WINTER weather could obviously be unpleasant in Shakespeare's day too, though this song, from As You Like It, reflects - rather cynically - on human as well as climatic coldness.

BLOW, BLOW, THOU WINTER WIND

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen,

because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly.

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.

Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,

That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot;

Thou though the waters warp,

Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend rememb'red not.

(Chorus repeated)