Three prose versions of the Secreta Secretorum / edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Steele and a glossary by T. Henderson

Of the foure Parties of the yere aftyr hare kyndes. Capitulum. Lxvjm.

AL the olde Phylosofers the yere dyuysedyn in fowre Parties, wyche ben callid̛ Veere, Somer, Herrust, and Wyntyr. Thes iiije tymes hath like Propyrteis to the foure elementes, and to the foure complexciones, of the wyche I haue aforsaydyne. The compotistres sayne, that Veere begynnyth at the feste wych we callyth in kalenders, Cathedra sancti Petri, and duryth into the feste of Seynte Vrbane. Than begynnyth Somyr, and duryth into the feste of Seynte Symphoriane. Than begynnyth [folio 81bL] herust, and duryth into the feste of Seynte Clement. And fro that duryth wyntyr into the feste of seynte Petyr aforsayde. The tyme of weere is hote and moisti, like as the eyre is, And therfor in that tyme, al thynnges begynnyth to renoue and wix newe, and returne Into estate. the tempestis begynnyth ham to wythdrawe, The snowes demettyth ham in the montayns, the ryuers rynnyth Into hillis, The wellis spryngyth vp, The humours of tren and herbis styeth vp fro the rotis into the bowes, the seedis rysyth vp, The cornes growyth, The medys wixen̄ grene, the flowris coloureth the erthe, the tren clothyn ham wyth lewis, botonyth and spourgyth, the bestis engenderyth, And al quyke thynges takyth agayne thare vertues. The byrdys syngyth, the nyghtyngall shewyth his organe notis, al the Erthe rescewyth his anournement and his beute, and is like to a fayre yong man that arrayth hym

well of al maner of anournement to shewe hym-Selfe atte the weddynge. And for-als-moche as this tyme is hote and moysty, the blode of man whych is of like complexcion̄, growyth in this seyson more than in any othyr tyme of the yere, and spredyth hym throgh al the lymes of the body. In this tyme hit is good to ette temporate mettes, as chykenes, letus [betus MS.] sauage, that is y-callid scariole, and mylke of a goote, and drynke good wyne and in tempure. Noo tyme is more couenable to lete blode, namely of the body, Purgacioun of the wombe, company of women, bathes, Swetes, Pocions or drynchis of Spycirie, medicyns laxatifs sholde bene vsyd in this tyme. For al that is voyde by blode-lettynge, or by othyr medycyne, this tyme restoryth hastely by his hette and by his moysture.