Of the Divisions of the seasons and four Quarters of the year, according unto Astronomers and Physitians; that the common compute of the Ancients, and which is still retained by some is very questionable.
As for the divisions of the year, and the quartering out this remarkable standard of time, there have passed especially two distinctions; the first in frequent use with Astronomers, according to the cardinal intersections of the Zodiack, that is, the two Ãquinoctials and both the Solstitial points; defining that time to be the Spring of the year, wherein the Sun doth pass from the Ãquinox of Aries unto the Solstice of Cancer; the time between the Solstice and the Ãquinox of Libra, Summer; from thence unto the Solstice of Capricornus, Autumn; and from thence unto the Ãquinox of Aries again, Winter. Now this division although it be regular and equal, is not universal; for it includeth not those latitudes which have the seasons of the year double; as have the inhabitants under the Equator, or else between the Tropicks. [SN: _Between the Tropicks two Summers in a year._] For unto them the Sun is vertical twice a year, making two distinct Summers in the different points of verticality. So unto those which live under the Ãquator, when the sun is in the Ãquinox it is Summer, in which points it maketh Spring or Autumn unto us; and unto them it is also Winter when the Sun is in either Tropick; whereas unto us it maketh always Summer in the one. And the like will happen unto those habitations, which are between the Tropicks and the Ãquator.
A second and more sensible division there is observed by _Hippocrates_, and most of the ancient _Greeks_, according to the rising and setting of divers stars; dividing the year, and establishing the account of seasons from usual alterations, and sensible mutations in the air, discovered upon the rising and setting of those stars, accounting the Spring from the Ãquinoxial point of Aries; from the rising of the Pleiades, or the several stars on the back of Taurus, Summer; from the rising of Arcturus, a star between the thighs of Bootes, Autumn; and from the setting of the Pleiades, Winter. Of these divisions because they were unequal, they were fain to subdivide the two larger portions, that is of the Summer and Winter quarters; the first part of the Summer they named θέÏοÏ, the second unto the rising of the Dog-star, ὤÏα, from thence unto the setting of Arcturus, á½Ïá½½Ïα. The Winter they divided also into three parts; the first part, or that of seed time they named ÏÏá½¹ÏεÏον, the middle or proper Winter, Ïειμὼν, the last, which was their planting or grafting time ÏÏ Ïαλίαν. This way of division was in former ages received, is very often mentioned in Poets, translated from one Nation to another; from the _Greeks_ unto the _Latines_ as is received by good Authors; and delivered by Physitians, even unto our times.