[Astronomy.]iv.Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur,Ista set interdum regula fallit opus.Vir mediante deo sapiens dominabitur astris,Fata nec immerito quid nouitatis agunt.989P. iii. 106Benethe upon this Erthe hiereOf alle thinges the matiere,Hic loquitur de Artis Mathematice quarta specie, que Astronomia nuncupata est, cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur: set primo de septem planetis, que inter astra potenciores existunt, incipiendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,Of thing above it stant governed,That is to sein of the Planetes.The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,The chances of the world also,That we fortune clepen so,640Among the mennes nacionAl is thurgh constellacion,Wherof that som man hath the wele,And som man hath deseses feleIn love als wel as othre thinges;The stat of realmes and of kingesIn time of pes, in time of werreIt is conceived of the Sterre:And thus seith the naturienWhich is an Astronomien.650Bot the divin seith otherwise,That if men weren goode and wiseAnd plesant unto the godhede,Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;For o man, if him wel befalle,Is more worth than ben thei alleTowardes him that weldeth al.Bot yit the lawe original,Which he hath set in the natures,Mot worchen in the creatures,660That therof mai be non obstacle,Bot if it stonde upon miracleP. iii. 107Thurgh preiere of som holy man.And forthi, so as I beganTo speke upon Astronomie,As it is write in the clergie,To telle hou the planetes fare,Som part I thenke to declare,Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.Astronomie is the science670Of wisdom and of hih connynge,Which makth a man have knowlechinge990Of Sterres in the firmament,Figure, cercle and moevementOf ech of hem in sondri place,And what betwen hem is of space,Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,Al this it telleth to the laste.Assembled with AstronomieIs ek that ilke Astrologie,680The which in juggementz acomptethTheffect, what every sterre amonteth,And hou thei causen many a wonderTo tho climatz that stonde hem under.991[Planets and Signs.]And forto telle it more plein,992These olde philosophres seinThat Orbis, which I spak of err,Is that which we fro therthe a ferrBeholde, and firmament it calle,In which the sterres stonden alle,690Among the whiche in specialPlanetes sefne principalP. iii. 108Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.993And also ther ben signes tuelve,Whiche have her cercles be hemselveCompassed in the zodiaque,In which thei have here places take.And as thei stonden in degre,Here cercles more or lasse be,700Mad after the proporcionOf therthe, whos condicionIs set to be the foundementTo sustiene up the firmament.And be this skile a man mai knowe,The more that thei stonden lowe,The more ben the cercles lasse;That causeth why that some passeHere due cours tofore an other.Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,710As thou desirest forto witeWhat I finde in the bokes write,To telle of the planetes sevene,Hou that thei stonde upon the heveneAnd in what point that thei ben inne,Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,So as the Philosophre tauhte994To Alisandre and it betauhte,Wherof that he was fulli tawhtOf wisdom, which was him betawht.720Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,[The Planets.]The which hath with the See to done:Nota hic de prima planeta, que aliis inferior Luna dicitur.P. iii. 109Of flodes hihe and ebbes loweUpon his change it schal be knowe;995And every fissh which hath a schelleMot in his governance duelle,To wexe and wane in his degre,As be the Mone a man mai se;And al that stant upon the groundeOf his moisture it mot be founde.730Alle othre sterres, as men finde,Be schynende of here oghne kindeOutake only the monelyht,Which is noght of himselve bright,Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.And yit he hath noght al fulwonne996His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;Bot what the lette is of that werkIn Almageste it telleth this:The Mones cercle so lowe is,740Wherof the Sonne out of his stageNe seth him noght with full visage,For he is with the ground beschaded,So that the Mone is somdiel fadedAnd may noght fully schyne cler.Bot what man under his pouerIs bore, he schal his places changeAnd seche manye londes strange:And as of this condicionThe Mones disposicion750Upon the lond of AlemaigneIs set, and ek upon Bretaigne,P. iii. 110Which nou is cleped Engelond;For thei travaile in every lond.De secunda planeta, que Mercurius dicitur.Of the Planetes the secoundeAbove the Mone hath take his bounde,Mercurie, and his nature is this,That under him who that bore is,In boke he schal be studiousAnd in wrytinge curious,760And slouh and lustles to travaileIn thing which elles myhte availe:He loveth ese, he loveth reste,So is he noght the worthieste;Bot yit with somdiel besinesseHis herte is set upon richesse.And as in this condicion,Theffect and disposicionOf this Planete and of his chance997Is most in Burgoigne and in France.770De tercia planeta, que Venus dicitur.Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,Stant that Planete which men calleVenus, whos constellacionGoverneth al the nacionOf lovers, wher thei spiede or non,Of whiche I trowe thou be on:Bot whiderward thin happes wende,Schal this planete schewe at ende,As it hath do to many mo,To some wel, to some wo.780And natheles of this PlaneteThe moste part is softe and swete;P. iii. 111For who that therof takth his berthe,He schal desire joie and merthe,Gentil, courteis and debonaire,To speke his wordes softe and faire,Such schal he be be weie of kinde,And overal wher he may findePlesance of love, his herte bowethWith al his myht and there he woweth.790He is so ferforth Amourous,He not what thing is viciousTouchende love, for that laweTher mai no maner man withdrawe,The which venerien is boreBe weie of kinde, and thereforeVenus of love the goddesseIs cleped: bot of wantounesse998The climat of hir lecherieIs most commun in Lombardie.800Nota de Sole, qui medio planetarum residens Astrorum principatum obtinet.Next unto this Planete of loveThe brighte Sonne stant above,Which is the hindrere of the nyhtAnd forthrere of the daies lyht,As he which is the worldes ÿe,Thurgh whom the lusti compaignieOf foules be the morwe singe,The freisshe floures sprede and springe,The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,And every mannes herte gladeth.810And for it is the hed Planete,Hou that he sitteth in his sete,P. iii. 112Of what richesse, of what nobleie,These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.Nota de curru Solis necnon et de vario eiusdem apparatu.Of gold glistrende Spoke and whielThe Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,In which he sitt, and is coronedWith brighte stones environed;Of whiche if that I speke schal,Ther be tofore in special820Set in the front of his coroneThre Stones, whiche no personeHath upon Erthe, and the ferste isBe name cleped Licuchis;That othre tuo be cleped thus,Astrices and Ceramius.In his corone also behinde,Be olde bokes as I finde,Ther ben of worthi Stones threSet ech of hem in his degre:830Wherof a Cristall is that on,Which that corone is set upon;The seconde is an Adamant;The thridde is noble and avenant,Which cleped is Ydriades.And over this yit nathelesUpon the sydes of the werk,After the wrytinge of the clerk,Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:The smaragdine is on of tho,840Jaspis and ElitropiusAnd Dendides and Jacinctus,P. iii. 113Lo, thus the corone is beset,Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;And in such wise his liht to spredeSit with his Diademe on hedeThe Sonne schynende in his carte.And forto lede him swithe and smarteAfter the bryhte daies lawe,Ther ben ordeined forto drawe850Foure hors his Char and him withal,Wherof the names telle I schal:Eritheüs the ferste is hote,The which is red and schyneth hote,The seconde Acteos the bryhte,Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,And Philogeüs is the ferthe,That bringen lyht unto this erthe,And gon so swift upon the hevene,In foure and twenty houres evene860The carte with the bryhte SonneThei drawe, so that overronneThei have under the cercles hiheAl Middelerthe in such an hye.And thus the Sonne is overalThe chief Planete imperial,Above him and benethe him thre:And thus betwen hem regneth he,As he that hath the middel placeAmong the Sevene, and of his face870Be glade alle erthly creatures,And taken after the naturesP. iii. 114Here ese and recreacion.And in his constellacionWho that is bore in special,Of good will and of liberalHe schal be founde in alle place,And also stonde in mochel graceToward the lordes forto serveAnd gret profit and thonk deserve.880And over that it causeth yitA man to be soubtil of witTo worche in gold, and to be wysIn every thing which is of pris.Bot forto speken in what costOf al this erthe he regneth mostAs for wisdom, it is in Grece,Wher is apropred thilke spiece.Nota de quinta planeta, que Mars dicitur.Mars the Planete bataillousNext to the Sonne glorious890Above stant, and doth mervailesUpon the fortune of batailes.The conquerours be daies oldeWere unto this planete holde:Bot who that his nativiteHath take upon the propreteOf Martes disposiciounBe weie of constellacioun,He schal be fiers and folhastifAnd desirous of werre and strif.900Bot forto telle redelyIn what climat most comunlyP. iii. 115That this planete hath his effect,Seid is that he hath his aspectUpon the holi lond so cast,That there is no pes stedefast.Nota de sexta planeta, que Iupiter dicitur.Above Mars upon the hevene,The sexte Planete of the sevene,Stant Jupiter the delicat,Which causeth pes and no debar.910For he is cleped that Planete999Which of his kinde softe and sweteAttempreth al that to him longeth;And whom this planete underfongethTo stonde upon his regiment,He schal be meke and pacientAnd fortunat to MarchandieAnd lusti to delicacieIn every thing which he schal do.This Jupiter is cause also920Of the science of lyhte werkes,And in this wise tellen clerkesHe is the Planete of delices.Bot in Egipte of his officesHe regneth most in special:For ther be lustes overalOf al that to this lif befalleth;For ther no stormy weder falleth,Which myhte grieve man or beste,And ek the lond is so honeste930That it is plentevous and plein,Ther is non ydel ground in vein;P. iii. 116And upon such felicite1000Stant Jupiter in his degre.De septima planeta, que reliquis celsior Saturnus dictus est.1001The heyeste and aboven alleStant that planete which men calle1002Saturnus, whos complexionIs cold, and his condicionCauseth malice and crualteTo him the whos nativite940Is set under his governance.For alle hise werkes ben grevanceAnd enemy to mannes hele,In what degre that he schal dele.His climat is in Orient,Wher that he is most violent.Of the Planetes by and by,Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liere.950Bot overthis touchende his lore,Of thing that thei him tawhte moreUpon the scoles of clergieNow herkne the Philosophie.