If there be a RAINBOW in the eve it will rain and leave, but if there be a rainbow in the morrow it will neither lend nor borrow

Insights

Deceptive Beginnings

A hopeful sign (a rainbow) at the end of a period of difficulty ('the eve') signals resolution and a positive future. However, a hopeful sign at the beginning ('the morrow') can be a deceptive warning that challenges will persist and define the entire period ahead.

The Importance of Timing

The proverb highlights how the meaning of an event is determined by its timing and context. An evening rainbow marks a transition to something better, while a morning rainbow signifies a static, unyielding condition. It warns that context is crucial for interpreting signs.

Resolution vs. Intractability

An evening rainbow symbolizes a problem that resolves itself and departs ('rain and leave'). A morning rainbow symbolizes a self-contained, intractable problem that offers no relief and accepts no compromise ('neither lend nor borrow'), reflecting a state of persistent struggle.

Folk Science

The proverb has a surprisingly accurate meteorological basis. In mid-latitudes, weather predominantly moves west to east. An evening rainbow, with the sun setting in the west, appears in the east, indicating that the rain has passed. A morning rainbow, with the sun rising in the east, appears in the west, signaling that the rain is approaching.

Reinterpretation of Symbols

While the rainbow is famously a biblical symbol of hope and divine promise (Genesis 9), this proverb adds a layer of practical caution. It shows how folk wisdom can reinterpret and ground powerful cultural symbols in the immediate, observable realities of daily life and survival.

Linguistic Expression

The phrase 'neither lend nor borrow' is a poetic and memorable folk expression for a self-contained, persistent state. It suggests a weather system that is stubbornly stuck, neither giving way to clear skies nor taking on new characteristics—a powerful metaphor for an intractable situation.

Psychology of Control

The proverb reflects a deep-seated human desire to find order and predictability in a chaotic world. By creating a rule-based system for interpreting natural signs, it provides a sense of cognitive control and reduces anxiety about the uncertainty of the future.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

The proverb's structure is built on the direct contrast between 'eve' and 'morrow', creating a memorable and easily understood binary of good and bad omens.

Parallelism

The parallel phrasing ('If there be a rainbow in the...') creates a rhythmic, balanced structure that makes the saying easy to recite and remember, which is characteristic of oral folk wisdom.

Personification

The weather is given agent-like qualities. It can 'leave' or refuse to 'lend nor borrow', turning an atmospheric phenomenon into an active character and making the abstract concept more vivid and relatable.

Symbolism

The rainbow serves as a potent, multivalent symbol, representing hope and divine promise, yet its meaning is subverted by the practical context of its appearance, creating a nuanced message.