Did Shakespeare experience snow? What would he say about the deep chill after the big snow storm? He grew up in the middle of England where there was snow and ice in the winter. Rain, winds, cold and tempests show up in all his work - Blow, blow thou Winter wind sorts of things. I got to wondering about whether he mentions snow. So went and checked it out.
In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow And keep eternal spring-time on thy face. – Titus Andronicus; Act III, scene i
For never-resting time leads summer on To hideous winter and confounds him there; Sap cheque’d with frost and lusty leaves quite gone, Beauty o’ersnow’d and bareness every where. – Sonnet 5
Cold snow melts with the sun’s hot beams. – Henry VI, Part 2, 3.1.224
That is hot ice and wondrous strange snow! – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 5.1.63
At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled shows, But like of each thing that in season grows. – Love’s Labor’s Lost, 1.1.109
We think of Shakespeare with spring and summer weather - especially with his most famous poem - Sonnet 18 - "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day.?" There are over seventy references to roses. Definitely Shakespeare voted for roses over snow.
Isn't this excellent - I found this image of one of the Painted Ladies gardens in Grimsby Beach from a few winters ago.
