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xlii

Since the earth is so
small, as has been explained to
you above, we should assess
its properties as being small
in comparison with those of the sky. It is like
comparing dung to fine gold
or precious stones: in the end, the
all of them are worthless.
But because we are in this world, it seems to us
that the earth is very big. I will tell you about
both its roundness and its thickness, as I can,
though briefly. Although you have heard
that the earth is completely round, like an apple,
nevertheless it is not inhabited by people in all four
quarters, as is well known. Only one quarter of
it is inhabited, as the philosophers found out through
their research, putting great work and study into the matter.
And for that reason we will divide it in its entirety into
four parts, using an apple as an example,
which from the middle is divided into four quarters

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Marie Richards

original ms. Folio 42r
Walters ms. Folio 47r
BL Royal MS 19 A IX fol. 47v
Caxton, ed. Prior, p. 61
Gossuin, ed. Prior, 102-103