The seventh day, from the star of Saturnus, which being placed in the seventh heaven is said to complete its course in thirty years. And the heathen gave names to the days from the seven stars because they thought that some influence was active upon themselves through the same [stars], saying that they had life (_spiritus_) from Sol, body from Luna, ability and eloquence from Mercurius, pleasure from Venus, blood from Mars, self-control (_temperantia_) from Jupiter, and the humors from Saturn. Such indeed was the folly of the heathen who created such ridiculous imaginations. But among the Hebrews the first day is called _una Sabbati_, which among us is _dies Dominicus_, which the heathen have dedicated to Sol. The second day of the week is _secunda Sabbati_, which the heathen call _dies Lunae_; the third day of the week, _tertia Sabbati_, which they call _dies Martis_; the fourth day of the week, _quarta Sabbati_, which is called _Mercurii dies_ by the pagans; the fifth day of the week, _quinta Sabbati_, that is, fifth day from _dies Dominicus_, which among the heathen is called _dies Jovis_: the sixth day of the week, _sexta Sabbati_, which is called by them _dies Veneris_. The seventh from _dies Dominicus_ is _Sabbatum_, which the gentiles have devoted to Saturnus and have named _dies Saturni_. Sabbatum is translated from the Hebrew into the Latin as _requies_, because God rested on that day from all his works. The ecclesiastical method of speaking the names of the days comes better from the lips of Christians; still, if custom should perchance influence anyone so that what he disapproves of in his heart comes forth from his mouth, let him know that all those from whom these days were named were men, and on account of certain services of a human sort (_mortalia_), since they were very powerful and were prominent in this world, divine honors were bestowed on them by their admirers, both in respect to the days and the stars, but first the stars were named after men and then the days were named after the stars. Chapter 31. On night. 1. _Nox_ is derived from _nocere_ (to injure) because it injures the eyes. And it has the light of the moon and stars in order that it may not be without beauty, and that it may comfort all who work by night, and that the light may be sufficiently tempered for certain creatures that cannot endure the light of the sun. 3. Night is caused either because the sun is worn out with his long journey and is weary when he comes to the last stretch of heaven and blows out his weakened fires; or because he is driven under the lands with the same force with which he carried his light over them, and thus the shadow of the earth makes night. Whence Virgilius says: Ruit Oceano nox Involvens umbra magna terramque polumque. Chapter 33. On months.