Astronomica

The Sun was joined in the 15th degree of Aries The Ram in that year, as he himself pointed out. Finally, the position of the Comet was noted by the same person in the 15th degree of Scorpio The Scorpion. Therefore, at that time when the Sun was in Aries, it was seen in the Southern regions, which Sigebert, a Monk of Gembloux Sigebert of Gembloux (c. 1030–1112) was a well-known medieval chronicler, clearly testifies: A comet, he says, of horrible appearance, casting itself here and there, was seen in the southern part. However, the Chronologist is mistaken, as he almost always is, by assigning the event to the year 1005, when it actually occurred in the following year. Truly, it would have been nobler to have investigated this than to establish a Horoscope original: "Thema"; and more illustrious to have discovered it than to construct tables.

But I return to our Manilius Marcus Manilius, author of the Roman astronomical poem 'Astronomica', whom we have rescued from such ancient transpositions and I know not how many thousands of errors. Just as his formerly worn-out appearance used to deter readers, his new brilliance and restored elegance can now invite them to love, read, and understand him. Certainly, his first book will be so useful to young people that it ought to pave the way for them toward the elements of the sphere The study of spherical astronomy and the globe.

Behold, we give him to you so purged of faults, so restored to himself, that he can be understood even by beginners; so illustrated with notes that from them the studious reader can both attain all the poet's learning and be inspired to publish more abundant commentaries. We uniquely encourage them to do this, being conscious of our own weak powers; we who confess that we [have only opened] the way for the reader...