| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Quadriv’ium. | | |
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The four higher subjects of scholastic philosophy up to the twelfth century. It embraced music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. The quadrivium was the “fourfold way” to knowledge; the tri’vium (q.v.) the “threefold way” to eloquence; both together comprehended the seven arts or sciences. The seven arts or sciences. The seven arts are enumerated in the following hexameter:— | 1 |
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| “Lingua, Tropus, Ratio. Numerus, Tonus, Angulus, Astra.” | |
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And in the two following:— | 2 |
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| “Gram. loquitur, Dia. vera docet, Rhet. verba colorat. |
| Mus. cadit, Ar. numerat, Geo. ponderat, Ast. colit astra.” | |
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