[199] The fact that Averroës himself is painted on the opposite wall holding in his hand the _Great Commentary_ seems highly to increase the probability that the figure here described was meant for Michael Scot, the recognised interpreter of that forbidden philosophy. Averroës occupies a similar position in Orgagna’s fresco in the Campo Santo of Pisa. [200] Scot reckoned twelve signs in augury answering to the twelve celestial houses. Six came from the right hand: Fernova, fervetus, confert, amponenth, scimasarnova, scimasarvetus; and six from the left: Confernova, confervetus, viaram, harenan, scassarnova, scassarvetus. See the _Physionomia_, chap. lvi. [201] Unless indeed these, or some of them, should prove to be merely detached fragments of the _Liber Introductorius_ itself, like those at Milan, Padua, and Rome. See _ante_, p. 27. [202] No. 1091. It is perhaps the same as the _Astrologorum Dogmata_, which appears in the lists of Bale and Pitz. [203] No. 3124. Incipit: ‘Primum signum duodecim signorum.’ Explicit: ‘principio motus earum.’ [204] As a characteristic specimen, we may take the chapter of the _Liber Introductorius_ on the moon as it is given in the Roman MS. (Fondo Vaticano 4087, p. 38ro.). It commences thus: ‘Luna terris vicinior est omnibus planetis.’ Some passages are curious, as when Scot says that the moon has her light from the sun and he again receives his ‘a summo coelo in quo Trinitas residet.’ The heathen, he adds, used to call the moon Diana, and the sister of the sun, whom they named Apollo. Her proper figure is that of a virgin with a torch in either hand whereof the flames are triple to signify the Trinity, that ‘true light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world’ (S. John i. 9). ‘Virgil saith of her “tria Virginis ora Dianae,” that is heavenly, earthly, and infernal. Her power causes hunters to profit more by night than by day, and the owl and night-hawk sleep all day that they may follow their prey by night. Such creatures of the night are hated by the rest and hate them in return. The wolf hates the sheep, and birds the owl. This last is of use in fowling when they use a night-hawk. Builders, too, know that wood must be felled in the wane of the moon or it will warp.’ It ends thus: ‘Explicit Liber quem edidit micael scotus de signis et ymaginibus celi, qui scriptum (sic) et exemplatum fuit per me baltasaram condam (quondam) Domini Dominici in mcccxx de mense Aprilis Deo gratias Amen.’ [205] _Opera Omnia_, Bale, 1527. _In Astrologiam_, lib. viii. chap. vi. and lib. xii. chap. vii. [206] In No. 1 of the _Cento Novelle Antiche_ Frederick answers the ambassadors of Prester John by saying that the best thing in the world ‘si è misura.’ This may possibly refer to his passion for mathematics. [207] MSS. of this work are in Paris, Ancien Fonds, 7310; Milan, Ambrosiana, T. 100; Florence, Bibl. Naz. xi. D. 64, II. ii. 35, and Rome, Fondo Vaticano, 2975.