Manuscript Viewer: Non Flash Version

Time Reckoning: The Sign of Libra (p. 107a)


Time Reckoning: The Sign of Libra (p. 107a)


Michael's manuscript contains a 13-page survey of the signs of the zodiac and their influence. This page describes the sign of Libra. Michael's interest in astrology was not simply based on superstition. In an age without clocks, time was reckoned on the basis of celestial phenomena. The signs of the zodiac provided the fundamental means of organizing the sky into divisions. Locating the moon, sun, and stars in these divisions of the heavens was essential for keeping time.

See enlargement:

+ Ihesus + Libra. Lo settimo segno. Natura de aire, chalido et umedo. Segno cho munal. Lo so pianetto Venus. Segno dele spalle. Chi naserà in quel segno serà de grandisima natura, despiaxeralli le malefate chose, averà grande honor, non serà richo, serà a- mado dale done da far chose de vanagloria. Non piar mede- xina. Venus monta in segny 2, Libra e Chapichorno. E questo Venus è bon a far ogni ben la prima ora de vener, e sta in 5 zielli. Sta in zaschon segno zorny 8 zercha, li segny in mexi 3, dì 6.

+ Jesus+ Libra. The seventh sign. Nature of air, hot and humid. A com- munal sign. Its planet is Venus. The sign of shoulders. Whoever is born under this sign will have a very great nature, dislike things poorly done. He will have great honor. He will not be rich. He will be loved by women, will do vainglorious things. Don't take med- icine. Venus rises in two signs, Libra and Capricorn. And this Venus is good for doing everything well on the first hour of Friday. And it is in the fifth heaven. It is in each sign 8 days; circles the signs in 3 months 6 days.