Miscellanies 6.16.144

“With the seven-toned lyre we shall sing new hymns,” writes a poet of no obscurity, teaching that the ancient lyre had seven notes. Seven too are the organs of the senses set on our face: two of the eyes, two of the ear passages, two of the nostrils, and seventh that of the mouth. And that the changes of life's ages happen by sevens the elegies of Solon show, somewhat as follows: “A child, still an infant and not yet grown, sheds the fence of teeth he first grew within seven years. When God completes another seven years, he shows the signs of coming youth. In the third, while his limbs are still growing, his chin grows downy, the bloom of his skin changing. In the fourth seven every man is at his best in strength, which men hold as the signs of excellence. In the fifth it is time for a man to be mindful of marriage and to seek a line of children after him. In the sixth a man's mind is trained in all things, and he no longer wishes to do foolish deeds as before. In seven sevens he is at his best in mind and tongue, and in eight, fourteen years in both together. In the ninth he still has power, but his body and strength are weaker for great excellence. When God completes the tenth seven years, he would not be untimely if he met his portion of death.”