Part 8

If the hair falls off behind, he will be obstinate, peevish, passionate and fond of commanding others, though he has no right, and will grow angry if his advice is not followed. However preposterous, he will be fond of hearing and telling old stories and tales of ghosts and fairies, but will be a good domestic man and provide for his family to the utmost of his power.

If the hair forms an arch around the forehead, without being much indented at the temples, both the lady and the gentleman will be innocent, credulous, moderate in all their desires, and though not ardent in their pursuits, will still be persevering. They will be modest, good-natured, prosperous and happy.

If the hair is indented at the temples, the person will be affable, steady, good-natured, prudent and attentive to business, of a good constitution and long-lived.

If the hair descends low upon the forehead, the person will be selfish and designing; of a surly disposition, unsociable and given to drinking. He will be addicted to avarice and his mind will be always intent upon the means of carrying on his schemes.

The forehead that is large, round and smooth, announces the lady or gentleman to be frank, open, generous and free, good-natured and a safe companion; of a good understanding and scorns to be guilty of any mean action; faithful to his promises, just in his dealings, steadfast in his engagements and sincere in his affections; he will enjoy a moderate state of health.

If the forehead is flat in the middle, the gentleman or lady will be found to be vainglorious and but little disposed to generosity; very tenacious of his honor, but brave; he will be fond of prying into the secrets of others, though not with the intention of betraying them; he will be fond of reading newspapers, history, novels, and plays; ardent, and very cautious of his own reputation.

If there be a hollow across the forehead, in the middle, with a ridge as of flesh, above, and another below, the gentleman will be a good scholar, and the lady a great manufacturer, or attentive to whatever occupation she may be engaged in. They will be warm in argument or debate; they will be firm and steady in any point they fix their minds upon and by their perseverance will generally carry their object; yet they will meet with many crosses, but will bear them with patience.

If the forehead juts out immediately at and over the eyebrows, running flat up to the hair, the gentleman or lady will be sullen, proud, insolent, imperious and treacherous; they will be impatient when contradicted, apt to give great abuse, and to strike if they think they can do it with advantage. They will also impose upon any person, never forgive any injury and by their misconduct make themselves many enemies.

If the temples are hollow, with the bones advancing towards the forehead on either side, so that the space between must be necessarily flat, with a small channel or indentation rising from the upper part of the nose to the hair, the gentleman or lady will be of a daring and intrepid temper, introducing themselves into matters where they have no business, desirous of passing for wits, and of a subtle and enterprising nature; greedy of praise, quick in quarrel, and of a wandering disposition; very lewd, and full of resentment when they feel their pride hurt. In short, they delight in mischief, riots, &c.

If the eyebrows are very hairy, and that hair long and curled, with several of the hairs starting out, the gentleman or lady is of a gloomy disposition, litigious and quarrelsome, although a coward; greedy after the affairs of this world, perpetually brooding over some melancholy subject and not an agreeable companion. He will be diffident, penurious, and weak in his understanding; never addicted to any kind of learning. He will pretend much friendship, but will make his affected passion subservient to his pecuniary designs, and given to drinking, &c.

If a gentleman or lady has long eyebrows, with some long hairs, they will be of a fickle disposition, weak-minded, credulous and vain, always seeking after novelties and neglecting their own business; they will be talkative, pert, and disagreeable in company; very fond of contradiction, and will not bear disappointment patiently; and also much addicted to drinking, &c.

If the eyebrows are thick and even, that is, without any or few starting hairs, the lady or gentleman will be of an agreeable temper, sound understanding and tolerable wit; moderately addicted to pleasure, fearful of giving offence, but intrepid and persevering in support of right; charitable and generous, sincere in their professions of love and friendship and enjoy a good constitution.

If the eyebrow is small, thin of hair, and even, the lady or gentleman will be weak-minded, timorous, superficial and not to be depended on; they will be desirous of knowledge, but will not have patience and assiduity to give it the necessary attention; they will be desirous of praise for worthy actions, but will not have the spirit or perseverance to perform them in that degree of excellence that is requisite to attract the notice of wise men. They will be of a delicate constitution.

If the eyebrow is thick of hair towards the nose and goes off suddenly very thin, ending in a point, the lady or gentleman will be surly, capricious, jealous, fretful and easily provoked to rage; in their love they will be intemperate.

The eye that is large, full, prominent and clear, denotes a lady or gentleman to be of an ingenious and candid disposition, void of deceit and of an even, agreeable and affable disposition; modest and bashful in love, though by no means an enemy to its gratification; firm, though not obstinate; of a good understanding, of an agreeable but not brilliant wit; but clear and just in argument; inclined to extravagance and easily imposed upon.

