On the four seasons of the year and the qualities of each. Chapter 4.

The year is again divided into four seasons, or parts, which are Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The seasons are so named from the temperament of the communion, because they moderate each other with moisture, dryness, heat, and cold. These are also called courses, because they do not stand still, but run. Their effects are contained in these verses:

Flowers adorn the Spring. Summer is adorned with harvests.
Autumn gives fruit. Winter is sluggish with cold.

The first of these quarters, therefore, is called the hot, moist, vernal, childish, sanguine quarter. And among the ages of man, it signifies the age of childhood up to youth, namely from the beginning of life (according to the calculation of mathematicians) up to the completion of the twenty-first year, and then the blood is vigorous. The second quarter or part is called the hot, dry, aestival, choleric, youthful quarter. And among the ages of man, it signifies Youth, namely from the beginning of the 22nd year up to the end of the 41st year, in which the choler is manifested. The third of these quarters is called the cold, dry, autumnal, melancholic quarter. And among the ages of man, it signifies the middle age, that is, from the beginning of the 42nd year up to the 60th year, and then Melancholy is augmented. The last quarter, however, is called the cold, moist, winter, phlegmatic, elderly, defective quarter. And among the ages of man, it signifies old age and advanced years, namely from the 60th year up to the end of natural life, for then the phlegm fluctuates. Rightly, therefore, is this part of the year called Winter. From where each of these quarters has its beginning, we will discuss below in the following treatise, chapter 19.

On the Era. Chapter 5.

An Era (according to King Alphonsus) is a convenient enumeration of time, begun for the sake of dignity, honor, or memory from some age of kings or princes worthy of memory, up to another time of consideration or intended period: such as the Christian Era. It is therefore the beginning from which astronomers begin their computations.

On the Olympiad, Lustrum, Indiction, and Century. Chapter 6.

A decorative initial 'O' appears here.An Olympiad, so named from the Olympic games which were celebrated among the Greeks every fifth year in honor of Jupiter, contains four completed years. The first Olympiad, however, had its beginning in the years...