VIII.

[Signatures: P, Q, R, S]

Its dwelling is perpetual and immutable. Therefore, it is neither younger nor older; it neither was, nor will be; nor will it suffer any of those things which a nature perceived by the senses original: "sensibilis natura" suffers. But all these are the phases of time imitating eternity. Concerning these matters, there will be a more fitting place for discussion hereafter. Time, indeed, is coeval with the heavens: so that having arisen together, they may be dissolved together—if indeed reason and divine law original: "fas" will allow for such dissolution. This was done so that each world might be similar to the example of eternity. For the Archetype The original model or "blueprint" of the universe exists forever through all eternity; while this world is sensible, and its image. It is that which has existed through all time, and indeed is to be. By this reasoning and counsel of God, wishing for the birth of time to be created, the sun and the moon, and five other stars which are called "erratic" The planets; from the Greek "planetes" meaning wanderer, were made: so that the parts of time might be marked by a certain dimension, and the returns and windings of time might come under the comprehension of number.

And having fashioned the celestial bodies with vital motions of a diverse nature, seven in number, he made as many bodies. He placed the Moon near the Earth in the first circuit. The Sun, however, in the second. Then he placed the fires of Lucifer The planet Venus and Mercury in that motion which indeed concurs with the solar circuit, yet is carried by an agitation contrary to it. For this reason, it happens that these stars overtake one another and are in turn overtaken. He also arranged the other risings and progressions of the stars in order, under the guidance of divine reason. If anyone should wish to explain the cause of this adornment, the labor would be greater than the work itself for which the labor is undertaken. But if these things prove useful to the subject at hand, we shall follow up on them later.

Therefore, when each and all had been located in a motion fit and decent for them—namely, those things which it was consequent should come forth in time—and their bodies were made into living creatures original: "animalia" constrained by vital bonds, they learned their commands: those which the oblique motion of a diverse nature, turning itself through the direct motion of the same nature, carried around as if constrained; they were rotated partly in a larger and partly in a smaller circle. Those traversing a measured space more quickly were those in the smaller circle; those more slowly were in the larger, as they were carried around in a more extensive circuit. For this reason, it happened that by the uniform conversion of the same nature, those which went around more quickly seemed to be overtaken by those which were carried more slowly, though they were actually overtaking them. Indeed, that uniform and unerring conversion, turning all their circles into a spiral and like the winding volume of an acanthus A decorative plant motif often seen in architecture, used here to describe the complex spiral paths of planets, because they were carried by a twin and contrary motion. Then even the swift and winged ones themselves always made those which receded from them more slowly appear closest to them by consequence.

And so that this variety and moderation of motions, rational and consulted, might also be noted by sight, and the dance original: "chorea" of all eight motions might be conspicuous: God, the founder of all things, kindled a most bright light in the region of the second globe from the earth, which light we call the Sun; by its splendor the heavens and all things below might be illuminated, and the number of all living beings might exist. From here, therefore, the rising of night and day was made from the same always unerring motion, by a fixed and alternating succession of light and shadows. Meeting original: "Conventus" The coming of the month occurs when the Moon, having traversed its circuit, follows the Sun. The year occurs when the sun likewise renews its beginning after traversing its windings. But the circuits of the other stars men neither note nor count, except for a few; nor do they understand that their wanderings and errors are the birth of time. In this, the variety of outcomes is to be admired, with celestial paths varying with stars on every side. It is, however, easy to understand: that the perfect number of time completes the perfect year only when the courses of all eight circuits are finished, returning as if to the origin and beginning of another circuit, which the same and uniform motion will always measure. For this reason, the other stars were also born, which, moving through the heavens, have their conversions: so that it might be as similar as possible...