Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/141

 forgot that he was in England, and fansied that these Old Philosophers were there too. The Climates of Asia Minor, and Greece, are not so various as ours; and at some stated Times of the Year, of which the recurrent Winds give them constant Warning, they are often troubled with Earthquakes, and always with violent Tempests: So that by the Conjectures that we are here able to make of the Weather at some particular Seasons, though we labour under so great Disadvantages, we may easily, guess how much certainer Predictions may be made by curious Men in serener and more regular Climates; which will take off from that Admiration, that otherwise would be paid to those profound Philosophers, even though we should allow that all those Stories which are told of their Skill are exactly true.

Besides, there is Reason to believe that we have the Result of all the Observations of these Weather-wise Sages in Aratuss Diosemia and Virgils Georgic's; such as those upon the Snuffs of Candles, the croaking of Frogs, and many others quite as notable as the English Farmer's Living Weather-Glass, his Red Cow that prick'd up her Tail, an Infallible Presage of a coming Shower.