[The Signs.]He which departeth dai fro nyht,Postquam dictum est de vii. Planetis, quibus singuli septimane dies singulariter attitulantur, dicendum est iam de xii. Signis, per que xii. Menses Anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequntur.1004That on derk and that other lyht,1003Of sevene daies made a weke,A Monthe of foure wekes ekeHe hath ordeigned in his lawe,Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe960He hath also the longe yeer.And as he sette of his pouerP. iii. 117Acordant to the daies sevenePlanetes Sevene upon the hevene,As thou tofore hast herd devise,To speke riht in such a wise,To every Monthe be himselveUpon the hevene of Signes tuelveHe hath after his OrdinalAssigned on in special,970Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,The tydes of the yer diversen.Bot pleinly forto make it knoweHou that the Signes sitte arowe,Ech after other be degreIn substance and in propreteThe zodiaque comprehendethWithinne his cercle, as it appendeth.1005Nota hic de primo Signo, quod Aries dicitur, cui Mensis Marcii specialiter appropriatus est.Quo deus in primo produxitad esse1006creata.The ferste of whiche natheles1007Be name is cleped Aries,980Which lich a wether of statureResembled is in his figure.And as it seith in Almageste,Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste1008Ben set, wherof in his degreThe wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,As thou myht hiere me divise,Stant Aries, which hot and dryeIs of himself, and in partie990P. iii. 118He is the receipte and the housOf myhty Mars the bataillous.And overmore ek, as I finde,The creatour of alle kindeUpon this Signe ferst beganThe world, whan that he made man.And of this constellaciounThe verray operaciounAvaileth, if a man therinneThe pourpos of his werk beginne;1000For thanne he hath of propreteGood sped and gret felicite.The tuelve Monthes of the yeerAttitled under the pouerOf these tuelve Signes stonde;Wherof that thou schalt understondeThis Aries on of the tuelve1009Hath March attitled for himselve,Whan every bridd schal chese his make,And every neddre and every Snake1010And every Reptil which mai moeve,His myht assaieth forto proeve,To crepen out ayein the Sonne,Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.Secundum Signum dicitur Taurus, cuius Mensis est Aprilis.Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.Taurus the seconde after thisOf Signes, which figured isUnto a Bole, is dreie and cold;1010And as it is in bokes told,P. iii. 119He is the hous appourtienant1011To Venus, somdiel descordant.1020This Bole is ek with sterres set,Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knetUnto the tail of Aries,So is he noght ther sterreles.Upon his brest ek eyhtetieneHe hath, and ek, as it is sene,Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.1012His Monthe assigned ek alsoIs Averil, which of his schouresMinistreth weie unto the floures.1030Tercium Signum dicitur Gemini, cuius Mensis Maiius est.Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus ortis.The thridde signe is Gemini,Which is figured redelyLich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,1013That naked stonde; and as I finde,Thei be with Sterres wel bego:The heved hath part of thilke tuoThat schyne upon the boles tail,So be thei bothe of o parail;But on the wombe of GeminiBen fyve sterres noght forthi,1040And ek upon the feet be tweie,So as these olde bokes seie,That wise Tholomeüs wrot.His propre Monthe wel I wot1014Assigned is the lusti Maii,Whanne every brid upon his layP. iii. 120Among the griene leves singeth,And love of his pointure stingethAfter the lawes of natureThe youthe of every creature.1050Quartum Signum Cancer dicitur, cuius Mensis Iunius est.Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.Cancer after the reule and spaceOf Signes halt the ferthe place.Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,And hath unto his retienanceSextiene sterres, wherof ten,So as these olde wise menDescrive, he berth on him tofore,And in the middel tuo be bore,1015And foure he hath upon his ende.Thus goth he sterred in his kende,1060And of himself is moiste and cold,And is the propre hous and holdWhich appartieneth to the Mone,And doth what longeth him to done.The Monthe of Juin unto this SigneThou schalt after the reule assigne.Quintum signum Leo dicitur, cuius Mensis Iulius est.Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignes.The fifte Signe is Leo hote,Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.And the semblance of his ymage1070Is a leoun, which in baillieOf sterres hath his pourpartie:The foure, which as Cancer hathUpon his ende, Leo tathP. iii. 121Upon his heved, and thanne nestHe hath ek foure upon his brest,And on upon his tail behinde,In olde bokes as we finde.His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,1016In which men pleien many a game.1080Sextum Signum Virgo dicitur, cuius Mensis Augustus est.Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.After Leo Virgo the nexteOf Signes cleped is the sexte,Wherof the figure is a Maide;And as the Philosophre saide,Sche is the welthe and the risinge,The lust, the joie and the likingeUnto Mercurie: and soth to seieSche is with sterres wel beseie,Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,Which sit on hih hir heved upon,1090Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet alsoHave other fyve: and overmoTouchende as of complexion,Be kindly disposicionOf dreie and cold this Maiden is.1017And forto tellen over thisHir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,Whan every feld hath corn in hondeAnd many a man his bak hath plied,Unto this Signe is Augst applied.10181100Septimum Signum Libra dicitur, cuius Mensis Septembris est.Vinea quo Bachum pressa liquore colit.After Virgo to reknen eveneLibra sit in the nombre of sevene,P. iii. 122Which hath figure and resemblanceUnto a man which a balanceBerth in his hond as forto weie:In boke and as it mai be seie,Diverse sterres to him longeth,Wherof on hevede he underfongethFerst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,And doun benethe eighte othre mo.1110This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,The whiche thinges be noght lotheUnto Venus, so that alofteSche resteth in his hous fulofte,And ek Saturnus often hyedIs in this Signe and magnefied.1019His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,Which yifth men cause to remembre,If eny Sor be left behindeOf thing which grieve mai to kinde.1120Octauum Signum Scorpio dicitur, cuius Mensis October est.Floribus exclusis yemis qui ianitor extat.Among the Signes upon heighteThe Signe which is nombred eighteIs Scorpio, which as felounFigured is a Scorpioun.Bot for al that yit nathelesIs Scorpio noght sterreles;For Libra granteth him his endeOf eighte sterres, wher he wende,The whiche upon his heved assisedHe berth, and ek ther ben divised1130P. iii. 123Upon his wombe sterres thre,And eighte upon his tail hath he.Which of his kinde is moiste and coldAnd unbehovely manyfold;He harmeth Venus and empeireth,Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,Octobre, which bringth the kalendeOf wynter, that comth next suiende.1140Nonum signum Sagittarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Nouember est.Quo mustum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.The nynthe Signe in nombre also,Which folweth after Scorpio,Is cleped Sagittarius,The whos figure is marked thus,A Monstre with a bowe on honde:On whom that sondri sterres stonde,Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,The whiche upon the tail ben bore1020Of Scorpio, the heved al faireBespreden of the Sagittaire;1150And eighte of othre stonden eveneUpon his wombe, and othre seveneTher stonde upon his tail behinde.And he is hot and dreie of kinde:To Jupiter his hous is fre,Bot to Mercurie in his degre,For thei ben noght of on assent,He worcheth gret empeirement.P. iii. 124This Signe hath of his propreteA Monthe, which of duete1160After the sesoun that befallethThe Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;And fyr into the halle he bringeth,1021And thilke drinke of which men singeth,He torneth must into the wyn;Thanne is the larder of the swyn;That is Novembre which I meene,Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.Decimum Signum Capricornus dicitur, cuius Mensis December est.Ipse diem Nano noctemque Gigante figurat.The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,The which is Capricornus told,1170Unto a Got hath resemblance:For whos love and whos aqueintanceWithinne hise houses to sojorneIt liketh wel unto Satorne,Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,For no profit is there wroght.This Signe as of his propreteUpon his heved hath sterres thre,And ek upon his wombe tuo,And tweie upon his tail also.1180Decembre after the yeeres forme,1022So as the bokes ous enforme,With daies schorte and nyhtes longeThis ilke Signe hath underfonge.
