Human Physiognomy : or the Art of Discerning the Mental and Moral Character of Man

• HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. breast, longer than from the bottom of the breast to the navel of the belly, to be witty and of good capacity; the paps fat and hanging down in men, to be weak and effeminate ; a big piece of flesh bearing out the left side of the breast, in the form of a leek’s head or sinew sprung up, and that there be one or many hairs grown on it, is then an argument of honor and riches. Ptolomy writ- eth, the breast big and well fashioned, to be strong, applied to the man ; the breast large and well compact, to be strong, applied to the lion ; hairy on the breast, to be inconstant and bold, applied to the birds. Of the Shoulders.—The shoulders sharp, to be deceitful; the shoulders broad, to be strong, of a good capacity, but narrow, to be dull; the shoulders evil-fashioned, to be weak ; well compounded, to be liberal; well compounded, and bearing up thin, to be a niggard. Of the Stomach.—The belly small, to be of a good capacity; much hairy from the navel downward, to be full of words, applied to the birds; much fat about the stomach, to be strong, otherwise weak; the belly bearing out big, to be a great feeder. Of the Back.—The back crooked, to be a niggard, ill-conditioned, and equally formed, to be of a good nature ; the back narrow, weak; the back big, to be strong; the back large, to be strong and high-minded. Of the Arms.—The arms hairy, to be inconstant and lecherous, applied to the birds; the arms very long, to be strong, bold, honest and gentle; the arms short, to be a promoter of discord and lecherous. Of the Hands.—The hands small, to be inconstant and wily; the palms of the hands unto the wrist broad, and narrow upward, to be a rioter in his first age : the hands short and very big, to be rude and dull; the hands fat, with the fingers, like to be a thief. Of the Nails of the Fingers.—The nails very short, to be wicked : the nails small and crooked, to be a greedy catcher, applied to the hawk ; the nails very little, to be a crafty beguiler ; the white specks on the nails, to be wealthy, and to have many friends ; the black specks on the nails, to be hated ; the nails long, smooth, thin, white, reddish, and clear withal, to be witty, and of a good capacity ; the nails narrow and long, to be cruel and fierce; the nails rough and round, prone to the venereal act. . Of the Nails of the Toes.—The nails thin and well colored, to be honest-conditioned and witty ; the toes joining close

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