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In the spring, when the cattle were driven forth for the first

time, men noticed that, though famished and lean, they did not

run to the young corn179 that already made gay the fields, but

lay down on the ploughed land, and, drooping their heads, either

lowed or chewed the cud of their winter food.

The villagers too, as they ploughed for the spring grain, did not

show their wonted joy in the end of the long winter; they did not

sing songs, but worked lazily, as though forgetful of the sowing

and the harvest. As they harrowed, at every step they checked

their oxen and their nags, and gazed anxiously towards the west,

as though from this direction some marvel were about to appear.

And they regarded anxiously the birds, which were returning home;

for already the stork had flown back to its native pine and had

spread its white wings, the early standard of spring; and after

it the swallows, coming on in noisy regiments, gathered above the

waters, and from the frozen earth collected mud for their tiny

houses. At evening in the thickets one could hear the calling of

the woodcocks as they rose from the earth; and flocks of wild

geese honked over the forest and, wearied, settled noisily down

to feed; and in the depths of the dark heaven the cranes kept up

a continuous clamour.