[Astronomy.]iv.Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur,Ista set interdum regula fallit opus.Vir mediante deo sapiens dominabitur astris,Fata nec immerito quid nouitatis agunt.989P. iii. 106Benethe upon this Erthe hiereOf alle thinges the matiere,Hic loquitur de Artis Mathematice quarta specie, que Astronomia nuncupata est, cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur: set primo de septem planetis, que inter astra potenciores existunt, incipiendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,Of thing above it stant governed,That is to sein of the Planetes.The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,The chances of the world also,That we fortune clepen so,640Among the mennes nacionAl is thurgh constellacion,Wherof that som man hath the wele,And som man hath deseses feleIn love als wel as othre thinges;The stat of realmes and of kingesIn time of pes, in time of werreIt is conceived of the Sterre:And thus seith the naturienWhich is an Astronomien.650Bot the divin seith otherwise,That if men weren goode and wiseAnd plesant unto the godhede,Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;For o man, if him wel befalle,Is more worth than ben thei alleTowardes him that weldeth al.Bot yit the lawe original,Which he hath set in the natures,Mot worchen in the creatures,660That therof mai be non obstacle,Bot if it stonde upon miracleP. iii. 107Thurgh preiere of som holy man.And forthi, so as I beganTo speke upon Astronomie,As it is write in the clergie,To telle hou the planetes fare,Som part I thenke to declare,Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.Astronomie is the science670Of wisdom and of hih connynge,Which makth a man have knowlechinge990Of Sterres in the firmament,Figure, cercle and moevementOf ech of hem in sondri place,And what betwen hem is of space,Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,Al this it telleth to the laste.Assembled with AstronomieIs ek that ilke Astrologie,680The which in juggementz acomptethTheffect, what every sterre amonteth,And hou thei causen many a wonderTo tho climatz that stonde hem under.991[Planets and Signs.]And forto telle it more plein,992These olde philosophres seinThat Orbis, which I spak of err,Is that which we fro therthe a ferrBeholde, and firmament it calle,In which the sterres stonden alle,690Among the whiche in specialPlanetes sefne principalP. iii. 108Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.993And also ther ben signes tuelve,Whiche have her cercles be hemselveCompassed in the zodiaque,In which thei have here places take.And as thei stonden in degre,Here cercles more or lasse be,700Mad after the proporcionOf therthe, whos condicionIs set to be the foundementTo sustiene up the firmament.And be this skile a man mai knowe,The more that thei stonden lowe,The more ben the cercles lasse;That causeth why that some passeHere due cours tofore an other.Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,710As thou desirest forto witeWhat I finde in the bokes write,To telle of the planetes sevene,Hou that thei stonde upon the heveneAnd in what point that thei ben inne,Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,So as the Philosophre tauhte994To Alisandre and it betauhte,Wherof that he was fulli tawhtOf wisdom, which was him betawht.720Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,[The Planets.]The which hath with the See to done:Nota hic de prima planeta, que aliis inferior Luna dicitur.P. iii. 109Of flodes hihe and ebbes loweUpon his change it schal be knowe;995And every fissh which hath a schelleMot in his governance duelle,To wexe and wane in his degre,As be the Mone a man mai se;And al that stant upon the groundeOf his moisture it mot be founde.730Alle othre sterres, as men finde,Be schynende of here oghne kindeOutake only the monelyht,Which is noght of himselve bright,Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.And yit he hath noght al fulwonne996His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;Bot what the lette is of that werkIn Almageste it telleth this:The Mones cercle so lowe is,740Wherof the Sonne out of his stageNe seth him noght with full visage,For he is with the ground beschaded,So that the Mone is somdiel fadedAnd may noght fully schyne cler.Bot what man under his pouerIs bore, he schal his places changeAnd seche manye londes strange:And as of this condicionThe Mones disposicion750Upon the lond of AlemaigneIs set, and ek upon Bretaigne,P. iii. 110Which nou is cleped Engelond;For thei travaile in every lond.De secunda planeta, que Mercurius dicitur.Of the Planetes the secoundeAbove the Mone hath take his bounde,Mercurie, and his nature is this,That under him who that bore is,In boke he schal be studiousAnd in wrytinge curious,760And slouh and lustles to travaileIn thing which elles myhte availe:He loveth ese, he loveth reste,So is he noght the worthieste;Bot yit with somdiel besinesseHis herte is set upon richesse.And as in this condicion,Theffect and disposicionOf this Planete and of his chance997Is most in Burgoigne and in France.770De tercia planeta, que Venus dicitur.Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,Stant that Planete which men calleVenus, whos constellacionGoverneth al the nacionOf lovers, wher thei spiede or non,Of whiche I trowe thou be on:Bot whiderward thin happes wende,Schal this planete schewe at ende,As it hath do to many mo,To some wel, to some wo.780And natheles of this PlaneteThe moste part is softe and swete;P. iii. 111For who that therof takth his berthe,He schal desire joie and merthe,Gentil, courteis and debonaire,To speke his wordes softe and faire,Such schal he be be weie of kinde,And overal wher he may findePlesance of love, his herte bowethWith al his myht and there he woweth.790He is so ferforth Amourous,He not what thing is viciousTouchende love, for that laweTher mai no maner man withdrawe,The which venerien is boreBe weie of kinde, and thereforeVenus of love the goddesseIs cleped: bot of wantounesse998The climat of hir lecherieIs most commun in Lombardie.800Nota de Sole, qui medio planetarum residens Astrorum principatum obtinet.Next unto this Planete of loveThe brighte Sonne stant above,Which is the hindrere of the nyhtAnd forthrere of the daies lyht,As he which is the worldes ÿe,Thurgh whom the lusti compaignieOf foules be the morwe singe,The freisshe floures sprede and springe,The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,And every mannes herte gladeth.810And for it is the hed Planete,Hou that he sitteth in his sete,P. iii. 112Of what richesse, of what nobleie,These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.Nota de curru Solis necnon et de vario eiusdem apparatu.Of gold glistrende Spoke and whielThe Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,In which he sitt, and is coronedWith brighte stones environed;Of whiche if that I speke schal,Ther be tofore in special820Set in the front of his coroneThre Stones, whiche no personeHath upon Erthe, and the ferste isBe name cleped Licuchis;That othre tuo be cleped thus,Astrices and Ceramius.In his corone also behinde,Be olde bokes as I finde,Ther ben of worthi Stones threSet ech of hem in his degre:830Wherof a Cristall is that on,Which that corone is set upon;The seconde is an Adamant;The thridde is noble and avenant,Which cleped is Ydriades.And over this yit nathelesUpon the sydes of the werk,After the wrytinge of the clerk,Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:The smaragdine is on of tho,840Jaspis and ElitropiusAnd Dendides and Jacinctus,P. iii. 113Lo, thus the corone is beset,Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;And in such wise his liht to spredeSit with his Diademe on hedeThe Sonne schynende in his carte.And forto lede him swithe and smarteAfter the bryhte daies lawe,Ther ben ordeined forto drawe850Foure hors his Char and him withal,Wherof the names telle I schal:Eritheüs the ferste is hote,The which is red and schyneth hote,The seconde Acteos the bryhte,Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,And Philogeüs is the ferthe,That bringen lyht unto this erthe,And gon so swift upon the hevene,In foure and twenty houres evene860The carte with the bryhte SonneThei drawe, so that overronneThei have under the cercles hiheAl Middelerthe in such an hye.And thus the Sonne is overalThe chief Planete imperial,Above him and benethe him thre:And thus betwen hem regneth he,As he that hath the middel placeAmong the Sevene, and of his face870Be glade alle erthly creatures,And taken after the naturesP. iii. 114Here ese and recreacion.And in his constellacionWho that is bore in special,Of good will and of liberalHe schal be founde in alle place,And also stonde in mochel graceToward the lordes forto serveAnd gret profit and thonk deserve.880And over that it causeth yitA man to be soubtil of witTo worche in gold, and to be wysIn every thing which is of pris.Bot forto speken in what costOf al this erthe he regneth mostAs for wisdom, it is in Grece,Wher is apropred thilke spiece.Nota de quinta planeta, que Mars dicitur.Mars the Planete bataillousNext to the Sonne glorious890Above stant, and doth mervailesUpon the fortune of batailes.The conquerours be daies oldeWere unto this planete holde:Bot who that his nativiteHath take upon the propreteOf Martes disposiciounBe weie of constellacioun,He schal be fiers and folhastifAnd desirous of werre and strif.900Bot forto telle redelyIn what climat most comunlyP. iii. 115That this planete hath his effect,Seid is that he hath his aspectUpon the holi lond so cast,That there is no pes stedefast.Nota de sexta planeta, que Iupiter dicitur.Above Mars upon the hevene,The sexte Planete of the sevene,Stant Jupiter the delicat,Which causeth pes and no debar.910For he is cleped that Planete999Which of his kinde softe and sweteAttempreth al that to him longeth;And whom this planete underfongethTo stonde upon his regiment,He schal be meke and pacientAnd fortunat to MarchandieAnd lusti to delicacieIn every thing which he schal do.This Jupiter is cause also920Of the science of lyhte werkes,And in this wise tellen clerkesHe is the Planete of delices.Bot in Egipte of his officesHe regneth most in special:For ther be lustes overalOf al that to this lif befalleth;For ther no stormy weder falleth,Which myhte grieve man or beste,And ek the lond is so honeste930That it is plentevous and plein,Ther is non ydel ground in vein;P. iii. 116And upon such felicite1000Stant Jupiter in his degre.De septima planeta, que reliquis celsior Saturnus dictus est.1001The heyeste and aboven alleStant that planete which men calle1002Saturnus, whos complexionIs cold, and his condicionCauseth malice and crualteTo him the whos nativite940Is set under his governance.For alle hise werkes ben grevanceAnd enemy to mannes hele,In what degre that he schal dele.His climat is in Orient,Wher that he is most violent.Of the Planetes by and by,Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liere.950Bot overthis touchende his lore,Of thing that thei him tawhte moreUpon the scoles of clergieNow herkne the Philosophie.