They promised snow last night here in East Sussex, but none came. Indeed, looking at the various web cams available at http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/
not much fell in GB anywhere, despite the forecasts. (I wonder if our colleague Turpissimus had snow in his East Saxon fastness?)
I too love snow. I’m reminded of the Horation ode 1.9 “Vides ut alta stet nive candidum / Soracte …”, which was going to be yet another candidate in the ‘Favourite verse in translation’ thread’ I was thinking of starting:
Look how the snow lies deeply on glittering
Soracte. White woods groan and protestingly
Let fall their branch-loads. Bitter frost has
Paralysed rivers: the ice is solid.
Unfreeze the cold! Pile plenty of logs in the
Fireplace! And you, dear friend Thaliarchus, come,
Bring out the Sabine wine-jar four years
Old and be generous. Let the good gods
Take care of all else. Later, as soon as they’ve
Calmed down this contestation of winds upon
Churned seas, the old ash-trees can rest in
Peace and the cypresses stand unshaken.
Try not to guess what lies in the future, but
As Fortune deals days enter them into your
Life’s book as windfalls, credit items,
Gratefully. Now that you’re young , and peevish
Grey hairs are still far distant, attend to the
Dance-floor, the heart’s sweet business; for now is the
Right time for midnight assignations,
Whispers and murmurs in Rome’s piazzas
And fields, and soft, low laughter that gives away
The girl who plays love’s game in a hiding-place -
Off comes a ring coaxed down an arm or
Pulled from a faintly resisting finger.
(I copied down the translation yonks ago, but alas, forgot to note the translator’s name.)