Note 263 — VARIOUS QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE FOREGOING SUBJECTS, ELUCIDATED BY PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCHES.

In Johnson and Stevens’s edition by Isaac Reid, we have a long note upon this passage, in which a quotation is introduced from “The Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times,” in order to give an account of the Septenary divisions of Proclus. According to this Greek philosopher, the life of man is divided into seven ages, over each of which one of the seven planets was supposed to preside. “The First Age is called Infancy, containing the space of foure yeares. The Second Age continueth ten yeares, untile he attaine to the yeares of fourteene: this age is called Childhood.—The Third Age consisteth of eight yeares, being named by our auncients Adolescie, or Youth-hood; and it lasteth from fourteene, till two-and-twenty yeares be fully compleate. The Fourth Age paceth on, till a man have accomplished two and fortie yeares, and is tearmed Young Manhood.—The Fifth Age, named Mature Manhood, hath fifteene yeares of continuance, and therefore makes his progress so far as six and fifty yeares. Afterwards in adding twelve to fifty-six, you shall make up sixty-eight yeares, which reach to the end of the Sixth Age, and is called Old Age.—The Seaventh, and last of these seaven ages, is limited from Sixty-eight yeares, so far as four score and eight, being called weak, declining, and decrepite age. If any man chance to goe beyond this age (which is more admired than noted in many) you shall evidently perceive that he will returne to his first condition of Infancy againe.”