The Reckoning of Time

...the firmament announces His works. First, the origin of all wisdom and humanity emerged from the contemplation of these things. Nor would that Thales of Miletus, the first among mortals to be celebrated by the name of wisdom, have been so, had he not betaken himself to the study of celestial matters after the affairs of the republic, and had he not been the first to reveal something of them to men, as he is praised in these verses of Callimachus:

And it was said that he calculated the wagon referring to the constellation Ursa Major, or the Great Bear
by which the Phoenicians sail.

Then Pythagoras, who was the first to assume the name of philosophy, believed that man was founded by God for no other purpose than the investigation of these very things. And indeed, it is necessary that very many matters be handled with blind judgment in almost every profession, if one lacks this part of wisdom. Good heavens, how ridiculously I often hear things argued, even regarding sacred matters, due to an ignorance of these arts, especially if there are other things that cannot be grasped regarding certain ceremonies of the Church without the aid of this knowledge. Nor are those mistaken who believe these arts are of singular benefit even to the best minds; since their opinion has been sufficiently refuted by the testimonies of the most learned men, I do not think it necessary to contend further in this matter. For these just causes, as I believe, unless the love of this study compels me, I have been moved, most excellent Prince, to bring to you something that I might deem worthy of your divine mind and most honorable thoughts, even if it has a common appearance. But if I learn that this is pleasing to you, I have other things that I have been gestating for some years now in the same genre of arts to be added to the former. Receive, therefore, these booklets, aided however much by our commentary, with that mind and spirit which you are accustomed to bear toward the liberal arts. May the best and greatest God grant that, under whose patronage you were born as if under the most fortunate star, you may converse with these for as long as possible, along with your excellent and most illustrious parents. Cologne, the day after the Ides of July. In the year 1537.

THE LIFE OF BEDE FROM JOHN TRITHEMIUS.

An ornamental drop cap 'B' begins the biography.

Bede, monk and priest of the monastery of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, which is in England, of the Order of Saint Benedict, was a man most studious in divine scriptures and very learned, and most expert in secular letters: a philosopher, astronomer, calculator, and distinguished poet, not ignorant of the Greek language. Exceptional in intellect, not curious in eloquence, yet sweet and composed, he wrote many volumes in which the sharpness of his genius is proven. When he was seven years old, he was given by his kin to be educated by Abbot Benedict, and then by Ceolfrid of the said monastery of Wearmouth original: "Muramutha". Spending the whole time of his life from then on in the dwelling of the same monastery, he gave all his effort to meditating on the scriptures, and amidst the observance of regular discipline and the daily care of singing in the church, he always found it sweet to either learn, or teach, or write. In the nineteenth year of his age, he received the diaconate, and in the thirtieth the grade of the priesthood, both through the ministry of Bishop John, by the command of Abbot Ceolfrid; from the time of his priesthood until the end of his life, he composed the following works.