The eye that is small, but advanced in the head, shows the lady or gentleman to be of a quick wit, sound constitution, lively genius, agreeable company and conversation, good morals, but rather inclined to jealousy; attentive to business, fond of frequently changing his place, punctual in fulfilling his engagements, warm in love, prosperous in his undertakings and generally fortunate in most things.

The lady or gentleman whose eyes are sunk in the head is of a jealous, distrustful, malicious and envious nature; deceitful in their words and actions, never to be depended upon; cunning in overreaching others, vainglorious and associates with lewd and bad company.

The gentleman or lady who squints, or have their eyes turned awry, will be of a penurious disposition, but punctual in their dealings.

A black eye is lively, brisk and penetrating, and proves the person who possesses it to be of a sprightly wit, lively conversation, not easily imposed upon, of a sound understanding, but if taken on the weak side, may be led astray for a while.

A hazel eye shows the person to be of a subtle, piercing and frolicsome turn, rather inclined to be arch, and sometimes mischievous, but good-natured at the bottom. He will be strongly inclined to love and not over delicate in the means of gratifying that propensity.

A blue eye shows the person to be of a meek and gentle temper, affable and good-natured, credulous and incapable of violent attachment; over-modest, cool and undisturbed by turbulent passions, of a strong memory, in constitution neither robust nor delicate, subject to no violent impression from the vicissitudes of life, whether good or bad.

A gray eye denotes the person to be of weak intellect, devoid of wit, but a plain, plodding, downright drudge, that will act as he is spirited by others. He will be slow in learning anything that requires attention; he, however, will be just to the best of his understanding.

A wall eye denotes the person to be of a hasty, passionate and ungovernable temper, subject to sudden and violent anger; haughty to his equals and superiors, but mild and affable to his inferiors.

A red, or as it is vulgarly called, a saucer eye, denotes the person to be selfish, deceitful and proud; furious in anger, fertile in the invention of plots and indefatigable in his resolution to bring them to bear.

A nose that comes even on the ridge, flat on the sides, with little or no hollow between the eyes, declares the man to be sulky, insolent, disdainful, treacherous and self-sufficient; if it has a point descending over the nostrils, he is avaricious and unfeeling, vainglorious and ignorant; peevish, jealous, quick in resentment, yet a coward at the bottom.

A nose that rises with a sudden bulge a little below the eyes, and then falls again into a kind of hollow below, is petulant and noisy, void of science and of a very light understanding.

The nose that is small, slender and peaked, shows the person to be of a fearful disposition, jealous, fretful and insidious, ever suspicious of those about him, catching at every word that he can interpret to his own advantage to ground his dispute upon and also very curious to know what is said and done.

The nose that is small, tapering round in the nostrils and cocked up, shows the person to be ingenious, smart, of a quick apprehension, giddy and seldom looking into consequences; but generous, agreeable, so as to carefully avoid giving offence; but resolute in doing himself justice when he receives an injury.

The lips that are thick, soft and long, announce the person to be of weak intellect, credulous and slightly peevish, but by a little soothing easily brought back to a good humor. He is much addicted to the pleasures of love, and scarcely moderate in his enjoyment of them; yet he is upright in his conduct and of a timorous temper.

If the under lip is much thicker than the upper, and more prominent, the person is of a weak understanding, but artful, knavish and given to chicanery to the full extent of his ability.

The lips that are moderately plump and even, declare the person to be good-humored, humane, sensible, judicious and just, neither giddy nor torpid, but pursuing in every particular a just medium.

The lips that are thin, show the person to be of a quick and lively imagination, ardent in the pursuit of knowledge, indefatigable in labor, not too much attached to money, eager in the pursuit of love, more brave than otherwise and tolerably happy in life.

The lips that are thin and sunk inwards, denote the person to be of a subtle and persevering disposition, everlasting in hatred and never sparing any pains to compass his revenge; in love or friendship much more moderate and uncertain.

The chin that is round, with a hollow between it and the lip, shows the person to be of a good-humored disposition, kind and honest; he is sincere in his friendship and ardent in his love; his understanding is good and his genius capacious. If he has a dimple it makes him better.

The chin that comes down flat from the edge of the lips and ends in a kind of a chisel form, shows the person to be silly, credulous, ill-tempered and greedy of unmerited honors; captious, wavering and unsteady; he will affect great modesty in the presence of others, though he will not scruple to do the vilest actions when he thinks himself secure from discovery.

The chin that is pointed upwards shows the person to be much given to contrivances. However fair he may speak to you, you can never depend on his friendship, as his purpose is only to make you subservient to his own designs. In love his generosity will be of the same stamp.

Of the face in general, the person whose features are strong, coarse and unpleasant to the eye, is of a selfish, brutal, rough and unsocial disposition; greedy of money, harsh in expressions, but will sometimes fawn with a bad grace to gain his ends.