[The Signs.]He which departeth dai fro nyht,Postquam dictum est de vii. Planetis, quibus singuli septimane dies singulariter attitulantur, dicendum est iam de xii. Signis, per que xii. Menses Anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequntur.1004That on derk and that other lyht,1003Of sevene daies made a weke,A Monthe of foure wekes ekeHe hath ordeigned in his lawe,Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe960He hath also the longe yeer.And as he sette of his pouerP. iii. 117Acordant to the daies sevenePlanetes Sevene upon the hevene,As thou tofore hast herd devise,To speke riht in such a wise,To every Monthe be himselveUpon the hevene of Signes tuelveHe hath after his OrdinalAssigned on in special,970Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,The tydes of the yer diversen.Bot pleinly forto make it knoweHou that the Signes sitte arowe,Ech after other be degreIn substance and in propreteThe zodiaque comprehendethWithinne his cercle, as it appendeth.1005Nota hic de primo Signo, quod Aries dicitur, cui Mensis Marcii specialiter appropriatus est.Quo deus in primo produxitad esse1006creata.The ferste of whiche natheles1007Be name is cleped Aries,980Which lich a wether of statureResembled is in his figure.And as it seith in Almageste,Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste1008Ben set, wherof in his degreThe wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,As thou myht hiere me divise,Stant Aries, which hot and dryeIs of himself, and in partie990P. iii. 118He is the receipte and the housOf myhty Mars the bataillous.And overmore ek, as I finde,The creatour of alle kindeUpon this Signe ferst beganThe world, whan that he made man.And of this constellaciounThe verray operaciounAvaileth, if a man therinneThe pourpos of his werk beginne;1000For thanne he hath of propreteGood sped and gret felicite.The tuelve Monthes of the yeerAttitled under the pouerOf these tuelve Signes stonde;Wherof that thou schalt understondeThis Aries on of the tuelve1009Hath March attitled for himselve,Whan every bridd schal chese his make,And every neddre and every Snake1010And every Reptil which mai moeve,His myht assaieth forto proeve,To crepen out ayein the Sonne,Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.Secundum Signum dicitur Taurus, cuius Mensis est Aprilis.Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.Taurus the seconde after thisOf Signes, which figured isUnto a Bole, is dreie and cold;1010And as it is in bokes told,P. iii. 119He is the hous appourtienant1011To Venus, somdiel descordant.1020This Bole is ek with sterres set,Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knetUnto the tail of Aries,So is he noght ther sterreles.Upon his brest ek eyhtetieneHe hath, and ek, as it is sene,Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.1012His Monthe assigned ek alsoIs Averil, which of his schouresMinistreth weie unto the floures.1030Tercium Signum dicitur Gemini, cuius Mensis Maiius est.Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus ortis.The thridde signe is Gemini,Which is figured redelyLich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,1013That naked stonde; and as I finde,Thei be with Sterres wel bego:The heved hath part of thilke tuoThat schyne upon the boles tail,So be thei bothe of o parail;But on the wombe of GeminiBen fyve sterres noght forthi,1040And ek upon the feet be tweie,So as these olde bokes seie,That wise Tholomeüs wrot.His propre Monthe wel I wot1014Assigned is the lusti Maii,Whanne every brid upon his layP. iii. 120Among the griene leves singeth,And love of his pointure stingethAfter the lawes of natureThe youthe of every creature.1050Quartum Signum Cancer dicitur, cuius Mensis Iunius est.Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.Cancer after the reule and spaceOf Signes halt the ferthe place.Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,And hath unto his retienanceSextiene sterres, wherof ten,So as these olde wise menDescrive, he berth on him tofore,And in the middel tuo be bore,1015And foure he hath upon his ende.Thus goth he sterred in his kende,1060And of himself is moiste and cold,And is the propre hous and holdWhich appartieneth to the Mone,And doth what longeth him to done.The Monthe of Juin unto this SigneThou schalt after the reule assigne.Quintum signum Leo dicitur, cuius Mensis Iulius est.Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignes.The fifte Signe is Leo hote,Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.And the semblance of his ymage1070Is a leoun, which in baillieOf sterres hath his pourpartie:The foure, which as Cancer hathUpon his ende, Leo tathP. iii. 121Upon his heved, and thanne nestHe hath ek foure upon his brest,And on upon his tail behinde,In olde bokes as we finde.His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,1016In which men pleien many a game.1080Sextum Signum Virgo dicitur, cuius Mensis Augustus est.Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.After Leo Virgo the nexteOf Signes cleped is the sexte,Wherof the figure is a Maide;And as the Philosophre saide,Sche is the welthe and the risinge,The lust, the joie and the likingeUnto Mercurie: and soth to seieSche is with sterres wel beseie,Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,Which sit on hih hir heved upon,1090Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet alsoHave other fyve: and overmoTouchende as of complexion,Be kindly disposicionOf dreie and cold this Maiden is.1017And forto tellen over thisHir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,Whan every feld hath corn in hondeAnd many a man his bak hath plied,Unto this Signe is Augst applied.10181100Septimum Signum Libra dicitur, cuius Mensis Septembris est.Vinea quo Bachum pressa liquore colit.After Virgo to reknen eveneLibra sit in the nombre of sevene,P. iii. 122Which hath figure and resemblanceUnto a man which a balanceBerth in his hond as forto weie:In boke and as it mai be seie,Diverse sterres to him longeth,Wherof on hevede he underfongethFerst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,And doun benethe eighte othre mo.1110This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,The whiche thinges be noght lotheUnto Venus, so that alofteSche resteth in his hous fulofte,And ek Saturnus often hyedIs in this Signe and magnefied.1019His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,Which yifth men cause to remembre,If eny Sor be left behindeOf thing which grieve mai to kinde.1120Octauum Signum Scorpio dicitur, cuius Mensis October est.Floribus exclusis yemis qui ianitor extat.Among the Signes upon heighteThe Signe which is nombred eighteIs Scorpio, which as felounFigured is a Scorpioun.Bot for al that yit nathelesIs Scorpio noght sterreles;For Libra granteth him his endeOf eighte sterres, wher he wende,The whiche upon his heved assisedHe berth, and ek ther ben divised1130P. iii. 123Upon his wombe sterres thre,And eighte upon his tail hath he.Which of his kinde is moiste and coldAnd unbehovely manyfold;He harmeth Venus and empeireth,Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,Octobre, which bringth the kalendeOf wynter, that comth next suiende.1140Nonum signum Sagittarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Nouember est.Quo mustum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.The nynthe Signe in nombre also,Which folweth after Scorpio,Is cleped Sagittarius,The whos figure is marked thus,A Monstre with a bowe on honde:On whom that sondri sterres stonde,Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,The whiche upon the tail ben bore1020Of Scorpio, the heved al faireBespreden of the Sagittaire;1150And eighte of othre stonden eveneUpon his wombe, and othre seveneTher stonde upon his tail behinde.And he is hot and dreie of kinde:To Jupiter his hous is fre,Bot to Mercurie in his degre,For thei ben noght of on assent,He worcheth gret empeirement.P. iii. 124This Signe hath of his propreteA Monthe, which of duete1160After the sesoun that befallethThe Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;And fyr into the halle he bringeth,1021And thilke drinke of which men singeth,He torneth must into the wyn;Thanne is the larder of the swyn;That is Novembre which I meene,Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.Decimum Signum Capricornus dicitur, cuius Mensis December est.Ipse diem Nano noctemque Gigante figurat.The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,The which is Capricornus told,1170Unto a Got hath resemblance:For whos love and whos aqueintanceWithinne hise houses to sojorneIt liketh wel unto Satorne,Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,For no profit is there wroght.This Signe as of his propreteUpon his heved hath sterres thre,And ek upon his wombe tuo,And tweie upon his tail also.1180Decembre after the yeeres forme,1022So as the bokes ous enforme,With daies schorte and nyhtes longeThis ilke Signe hath underfonge.
