_Master._ That may be called a crabbed reason, for it {329} goes backward like a crab. The day makes not the Sun to shine, but the Sun shining makes the day. And so the length of the day makes not the Sun to shine long, neither the shortness of the day causes not [_sic_] the Sun to shine the lesser time, but contrariwise the long shining of the Sun makes the long day, and the short shining of the Sun makes the lesser day: else answer me what makes the days long or short? _Scholar._ I have heard wise men say that Summer makes the long days, and Winter makes the long nights. _Master._ They might have said more wisely, that long days make summer and short days make winter. _Scholar._ Why, all that seems one thing to me. _Master._ Is it all one to say, God made the earth, and the earth made God? Covetousness overcomes all men, and all men overcome covetousness? _Scholar._ No, not so; for here the effect is turned to be the cause, and the agent is made the patient. _Master._ So is it to say Summer makes long days, when you should say: Long days make summer. _Scholar._ I perceive it now: but I was so blinded with the vulgar error, that if you had demanded of me further what did make the summer, I had been like to have answered that green leaves do make summer; and the sooner by remembrance of an old saying that a year should come in which the summer should not be known but by the green leaves. _Master._ Yet this saying does not import that green leaves do make summer, but that they betoken summer; so are they the sign and not the cause of summer."