The face that is plump, round and ruddy, denotes the person to be of an agreeable temper, a safe companion, hearty, jovial, fond of company, of sound principles and a clear understanding, faithful in love, &c.

The face that is thin, smooth and even, with well-proportioned features, shows the person to be of a good disposition, but penetrative and active; somewhat inclined to suspicion, yet of an agreeable conversation; assiduous in the pursuits of love and strongly addicted to the delights of love.

A face whose cheek bones jut out with thin jaws, is of a restless and thinking disposition; fretful, &c.

A face that is pale by nature, denotes a timorous disposition, but greatly desirous of carnal pleasures.

A face that is unequally red, whether streaked or appearing in spots, shows the person to be weak both in body and mind, yielding easily to affliction and sickness.

A face blotched shows the person to be addicted to drinking and vice, though frequently possessing the art to conceal the inclination therefor.

The head that is large and round shows that the person has a tolerable understanding, but not near so good as he imagines.

The head that is small and round, or if the face comes tapering, shows the person of an acute, penetrating disposition, much given to bantering humor, but of great sensibility.

The head that is flat on either side, and deep from the face to the back, shows the person to be of a good understanding, deep penetration, great memory and of an agreeable temper; of slow belief and not easily imposed upon.

Big and broad ears signify a simple man, of no understanding; sluggish, slothful and of an ill memory. Small ears denote a good understanding; but very small ears signify nothing but mischief and malice. Those that have them well proportioned, and neither too small nor too large, are persons of good understanding, wise, discreet, honest, shamefaced and courageous. Those that have them somewhat long and thin, are bold, impudent, unlearned, gluttons and very proud and scornful.

A thin, soft beard denotes a person lustful and effeminate, of a tender body, fearful, delicate and inconstant.

A red beard denotes first, a placid forehead, and the person is courteous and friendly, but not without some craft; is a very great flatterer, very soon angry and affects consequence.

A dark beard is good, but the possessor is usually of a melancholy disposition; yet it denotes a person to be ingenious, sincere, thoughtful, constant, cordial, bold and fit to make a warrior.

A pale beard denotes a phlegmatic person, who is temperate enough and tolerably prudent.

He that hath a decent beard, handsome and thick of hair, is good-natured and reasonable in all things.

Those who have little or no beard, but a small mustache, are of an ill humor, but very luxurious.

CHIROMANCY, OR PALMISTRY.

[Illustration]

The practical part of chiromancy is that which gathers probable predictions from lines, the places of the planets in the hand, and from the notes and characters everywhere posted and marked out in the hands and fingers. These lines and their planetary relevancy are thus defined:

1. _Cardiaca_, or the line of life. 2. _Hepatica_, or the love’s line; also called the natural mean. 3. _Cephalica_, or the line of the head and brain. 4. _Thoralis_, or the table line. 5. _Restricta_, or the dragon’s tail. 6. _Via Solis_, or the sun’s way. 7. _Via Lactea_, or the milky way. 8. _Via Saturnia_, or Saturn’s way. 9. _Cingulum Veneris_, or the girdle of Venus. 10. _Via Martis_, or the way of Mars. 11. _Mons Veneris_, or the mound of Venus. 12. _Cavea Martis_, or the cave of Mars. 13. _Mons Jovis_, or Jupiter’s mount. 14. _Mons Saturn_, or Saturn’s mount. 15. _Mons Solis_, or the sun’s mount. 16. _Locus Luna_, or the moon’s place. 17. _Mons Mercurii_, or the mount of Mercury. 18. _Mensa_, or the table containing the part of fortune. 19. _Pollex_, or the thumb. 20. _Index_, or the forefinger. 21. _Medius_, or the middle finger. 22. _Annularis_, or the ring finger. 23. _Auricularis_, or the little finger.

The question often arises as to whether judgment should be given by the right hand or the left. It is certain that in one hand the lines and other signatures are very often more manifest, and are thus more plain to be seen than the other, as well in the hands of gentlemen as ladies. That hand is the proper one (in both sexes) which shows and exhibits the lines thereof most clearly, and abounds with a series of characters and signs, yet so as that the other, whose lines are more obscure, may pay its contribution. If in both hands they consent, and appear to be fair and comely, they declare a constancy of fortune and health. The cause of diversity is that he who is born in the daytime, and has a masculine planet (the Sun, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars) lord of his geniture, bears the more remarkable signs in his right hand, especially when the sign ascending is also masculine. The contrary happens to those born at night, as often as a feminine planet predominates. If both hands agree, it must be that in a diurnal nativity the feminine planets rule, or that there falls out a mixture of masculine and feminine; so in the nights by the contrary reason.

I.--OF THE LINE OF LIFE. THIS IS CALLED CARDIACA, OR THE HEART LINE.

