SAPIENTIA. When numbers of any magnitude are set down in order. the first set down is called the "minor term" and the last the "major." When, in making a division, we say by how many the number is to be divided, we give the "divisor," but when we enumerate how many there are in each of the parts we set forth the"quotient."
HADRIAN. And the "unevenly even" numbers?
SAPIENTIA. They, like the "evenly even," can be halved, not only once, but sometimes twice, thrice, and even four times, but not down to indivisible unity.
HADRIAN. Little did I think that a simple question as to the age of these children could give rise to such an intricate and unprofitable dissertation.
SAPIENTIA. It would be unprofitable if it did not lead us to appreciate the wisdom of our Creator, and the wondrous knowledge of the Author of the world, Who in the beginning created the world out of nothing, and set everything in number, measure, and weight, and then, in time and the age of man, formulated a science which reveals fresh wonders the more we study it.
introduced to impress the "learned men" to whom she submitted her work, because it throws an interesting light on the studies pursued in such a monastery as Gandersheim in the 10th century. Equivalent modern English terms have been employed where the original, by change of usage, has become misleading. For example, "divisor" and "quotient" have been substituted for "denomination" and "quantity."