[Astronomy.]iv.Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur,Ista set interdum regula fallit opus.Vir mediante deo sapiens dominabitur astris,Fata nec immerito quid nouitatis agunt.989P. iii. 106Benethe upon this Erthe hiereOf alle thinges the matiere,Hic loquitur de Artis Mathematice quarta specie, que Astronomia nuncupata est, cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur: set primo de septem planetis, que inter astra potenciores existunt, incipiendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,Of thing above it stant governed,That is to sein of the Planetes.The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,The chances of the world also,That we fortune clepen so,640Among the mennes nacionAl is thurgh constellacion,Wherof that som man hath the wele,And som man hath deseses feleIn love als wel as othre thinges;The stat of realmes and of kingesIn time of pes, in time of werreIt is conceived of the Sterre:And thus seith the naturienWhich is an Astronomien.650Bot the divin seith otherwise,That if men weren goode and wiseAnd plesant unto the godhede,Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;For o man, if him wel befalle,Is more worth than ben thei alleTowardes him that weldeth al.Bot yit the lawe original,Which he hath set in the natures,Mot worchen in the creatures,660That therof mai be non obstacle,Bot if it stonde upon miracleP. iii. 107Thurgh preiere of som holy man.And forthi, so as I beganTo speke upon Astronomie,As it is write in the clergie,To telle hou the planetes fare,Som part I thenke to declare,Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.Astronomie is the science670Of wisdom and of hih connynge,Which makth a man have knowlechinge990Of Sterres in the firmament,Figure, cercle and moevementOf ech of hem in sondri place,And what betwen hem is of space,Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,Al this it telleth to the laste.Assembled with AstronomieIs ek that ilke Astrologie,680The which in juggementz acomptethTheffect, what every sterre amonteth,And hou thei causen many a wonderTo tho climatz that stonde hem under.991[Planets and Signs.]And forto telle it more plein,992These olde philosophres seinThat Orbis, which I spak of err,Is that which we fro therthe a ferrBeholde, and firmament it calle,In which the sterres stonden alle,690Among the whiche in specialPlanetes sefne principalP. iii. 108Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.993And also ther ben signes tuelve,Whiche have her cercles be hemselveCompassed in the zodiaque,In which thei have here places take.And as thei stonden in degre,Here cercles more or lasse be,700Mad after the proporcionOf therthe, whos condicionIs set to be the foundementTo sustiene up the firmament.And be this skile a man mai knowe,The more that thei stonden lowe,The more ben the cercles lasse;That causeth why that some passeHere due cours tofore an other.Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,710As thou desirest forto witeWhat I finde in the bokes write,To telle of the planetes sevene,Hou that thei stonde upon the heveneAnd in what point that thei ben inne,Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,So as the Philosophre tauhte994To Alisandre and it betauhte,Wherof that he was fulli tawhtOf wisdom, which was him betawht.720Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,[The Planets.]The which hath with the See to done:Nota hic de prima planeta, que aliis inferior Luna dicitur.P. iii. 109Of flodes hihe and ebbes loweUpon his change it schal be knowe;995And every fissh which hath a schelleMot in his governance duelle,To wexe and wane in his degre,As be the Mone a man mai se;And al that stant upon the groundeOf his moisture it mot be founde.730Alle othre sterres, as men finde,Be schynende of here oghne kindeOutake only the monelyht,Which is noght of himselve bright,Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.And yit he hath noght al fulwonne996His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;Bot what the lette is of that werkIn Almageste it telleth this:The Mones cercle so lowe is,740Wherof the Sonne out of his stageNe seth him noght with full visage,For he is with the ground beschaded,So that the Mone is somdiel fadedAnd may noght fully schyne cler.Bot what man under his pouerIs bore, he schal his places changeAnd seche manye londes strange:And as of this condicionThe Mones disposicion750Upon the lond of AlemaigneIs set, and ek upon Bretaigne,P. iii. 110Which nou is cleped Engelond;For thei travaile in every lond.De secunda planeta, que Mercurius dicitur.Of the Planetes the secoundeAbove the Mone hath take his bounde,Mercurie, and his nature is this,That under him who that bore is,In boke he schal be studiousAnd in wrytinge curious,760And slouh and lustles to travaileIn thing which elles myhte availe:He loveth ese, he loveth reste,So is he noght the worthieste;Bot yit with somdiel besinesseHis herte is set upon richesse.And as in this condicion,Theffect and disposicionOf this Planete and of his chance997Is most in Burgoigne and in France.770De tercia planeta, que Venus dicitur.Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,Stant that Planete which men calleVenus, whos constellacionGoverneth al the nacionOf lovers, wher thei spiede or non,Of whiche I trowe thou be on:Bot whiderward thin happes wende,Schal this planete schewe at ende,As it hath do to many mo,To some wel, to some wo.780And natheles of this PlaneteThe moste part is softe and swete;P. iii. 111For who that therof takth his berthe,He schal desire joie and merthe,Gentil, courteis and debonaire,To speke his wordes softe and faire,Such schal he be be weie of kinde,And overal wher he may findePlesance of love, his herte bowethWith al his myht and there he woweth.790He is so ferforth Amourous,He not what thing is viciousTouchende love, for that laweTher mai no maner man withdrawe,The which venerien is boreBe weie of kinde, and thereforeVenus of love the goddesseIs cleped: bot of wantounesse998The climat of hir lecherieIs most commun in Lombardie.800Nota de Sole, qui medio planetarum residens Astrorum principatum obtinet.Next unto this Planete of loveThe brighte Sonne stant above,Which is the hindrere of the nyhtAnd forthrere of the daies lyht,As he which is the worldes ÿe,Thurgh whom the lusti compaignieOf foules be the morwe singe,The freisshe floures sprede and springe,The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,And every mannes herte gladeth.810And for it is the hed Planete,Hou that he sitteth in his sete,P. iii. 112Of what richesse, of what nobleie,These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.Nota de curru Solis necnon et de vario eiusdem apparatu.Of gold glistrende Spoke and whielThe Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,In which he sitt, and is coronedWith brighte stones environed;Of whiche if that I speke schal,Ther be tofore in special820Set in the front of his coroneThre Stones, whiche no personeHath upon Erthe, and the ferste isBe name cleped Licuchis;That othre tuo be cleped thus,Astrices and Ceramius.In his corone also behinde,Be olde bokes as I finde,Ther ben of worthi Stones threSet ech of hem in his degre:830Wherof a Cristall is that on,Which that corone is set upon;The seconde is an Adamant;The thridde is noble and avenant,Which cleped is Ydriades.And over this yit nathelesUpon the sydes of the werk,After the wrytinge of the clerk,Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:The smaragdine is on of tho,840Jaspis and ElitropiusAnd Dendides and Jacinctus,P. iii. 113Lo, thus the corone is beset,Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;And in such wise his liht to spredeSit with his Diademe on hedeThe Sonne schynende in his carte.And forto lede him swithe and smarteAfter the bryhte daies lawe,Ther ben ordeined forto drawe850Foure hors his Char and him withal,Wherof the names telle I schal:Eritheüs the ferste is hote,The which is red and schyneth hote,The seconde Acteos the bryhte,Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,And Philogeüs is the ferthe,That bringen lyht unto this erthe,And gon so swift upon the hevene,In foure and twenty houres evene860The carte with the bryhte SonneThei drawe, so that overronneThei have under the cercles hiheAl Middelerthe in such an hye.And thus the Sonne is overalThe chief Planete imperial,Above him and benethe him thre:And thus betwen hem regneth he,As he that hath the middel placeAmong the Sevene, and of his face870Be glade alle erthly creatures,And taken after the naturesP. iii. 114Here ese and recreacion.And in his constellacionWho that is bore in special,Of good will and of liberalHe schal be founde in alle place,And also stonde in mochel graceToward the lordes forto serveAnd gret profit and thonk deserve.880And over that it causeth yitA man to be soubtil of witTo worche in gold, and to be wysIn every thing which is of pris.Bot forto speken in what costOf al this erthe he regneth mostAs for wisdom, it is in Grece,Wher is apropred thilke spiece.Nota de quinta planeta, que Mars dicitur.Mars the Planete bataillousNext to the Sonne glorious890Above stant, and doth mervailesUpon the fortune of batailes.The conquerours be daies oldeWere unto this planete holde:Bot who that his nativiteHath take upon the propreteOf Martes disposiciounBe weie of constellacioun,He schal be fiers and folhastifAnd desirous of werre and strif.900Bot forto telle redelyIn what climat most comunlyP. iii. 115That this planete hath his effect,Seid is that he hath his aspectUpon the holi lond so cast,That there is no pes stedefast.Nota de sexta planeta, que Iupiter dicitur.Above Mars upon the hevene,The sexte Planete of the sevene,Stant Jupiter the delicat,Which causeth pes and no debar.910For he is cleped that Planete999Which of his kinde softe and sweteAttempreth al that to him longeth;And whom this planete underfongethTo stonde upon his regiment,He schal be meke and pacientAnd fortunat to MarchandieAnd lusti to delicacieIn every thing which he schal do.This Jupiter is cause also920Of the science of lyhte werkes,And in this wise tellen clerkesHe is the Planete of delices.Bot in Egipte of his officesHe regneth most in special:For ther be lustes overalOf al that to this lif befalleth;For ther no stormy weder falleth,Which myhte grieve man or beste,And ek the lond is so honeste930That it is plentevous and plein,Ther is non ydel ground in vein;P. iii. 116And upon such felicite1000Stant Jupiter in his degre.De septima planeta, que reliquis celsior Saturnus dictus est.1001The heyeste and aboven alleStant that planete which men calle1002Saturnus, whos complexionIs cold, and his condicionCauseth malice and crualteTo him the whos nativite940Is set under his governance.For alle hise werkes ben grevanceAnd enemy to mannes hele,In what degre that he schal dele.His climat is in Orient,Wher that he is most violent.Of the Planetes by and by,Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liere.950Bot overthis touchende his lore,Of thing that thei him tawhte moreUpon the scoles of clergieNow herkne the Philosophie.[The Signs.]He which departeth dai fro nyht,Postquam dictum est de vii. Planetis, quibus singuli septimane dies singulariter attitulantur, dicendum est iam de xii. Signis, per que xii. Menses Anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequntur.1004That on derk and that other lyht,1003Of sevene daies made a weke,A Monthe of foure wekes ekeHe hath ordeigned in his lawe,Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe960He hath also the longe yeer.And as he sette of his pouerP. iii. 117Acordant to the daies sevenePlanetes Sevene upon the hevene,As thou tofore hast herd devise,To speke riht in such a wise,To every Monthe be himselveUpon the hevene of Signes tuelveHe hath after his OrdinalAssigned on in special,970Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,The tydes of the yer diversen.Bot pleinly forto make it knoweHou that the Signes sitte arowe,Ech after other be degreIn substance and in propreteThe zodiaque comprehendethWithinne his cercle, as it appendeth.1005Nota hic de primo Signo, quod Aries dicitur, cui Mensis Marcii specialiter appropriatus est.Quo deus in primo produxitad esse1006creata.The ferste of whiche natheles1007Be name is cleped Aries,980Which lich a wether of statureResembled is in his figure.And as it seith in Almageste,Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste1008Ben set, wherof in his degreThe wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,As thou myht hiere me divise,Stant Aries, which hot and dryeIs of himself, and in partie990P. iii. 118He is the receipte and the housOf myhty Mars the bataillous.And overmore ek, as I finde,The creatour of alle kindeUpon this Signe ferst beganThe world, whan that he made man.And of this constellaciounThe verray operaciounAvaileth, if a man therinneThe pourpos of his werk beginne;1000For thanne he hath of propreteGood sped and gret felicite.The tuelve Monthes of the yeerAttitled under the pouerOf these tuelve Signes stonde;Wherof that thou schalt understondeThis Aries on of the tuelve1009Hath March attitled for himselve,Whan every bridd schal chese his make,And every neddre and every Snake1010And every Reptil which mai moeve,His myht assaieth forto proeve,To crepen out ayein the Sonne,Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.
