The Dialogue of Creatures

...ra original: "ra" - the end of a word continued from the previous page, likely "tempora" (times) or "figura" (figure)., that is, seven years were changed into seven months at his prayers five in which, however, the years were changed into seven months at his prayers. During those seven months, he suffered through a state of infancy for forty days. For another forty days, he returned to his heart A biblical idiom meaning he regained his reason and conscience.. He wept and prayed so much that from his great weeping his eyes became like raw flesh. Many people went to him and saw him. When the seven months were completed, he was restored. Yet he did not want to stop his penance immediately, but performed penance for up to seven years, eating neither bread nor meat and drinking no wine.

¶ On the North Star and other stars: Chapter Three.

Two side-by-side woodcut panels. The left panel is an ornate decorative initial 'T' featuring scrolling vines and floral motifs around a central flower. The right panel is a square frame containing eleven stars: one large eight-pointed star in the upper right, and ten smaller stars of six or seven points arranged in three horizontal rows (three in the top row, four in the middle, and three in the bottom).

On the position of the North Star

The North Star original: "Transmontana stella" - literally the star "across the mountains," the standard medieval term for the Pole Star., so called, remains in the navel of the sky. For it does not set nor circle the sky like the others, but sitting in the middle, it rules and revolves all the stars. For it is the boundary or path of the sea, toward which the compass needle original: "calamita" - an early term for a magnetic needle or lodestone used by sailors. looks always and at every hour. All the other stars gathered to this star, saying with one voice: "Should you always sit and rest while we circle the sky daily and serve you unceasingly? Give way to a greater one and move back a little." To them it said: "You do not know what you ask. For I tire myself out greatly by ruling you, and if I did not keep you in your guards meaning their fixed orbits or boundaries., you would stray much in your movements original: "montibus" (mountains), likely a scribal error for "motibus" (movements).. Therefore, I advise you to have peace." The stars, however, were not appeased by these words; rather, they replied with one voice, saying: "We beseech you to allow us to choose another ruler." The North Star, being disturbed, withdrew and renounced its lordship.
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The stars then gloried and exulted greatly, and they held an election for a ruler. But because they were not found in unity, they began to argue and fight with one another; for which reason, like sheep without a shepherd, they wandered, not remaining in their established paths. Finally, acknowledging their error, they repented and returned to their ruler, and they honorably confirmed it, saying: "He who has a good ruler should never choose a worse one." Thus we also ought to act. For when we have a ruler who rules us rightly, we ought to honor and love him, not change him, but support him with all our strength because of the labors he sustains in ruling us. A rank of government is called a great honor, but it is a heavy burden. Whence Bernard St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), a highly influential medieval theologian and mystic. says: "What is honor but a burden? What is power but torment?" Bernard