This being broad, of a lively color, and decently drawn in its bounds, without intersections and points, shows the party long lived and subject to few diseases.

If slender, short and dissected with obverse little lines, and deformed either by a pale or black color, it presages weakness of the body, sickness and a short life.

If orderly joined to the natural mean, and beautified in the angle with parallels, or a little across, it argues good wit, or an evenness of nature.

If the same have branches in the upper parts thereof, extending themselves towards the natural mean, it signifies riches and honor.

If these branches be extended towards the restricta, it threatens poverty, deceits, and unfaithfulness of servants.

If in this line there be found some confused lines, like hairs, be assured of diseases, and they happen in the first age. When they appear below, if towards the cavea, in the middle; if towards the patica, in the declining age.

If this line be anywhere broken, it threatens extreme danger of life in that part of the age which the pace of the breach shows. For you may find out the dangerous or diseased years of your age; this line being divided into seventy parts, you must begin your number and account from the lower part thereof, near the restricta, for the number falling where the branch is determines the year.

If the character of the sun (as commonly it is made by astrologers) be ever found in this line, it presages the loss of an eye; but, if two such characters, the loss of both eyes.

A line descending from the vital, beneath the congress of it and the hepatica, to the tuberculum of Saturn, shows an envious man, who rejoices at another’s calamity, the sight of others concurring. This also frequently shows a most perilous Saturnine disease in that wherein it touches the vital, and it is much worse if it cut the same.

But such a line passing from the vital to the annular, to the ring finger, promises honors to ensue, from or by the means of some famous lady.

The vital lines being thicker than ordinary at the end under the fore finger, denotes a laborious old age.

A line passing through the vitals to the cavea of Mars, foretells of wounds and fevers, and also of misfortunes in journeys.

II.--OF THE HEPATICA, OR NATURAL MEAN.

This line being straight, continued, and not dissected by obverse little lines, denotes a healthful body.

If it be short or broken, and reach not beyond the concave of the hand, it shows diseases and shortness of life.

By how much more the same is produced, by so much longer the life may be warranted.

If cut at the end thereof by a small intervening line, it threatens poverty in old age.

If in the upper part it be distant from the vital by a great space, it shows distemperatures of the heart, as palpitations, syncope, &c.

This also shows prodigality, especially if the table be broad.

If tortuous (that is, if it wind and turn several ways), unequal, of a different color and dissected, it argues an evil constitution of the liver, and thence diseases, proceeding from the weakness thereof. Covetousness also, and a depravity both of nature and wit, especially if it be under the region of the middle finger, and near the cardiaca, thereby making a short or narrow triangle.

If decently drawn and well colored, it is a sign of a cheerful and ingenious disposition.

If it has a sister, it promises inheritances.

If continued with some little hard knots, it denotes manslaughters, either perpetrated, or to be committed, according to the number of these said knots.

If therein a cross be found under the region of the middle finger, it announces death to be at hand.

If it terminates with a fork towards the ferient, it is a sign of depraved wit, of hypocrisy, and of evil manners.

When it tends to the mensa, it is a token of a slanderous tongue and of envy.

When it projects a remarkable cleft through the vital to the mons veneris, and the sister of Mars, especially if the same be of a ruddy color, it warns you to beware of thieves, and also intimates fraud and deceit of enemies.

This cleft likewise insinuates a most vehement heat of the liver, proceeding from the rays of Mars; so that the life becomes in danger, seeing that the line of life is dissected.

This line having some branch, yet such a one as nevertheless seems to be continued, shows that the manner of life will be, or is already changed; and this in a declining age if the breach be under the ring finger; but, if under the middle finger, in strength of years.

III.--OF THE CEPHALICA.

This is called the line of the head and brain, which, if (arising from its place in a due proportion) it connects the lines of the liver and heart in a triangular form, have a lively color, and no intersection falling out between, declares a man of admirable prudence, and one of no vulgar wit and fortune.

By how much more decent the triangle is, so much the better shall the temperature, wit and courage be; but if it be obtuse, it argues an evil disposed nature, and a man that is rude; if no triangle, far worse.

The superior being a right angle, or not very acute, foretells the best temperature of the heart; but when it is too acute, especially if it touch the line of life, upon the region of the middle finger, it argues covetousness.

The left angle, if it be made upon the natural mean in the ferient, and be a right angle, confirms the goodness of intellect.

But when the cephalica projects unequal clefts to the mons lunæ, thereby making unusual characters, in the gentleman it denotes weakness of the brain, and dangerous sea voyages. But in the lady’s hand it shows frequent sorrows of mind, and difficulties in child bearing.

Equal lines (thus projected) presage the contrary in both sexes, viz., in gentlemen, a good composure of the brain, and fortunate voyages by sea; in ladies, cheerfulness and felicity in child bearing.