[Astronomy.]
iv.Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur,
Ista set interdum regula fallit opus.
Vir mediante deo sapiens dominabitur astris,
Fata nec immerito quid nouitatis agunt.989
P. iii. 106
Benethe upon this Erthe hiere
Of alle thinges the matiere,
Hic loquitur de Artis Mathematice quarta specie, que Astronomia nuncupata est, cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur: set primo de septem planetis, que inter astra potenciores existunt, incipiendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.
As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,
Of thing above it stant governed,
That is to sein of the Planetes.
The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,
The chances of the world also,
That we fortune clepen so,640
Among the mennes nacion
Al is thurgh constellacion,
Wherof that som man hath the wele,
And som man hath deseses fele
In love als wel as othre thinges;
The stat of realmes and of kinges
In time of pes, in time of werre
It is conceived of the Sterre:
And thus seith the naturien
Which is an Astronomien.650
Bot the divin seith otherwise,
That if men weren goode and wise
And plesant unto the godhede,
Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;
For o man, if him wel befalle,
Is more worth than ben thei alle
Towardes him that weldeth al.
Bot yit the lawe original,
Which he hath set in the natures,
Mot worchen in the creatures,660
That therof mai be non obstacle,
Bot if it stonde upon miracle
P. iii. 107
Thurgh preiere of som holy man.
And forthi, so as I began
To speke upon Astronomie,
As it is write in the clergie,
To telle hou the planetes fare,
Som part I thenke to declare,
Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.
Astronomie is the science670
Of wisdom and of hih connynge,
Which makth a man have knowlechinge990
Of Sterres in the firmament,
Figure, cercle and moevement
Of ech of hem in sondri place,
And what betwen hem is of space,
Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,
Al this it telleth to the laste.
Assembled with Astronomie
Is ek that ilke Astrologie,680
The which in juggementz acompteth
Theffect, what every sterre amonteth,
And hou thei causen many a wonder
To tho climatz that stonde hem under.991
[Planets and Signs.]
And forto telle it more plein,992
These olde philosophres sein
That Orbis, which I spak of err,
Is that which we fro therthe a ferr
Beholde, and firmament it calle,
In which the sterres stonden alle,690
Among the whiche in special
Planetes sefne principal
P. iii. 108
Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,
Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.993
And also ther ben signes tuelve,
Whiche have her cercles be hemselve
Compassed in the zodiaque,
In which thei have here places take.
And as thei stonden in degre,
Here cercles more or lasse be,700
Mad after the proporcion
Of therthe, whos condicion
Is set to be the foundement
To sustiene up the firmament.
And be this skile a man mai knowe,
The more that thei stonden lowe,
The more ben the cercles lasse;
That causeth why that some passe
Here due cours tofore an other.
Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,710
As thou desirest forto wite
What I finde in the bokes write,
To telle of the planetes sevene,
Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene
And in what point that thei ben inne,
Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,
So as the Philosophre tauhte994
To Alisandre and it betauhte,
Wherof that he was fulli tawht
Of wisdom, which was him betawht.720
Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,
[The Planets.]
The which hath with the See to done:
Nota hic de prima planeta, que aliis inferior Luna dicitur.
P. iii. 109
Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe
Upon his change it schal be knowe;995
And every fissh which hath a schelle
Mot in his governance duelle,
To wexe and wane in his degre,
As be the Mone a man mai se;
And al that stant upon the grounde
Of his moisture it mot be founde.730
Alle othre sterres, as men finde,
Be schynende of here oghne kinde
Outake only the monelyht,
Which is noght of himselve bright,
Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.
And yit he hath noght al fulwonne996
His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;
Bot what the lette is of that werk
In Almageste it telleth this:
The Mones cercle so lowe is,740
Wherof the Sonne out of his stage
Ne seth him noght with full visage,
For he is with the ground beschaded,
So that the Mone is somdiel faded
And may noght fully schyne cler.
Bot what man under his pouer
Is bore, he schal his places change
And seche manye londes strange:
And as of this condicion
The Mones disposicion750
Upon the lond of Alemaigne
Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne,
P. iii. 110
Which nou is cleped Engelond;
For thei travaile in every lond.
De secunda planeta, que Mercurius dicitur.
Of the Planetes the secounde
Above the Mone hath take his bounde,
Mercurie, and his nature is this,
That under him who that bore is,
In boke he schal be studious
And in wrytinge curious,760
And slouh and lustles to travaile
In thing which elles myhte availe:
He loveth ese, he loveth reste,
So is he noght the worthieste;
Bot yit with somdiel besinesse
His herte is set upon richesse.
And as in this condicion,
Theffect and disposicion
Of this Planete and of his chance997
Is most in Burgoigne and in France.770
De tercia planeta, que Venus dicitur.
Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,
Stant that Planete which men calle
Venus, whos constellacion
Governeth al the nacion
Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non,
Of whiche I trowe thou be on:
Bot whiderward thin happes wende,
Schal this planete schewe at ende,
As it hath do to many mo,
To some wel, to some wo.780
And natheles of this Planete
The moste part is softe and swete;
P. iii. 111
For who that therof takth his berthe,
He schal desire joie and merthe,
Gentil, courteis and debonaire,
To speke his wordes softe and faire,
Such schal he be be weie of kinde,
And overal wher he may finde
Plesance of love, his herte boweth
With al his myht and there he woweth.790
He is so ferforth Amourous,
He not what thing is vicious
Touchende love, for that lawe
Ther mai no maner man withdrawe,
The which venerien is bore
Be weie of kinde, and therefore
Venus of love the goddesse
Is cleped: bot of wantounesse998
The climat of hir lecherie
Is most commun in Lombardie.800
Nota de Sole, qui medio planetarum residens Astrorum principatum obtinet.
Next unto this Planete of love
The brighte Sonne stant above,
Which is the hindrere of the nyht
And forthrere of the daies lyht,
As he which is the worldes ÿe,
Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie
Of foules be the morwe singe,
The freisshe floures sprede and springe,
The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,
And every mannes herte gladeth.810
And for it is the hed Planete,
Hou that he sitteth in his sete,
P. iii. 112
Of what richesse, of what nobleie,
These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.
Nota de curru Solis necnon et de vario eiusdem apparatu.
Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel
The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,
In which he sitt, and is coroned
With brighte stones environed;
Of whiche if that I speke schal,
Ther be tofore in special820
Set in the front of his corone
Thre Stones, whiche no persone
Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is
Be name cleped Licuchis;
That othre tuo be cleped thus,
Astrices and Ceramius.
