνα σημαίνει· καὶ τέφρα πηγνυμένη νιφετόν.
And if a fire is reluctant to catch, it indicates wintry weather; and if a lamp is reluctant to be lit, it indicates winter; and ashes clogging together indicate snow.
λύχνος εὐδίας ἡσυχαῖος καιόμενος χειμῶνα σημαίνει· καὶ ἐὰν χειμῶνος ὄντος μύκαι μέλαιναι ἐπιγίνωνται, χειμῶνα σημαίνει· καὶ ἐὰν ὥσπερ κέγχροις πολλοῖς κατάπλεως ᾖ, χειμερίσει· καὶ ἐὰν κύκλῳ περὶ τὸ λαμπρὸν ὦσιν εὐδίας οὔσης, χιονικόν.
A lamp burning quietly in fair weather indicates winter; and if in winter black snuffs appear on the wick, it indicates winter; and if it is as though covered with many millet-seed-like sparks, it will be stormy; and if there are halos around the flame in fair weather, it indicates snow.
§3.43Ἡ τοῦ ὄνου Φάτνη εἰ συνίσταται καὶ ζοφερὰ γίνεται, χειμῶνα σημαίνει.
If the Manger of the Ass condenses and becomes dark, it indicates winter.
καὶ ἐὰν ἀστραπὴ λαμπρὰ μὴ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ μένῃ, χειμέριον.
And if bright lightning does not remain in the same place, it indicates wintry weather.
ἐπὶ Πλειάδι δυομένῃ ἐὰν λάμψῃ κατὰ Πάρνηθα καὶ Bρίληττον καὶ Ὕμηττον, ἐὰν μὲν ἅπαντα καταλάμψῃ. μέγαν χειμῶνα σημαίνει, ἐὰν δὲ τὰ δύο, ἐλάττω, ἐὰν δὲ Πάρνηθα μόνον, εὐδιεινόν·
At the setting of the Pleiades, if it lightens in the direction of Parnes, Brilestus, and Hymettus, if indeed it illuminates all of them, it indicates a great winter; if two of them, a lesser winter; and if Parnes alone, fair weather.
καὶ ἐὰν χειμῶνος ὄντος νεφέλη μακρὰ ἐπὶ τὸν Ὕμηττον ᾖ, χειμῶνος ἐπίτασιν σημαίνει.
And if in winter a long cloud lies over Hymettus, it indicates an intensification of the winter.
Ἄθως καὶ Ὄλυμπος καὶ ὅλως ὀρέων κορυφαὶ κατεχόμεναι ὑπὸ νεφελῶν χειμέριον.
Athos, Olympus, and in general mountain peaks covered by clouds indicate wintry weather.
ἐὰν εὐδίας γινομένης νεφέλιον φαίνηται ἐν τῷ ἀέρι παρατεταμένον καὶ τιλλόμενον, οὔπω παύεται ὁ χειμών.
If, while fair weather is coming on, a small cloud is seen stretched out and fleecy in the sky, the winter is not yet over.