In his corone also behinde,
Be olde bokes as I finde,
Ther ben of worthi Stones thre
Set ech of hem in his degre:830
Wherof a Cristall is that on,
Which that corone is set upon;
The seconde is an Adamant;
The thridde is noble and avenant,
Which cleped is Ydriades.
And over this yit natheles
Upon the sydes of the werk,
After the wrytinge of the clerk,
Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:
The smaragdine is on of tho,840
Jaspis and Elitropius
And Dendides and Jacinctus,
P. iii. 113
Lo, thus the corone is beset,
Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;
And in such wise his liht to sprede
Sit with his Diademe on hede
The Sonne schynende in his carte.
And forto lede him swithe and smarte
After the bryhte daies lawe,
Ther ben ordeined forto drawe850
Foure hors his Char and him withal,
Wherof the names telle I schal:
Eritheüs the ferste is hote,
The which is red and schyneth hote,
The seconde Acteos the bryhte,
Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,
And Philogeüs is the ferthe,
That bringen lyht unto this erthe,
And gon so swift upon the hevene,
In foure and twenty houres evene860
The carte with the bryhte Sonne
Thei drawe, so that overronne
Thei have under the cercles hihe
Al Middelerthe in such an hye.
And thus the Sonne is overal
The chief Planete imperial,
Above him and benethe him thre:
And thus betwen hem regneth he,
As he that hath the middel place
Among the Sevene, and of his face870
Be glade alle erthly creatures,
And taken after the natures
P. iii. 114
Here ese and recreacion.
And in his constellacion
Who that is bore in special,
Of good will and of liberal
He schal be founde in alle place,
And also stonde in mochel grace
Toward the lordes forto serve
And gret profit and thonk deserve.880
And over that it causeth yit
A man to be soubtil of wit
To worche in gold, and to be wys
In every thing which is of pris.
Bot forto speken in what cost
Of al this erthe he regneth most
As for wisdom, it is in Grece,
Wher is apropred thilke spiece.
Nota de quinta planeta, que Mars dicitur.
Mars the Planete bataillous
Next to the Sonne glorious890
Above stant, and doth mervailes
Upon the fortune of batailes.
The conquerours be daies olde
Were unto this planete holde:
Bot who that his nativite
Hath take upon the proprete
Of Martes disposicioun
Be weie of constellacioun,
He schal be fiers and folhastif
And desirous of werre and strif.900
Bot forto telle redely
In what climat most comunly
P. iii. 115
That this planete hath his effect,
Seid is that he hath his aspect
Upon the holi lond so cast,
That there is no pes stedefast.
Nota de sexta planeta, que Iupiter dicitur.
Above Mars upon the hevene,
The sexte Planete of the sevene,
Stant Jupiter the delicat,
Which causeth pes and no debar.910
For he is cleped that Planete999
Which of his kinde softe and swete
Attempreth al that to him longeth;
And whom this planete underfongeth
To stonde upon his regiment,
He schal be meke and pacient
And fortunat to Marchandie
And lusti to delicacie
In every thing which he schal do.
This Jupiter is cause also920
Of the science of lyhte werkes,
And in this wise tellen clerkes
He is the Planete of delices.
Bot in Egipte of his offices
He regneth most in special:
For ther be lustes overal
Of al that to this lif befalleth;
For ther no stormy weder falleth,
Which myhte grieve man or beste,
And ek the lond is so honeste930
That it is plentevous and plein,
Ther is non ydel ground in vein;
P. iii. 116
And upon such felicite1000
Stant Jupiter in his degre.
De septima planeta, que reliquis celsior Saturnus dictus est.1001
The heyeste and aboven alle
Stant that planete which men calle1002
Saturnus, whos complexion
Is cold, and his condicion
Causeth malice and crualte
To him the whos nativite940
Is set under his governance.
For alle hise werkes ben grevance
And enemy to mannes hele,
In what degre that he schal dele.
His climat is in Orient,
Wher that he is most violent.
Of the Planetes by and by,
Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,
Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,
Was Alisandre mad to liere.950
Bot overthis touchende his lore,
Of thing that thei him tawhte more
Upon the scoles of clergie
Now herkne the Philosophie.
[The Signs.]
He which departeth dai fro nyht,
Postquam dictum est de vii. Planetis, quibus singuli septimane dies singulariter attitulantur, dicendum est iam de xii. Signis, per que xii. Menses Anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequntur.1004
That on derk and that other lyht,1003
Of sevene daies made a weke,
A Monthe of foure wekes eke
He hath ordeigned in his lawe,
Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe960
He hath also the longe yeer.
And as he sette of his pouer
P. iii. 117
Acordant to the daies sevene
Planetes Sevene upon the hevene,
As thou tofore hast herd devise,
To speke riht in such a wise,
To every Monthe be himselve
Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve
He hath after his Ordinal
Assigned on in special,970
Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,
The tydes of the yer diversen.
Bot pleinly forto make it knowe
Hou that the Signes sitte arowe,
Ech after other be degre
In substance and in proprete
The zodiaque comprehendeth
Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.1005
Nota hic de primo Signo, quod Aries dicitur, cui Mensis Marcii specialiter appropriatus est.Quo deus in primo produxitad esse1006creata.
The ferste of whiche natheles1007
Be name is cleped Aries,980
Which lich a wether of stature
Resembled is in his figure.
And as it seith in Almageste,
Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste1008
Ben set, wherof in his degre
The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,
The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,
As thou myht hiere me divise,
Stant Aries, which hot and drye
Is of himself, and in partie990
P. iii. 118
He is the receipte and the hous
Of myhty Mars the bataillous.
And overmore ek, as I finde,
The creatour of alle kinde
Upon this Signe ferst began
The world, whan that he made man.
And of this constellacioun
The verray operacioun
Availeth, if a man therinne
The pourpos of his werk beginne;1000
For thanne he hath of proprete
Good sped and gret felicite.
The tuelve Monthes of the yeer
Attitled under the pouer
Of these tuelve Signes stonde;
Wherof that thou schalt understonde
This Aries on of the tuelve1009
Hath March attitled for himselve,
Whan every bridd schal chese his make,
And every neddre and every Snake1010
And every Reptil which mai moeve,
His myht assaieth forto proeve,
To crepen out ayein the Sonne,
Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.
Secundum Signum dicitur Taurus, cuius Mensis est Aprilis.Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.Taurus the seconde after thisOf Signes, which figured isUnto a Bole, is dreie and cold;1010And as it is in bokes told,P. iii. 119He is the hous appourtienant1011To Venus, somdiel descordant.1020This Bole is ek with sterres set,Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knetUnto the tail of Aries,So is he noght ther sterreles.Upon his brest ek eyhtetieneHe hath, and ek, as it is sene,Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.1012His Monthe assigned ek alsoIs Averil, which of his schouresMinistreth weie unto the floures.1030
Secundum Signum dicitur Taurus, cuius Mensis est Aprilis.Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.
Taurus the seconde after this
Of Signes, which figured is
Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold;1010
And as it is in bokes told,
P. iii. 119
He is the hous appourtienant1011
To Venus, somdiel descordant.1020
This Bole is ek with sterres set,
Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet
Unto the tail of Aries,
So is he noght ther sterreles.
Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene
He hath, and ek, as it is sene,
Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.1012
His Monthe assigned ek also
Is Averil, which of his schoures
Ministreth weie unto the floures.1030
Tercium Signum dicitur Gemini, cuius Mensis Maiius est.Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus ortis.The thridde signe is Gemini,Which is figured redelyLich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,1013That naked stonde; and as I finde,Thei be with Sterres wel bego:The heved hath part of thilke tuoThat schyne upon the boles tail,So be thei bothe of o parail;But on the wombe of GeminiBen fyve sterres noght forthi,1040And ek upon the feet be tweie,So as these olde bokes seie,That wise Tholomeüs wrot.His propre Monthe wel I wot1014Assigned is the lusti Maii,Whanne every brid upon his layP. iii. 120Among the griene leves singeth,And love of his pointure stingethAfter the lawes of natureThe youthe of every creature.1050
Tercium Signum dicitur Gemini, cuius Mensis Maiius est.Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus ortis.
The thridde signe is Gemini,
Which is figured redely
Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,1013
That naked stonde; and as I finde,
Thei be with Sterres wel bego:
The heved hath part of thilke tuo
That schyne upon the boles tail,
So be thei bothe of o parail;
But on the wombe of Gemini
Ben fyve sterres noght forthi,1040
And ek upon the feet be tweie,
So as these olde bokes seie,
That wise Tholomeüs wrot.
His propre Monthe wel I wot1014
Assigned is the lusti Maii,
Whanne every brid upon his lay
P. iii. 120
Among the griene leves singeth,
And love of his pointure stingeth
After the lawes of nature
The youthe of every creature.1050
Quartum Signum Cancer dicitur, cuius Mensis Iunius est.Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.Cancer after the reule and spaceOf Signes halt the ferthe place.Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,And hath unto his retienanceSextiene sterres, wherof ten,So as these olde wise menDescrive, he berth on him tofore,And in the middel tuo be bore,1015And foure he hath upon his ende.Thus goth he sterred in his kende,1060And of himself is moiste and cold,And is the propre hous and holdWhich appartieneth to the Mone,And doth what longeth him to done.The Monthe of Juin unto this SigneThou schalt after the reule assigne.
Quartum Signum Cancer dicitur, cuius Mensis Iunius est.Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.
Cancer after the reule and space
Of Signes halt the ferthe place.
Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,
And hath unto his retienance
Sextiene sterres, wherof ten,
So as these olde wise men
Descrive, he berth on him tofore,
And in the middel tuo be bore,1015
And foure he hath upon his ende.
Thus goth he sterred in his kende,1060
And of himself is moiste and cold,
And is the propre hous and hold
Which appartieneth to the Mone,
And doth what longeth him to done.
The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe
Thou schalt after the reule assigne.
Quintum signum Leo dicitur, cuius Mensis Iulius est.Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignes.The fifte Signe is Leo hote,Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.And the semblance of his ymage1070Is a leoun, which in baillieOf sterres hath his pourpartie:The foure, which as Cancer hathUpon his ende, Leo tathP. iii. 121Upon his heved, and thanne nestHe hath ek foure upon his brest,And on upon his tail behinde,In olde bokes as we finde.His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,1016In which men pleien many a game.1080
Quintum signum Leo dicitur, cuius Mensis Iulius est.Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignes.
The fifte Signe is Leo hote,
Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,
In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.
And the semblance of his ymage1070
Is a leoun, which in baillie
Of sterres hath his pourpartie:
The foure, which as Cancer hath
Upon his ende, Leo tath
P. iii. 121
Upon his heved, and thanne nest
He hath ek foure upon his brest,
And on upon his tail behinde,
In olde bokes as we finde.
His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,1016
In which men pleien many a game.1080
Sextum Signum Virgo dicitur, cuius Mensis Augustus est.Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.After Leo Virgo the nexteOf Signes cleped is the sexte,Wherof the figure is a Maide;And as the Philosophre saide,Sche is the welthe and the risinge,The lust, the joie and the likingeUnto Mercurie: and soth to seieSche is with sterres wel beseie,Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,Which sit on hih hir heved upon,1090Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet alsoHave other fyve: and overmoTouchende as of complexion,Be kindly disposicionOf dreie and cold this Maiden is.1017And forto tellen over thisHir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,Whan every feld hath corn in hondeAnd many a man his bak hath plied,Unto this Signe is Augst applied.10181100
Sextum Signum Virgo dicitur, cuius Mensis Augustus est.Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.
After Leo Virgo the nexte
Of Signes cleped is the sexte,
Wherof the figure is a Maide;
And as the Philosophre saide,
Sche is the welthe and the risinge,
The lust, the joie and the likinge
Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie
Sche is with sterres wel beseie,
Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,
Which sit on hih hir heved upon,1090
Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also
Have other fyve: and overmo
Touchende as of complexion,
Be kindly disposicion
Of dreie and cold this Maiden is.1017
And forto tellen over this
Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,
Whan every feld hath corn in honde
And many a man his bak hath plied,
Unto this Signe is Augst applied.10181100
Septimum Signum Libra dicitur, cuius Mensis Septembris est.Vinea quo Bachum pressa liquore colit.After Virgo to reknen eveneLibra sit in the nombre of sevene,P. iii. 122Which hath figure and resemblanceUnto a man which a balanceBerth in his hond as forto weie:In boke and as it mai be seie,Diverse sterres to him longeth,Wherof on hevede he underfongethFerst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,And doun benethe eighte othre mo.1110This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,The whiche thinges be noght lotheUnto Venus, so that alofteSche resteth in his hous fulofte,And ek Saturnus often hyedIs in this Signe and magnefied.1019His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,Which yifth men cause to remembre,If eny Sor be left behindeOf thing which grieve mai to kinde.1120
Septimum Signum Libra dicitur, cuius Mensis Septembris est.Vinea quo Bachum pressa liquore colit.
After Virgo to reknen evene
Libra sit in the nombre of sevene,
P. iii. 122
Which hath figure and resemblance
Unto a man which a balance
Berth in his hond as forto weie:
In boke and as it mai be seie,
Diverse sterres to him longeth,
Wherof on hevede he underfongeth
Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,
And doun benethe eighte othre mo.1110
This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,
The whiche thinges be noght lothe
Unto Venus, so that alofte
Sche resteth in his hous fulofte,
And ek Saturnus often hyed
Is in this Signe and magnefied.1019
His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,
Which yifth men cause to remembre,
If eny Sor be left behinde
Of thing which grieve mai to kinde.1120
Octauum Signum Scorpio dicitur, cuius Mensis October est.Floribus exclusis yemis qui ianitor extat.Among the Signes upon heighteThe Signe which is nombred eighteIs Scorpio, which as felounFigured is a Scorpioun.Bot for al that yit nathelesIs Scorpio noght sterreles;For Libra granteth him his endeOf eighte sterres, wher he wende,The whiche upon his heved assisedHe berth, and ek ther ben divised1130P. iii. 123Upon his wombe sterres thre,And eighte upon his tail hath he.Which of his kinde is moiste and coldAnd unbehovely manyfold;He harmeth Venus and empeireth,Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,Octobre, which bringth the kalendeOf wynter, that comth next suiende.1140
Octauum Signum Scorpio dicitur, cuius Mensis October est.Floribus exclusis yemis qui ianitor extat.
Among the Signes upon heighte
The Signe which is nombred eighte
Is Scorpio, which as feloun
Figured is a Scorpioun.
Bot for al that yit natheles
Is Scorpio noght sterreles;
For Libra granteth him his ende
Of eighte sterres, wher he wende,
The whiche upon his heved assised
He berth, and ek ther ben divised1130
P. iii. 123
Upon his wombe sterres thre,
And eighte upon his tail hath he.
Which of his kinde is moiste and cold
And unbehovely manyfold;
He harmeth Venus and empeireth,
Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,
Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.
His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,
Octobre, which bringth the kalende
Of wynter, that comth next suiende.1140
Nonum signum Sagittarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Nouember est.Quo mustum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.The nynthe Signe in nombre also,Which folweth after Scorpio,Is cleped Sagittarius,The whos figure is marked thus,A Monstre with a bowe on honde:On whom that sondri sterres stonde,Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,The whiche upon the tail ben bore1020Of Scorpio, the heved al faireBespreden of the Sagittaire;1150And eighte of othre stonden eveneUpon his wombe, and othre seveneTher stonde upon his tail behinde.And he is hot and dreie of kinde:To Jupiter his hous is fre,Bot to Mercurie in his degre,For thei ben noght of on assent,He worcheth gret empeirement.P. iii. 124This Signe hath of his propreteA Monthe, which of duete1160After the sesoun that befallethThe Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;And fyr into the halle he bringeth,1021And thilke drinke of which men singeth,He torneth must into the wyn;Thanne is the larder of the swyn;That is Novembre which I meene,Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.
Nonum signum Sagittarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Nouember est.Quo mustum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.
The nynthe Signe in nombre also,
Which folweth after Scorpio,
Is cleped Sagittarius,
The whos figure is marked thus,
A Monstre with a bowe on honde:
On whom that sondri sterres stonde,
Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,
The whiche upon the tail ben bore1020
Of Scorpio, the heved al faire
Bespreden of the Sagittaire;1150
And eighte of othre stonden evene
Upon his wombe, and othre sevene
Ther stonde upon his tail behinde.
And he is hot and dreie of kinde:
To Jupiter his hous is fre,
Bot to Mercurie in his degre,
For thei ben noght of on assent,
He worcheth gret empeirement.
P. iii. 124
This Signe hath of his proprete
A Monthe, which of duete1160
After the sesoun that befalleth
The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;
And fyr into the halle he bringeth,1021
And thilke drinke of which men singeth,
He torneth must into the wyn;
Thanne is the larder of the swyn;
That is Novembre which I meene,
Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.
Decimum Signum Capricornus dicitur, cuius Mensis December est.Ipse diem Nano noctemque Gigante figurat.The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,The which is Capricornus told,1170Unto a Got hath resemblance:For whos love and whos aqueintanceWithinne hise houses to sojorneIt liketh wel unto Satorne,Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,For no profit is there wroght.This Signe as of his propreteUpon his heved hath sterres thre,And ek upon his wombe tuo,And tweie upon his tail also.1180Decembre after the yeeres forme,1022So as the bokes ous enforme,With daies schorte and nyhtes longeThis ilke Signe hath underfonge.
Decimum Signum Capricornus dicitur, cuius Mensis December est.Ipse diem Nano noctemque Gigante figurat.
The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,
The which is Capricornus told,1170
Unto a Got hath resemblance:
For whos love and whos aqueintance
Withinne hise houses to sojorne
It liketh wel unto Satorne,
Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,
For no profit is there wroght.
This Signe as of his proprete
Upon his heved hath sterres thre,
And ek upon his wombe tuo,
And tweie upon his tail also.1180
Decembre after the yeeres forme,1022
So as the bokes ous enforme,
With daies schorte and nyhtes longe
This ilke Signe hath underfonge.