Showing The Various Judgments Drawn From The Hand

Here is Aristotle’s chapter on Palmistry written around 350 B.C.

This is the oldest treatise on palmistry. There has been progress since then.

I will first present the scheme or Figure of a Hand, and explain its various Lines.

By this Figure we see that one of the Lines, and which is the Principal, is called the Line of Life ; this Line encloses the Thumb, separating it from the Hallow of the Hand.

The next to it, which is called the Natural Line, takes its beginning from the Turning of the Fore-finger, near the Line of Life, and reaches the Table-Line, and generally makes a Triangle thus; A The Table-Line, commonly called the Line of Fortune, begins under the little Finger and Ends near the middle Finger.

The Girdle of Venus, which is another Line so called, begins near the Joint of the little Finger, and Ends between the Fore-Finger and the middle Finger.

The Line of Death is that which plainly appears in a Counter Line to that of Life ; and is by some called the Sister-Line ending usually as the other Ends= for when the Line of Life is ended, Death comes, and it can go no further.

There are also Lines in the fleshy Parts, as in the Ball of the Thumb, which is called the Mount of Venus; under each of the Fingers are also Mounts, which are each one govern’d by a several Planet ; and the Hallow of the Hand is called the Plane of Mars; Thus, The Thumb we to Dame Venus Rules commit; Jove the fore Finger rules as he thinks fit; Old Saturn does the middle Finger guide, And o’er the Ring Finger Sol does still preside ;

The outside Brawn pale Cynthia does direct, And into the Hallow Mars does most inspect= The little Finger does to Mercery fall, Which is the nimblest Planet of ’ern all. I now proceed to give Judgment from these several Lines = And in the first place take notice that in Palmestry the left Hand is chiefly to be regarded ; because therein the Lines are most visible, and have the strictest Communication with the Heart and Brains.

Now having premised this, in the next place observe the Line of Life, and if it be fair, extended to its full length, and not broken with an intermixture of Cross Lines, it shews long Life and Health; and it is the same if a double Line of Life appears, as there sometimes does. When the Stars appear in this Line it is a Signifi-cator of great Losses and Calamities = If on it there be the Figure of two O’s or a Y, it threatens the Person with Blindness= If it wraps itself about the Table-line, then does it promise Wealth and Honor to be attained by Prudence and Industry. If the Line be cut or jagged at the upper-End, it denotes much Sickness. If this Line be cut by any Lines coming from the Mount of Venus, it declares the Person to be unfortunate in Love and Business also, and threatens him with sudden Death= a Cross between the Line of Life and the Table Line, shews the Person to be very liberal and charitable and of a noble Spirit. Let us now see the Significations of the Table-line.

The Table-line, when broad, and of a lovely Colour shews a healthful Constitution, and a quiet and contented Mind, and of a couragious Spirit; but if it have Crosses towards the little Finger, it threatens the Party with much Affliction by Sickness. If the Line be double, or divided into three Parts in any of the Extremities, it shews the Person to be of a generous Temper, and of a good Fortune to support it= but if this Line be forked at the End, it threatens the Person shall suffer by Jealousies, and Doubts, and with the Loss of Riches got by Deceit. If three Points such as these . . . are found in it, they denote the Person prudent and liberal, a lover of Learnin, and of a good Temper. If it spreads itself towards the fore and middle Finger, and Ends blunt, it denotes Preferment. Let us now see what is signify’d by The Middle-line.

This Line has in it oftentimes (for there is scarce one Hand in which it varies not) divers very significant Characters; many small Lines, between this and the Table-line, threaten the Party with Sickness, but also give him hopes of Recovery. A half cross branching into this Line, declares the Person shall have Honour, Riches, and good Success in all his Undertakings. A half Moon denotes cold and watery Distempers; but a Sun or Star upon this Line, promises Prosperity and Riches; This Line double in a Woman, shews she will have several husbands, but without any Children by them.

The Line of Venus, if it happens to be cut or divided near the Fore-finger, threatens Ruin to the party, and that it shall befal him by means of lacivious Women, and bad Company= Two crosses upon this Line, one being on the Fore-finger, and the other bending towards the little Finger, shews the Party to be weak, and inclin’d to Modesty and Virtue; indeed it generally denotes Modesty in Women, and therefore those who desire such Wives, usually choose them by this Standard. The Liver-line, if it be strait, and cross’d by other Lines, shews the Person to be of a sound Judgment, and a piercing Understanding= But if it be winding, crooked, and bending outward, it shews Deceit and Flattery, and that the Person is not to be trusted. If it makes a Triangle ∆, or Quadrangle □, it shews the Person to be of noble Descent, and ambitious of Honour and Promotion. If it happens that this Line and the middle Line begin near each other, it denotes the Person to be weak in his Judgment, if a man; but if a Woman danger by hard Labour. The Plane of Mars being in the hallow of the Hand, most of the Lines pass through it, which render it very significant.

This Plane being hallow, and the Lines being crooked and distorted, threaten the Party to fall by his Enemies. When the Lines beginning at the Wrist, are long within the Plane, reaching the Brawn of the Hand, they shew the Person to be one giving to Quarrelling, often in Broils, and of a hot and fiery Spirit, by which he shall suffer much Damage. If deep large Crosses be in the middle of the Plane, it shews the Party shall obtain Honour by Martial Exploits ; but if it be a Woman, that she shall have several Husbands, and easy Labour with her Children. The Line of Death is fatal, when any Crosses or broken Lines appear in it; for they threaten the Person with Sickness and a short Life. A clouded Moon appearing therein, threatens a Child-bed Woman with Death. A bloody Spot in the Line, denotes a violent Death.

A Star like a Comet threatens Ruin by War, and Death by Pestilence. But if a bright Sun appears therein, it promises long Life and Prosperity. As for the Lines of the Wrist, being fair, they denote good Fortune; but if crost and broken, the contrary. Thus much with respect to the several Lines in the Hand.

Now as to the Judgment to be made from the Hand itself ; if the Hand be soft and long, and lean withal, it denotes the Person of a good Understanding, a Lover of Peace and Honesty, discreet, serviceable, a good Neighbour, a Lover of Learning. He whose Hands are very thick, and very short, is thereby signified to be faithful, strong and la-bourious, and one that cannot long retain his Anger.

He whose Hands are full of Hairs, and those Hairs thick, and great ones, if his Fingers withal be crooked, is thereby denoted to be luxourious, vain, false, of a dull Understanding and Disposition, and more foolish than wise. He whose Hands and Fingers do bend upwards, is commonly a Man liberal, serviceable, a Keeper of Secrets, and apt to his Power (for he is seldom fortunate) to do any Man a Court-esie. He whose Hands are stiff, and will not bend at the upper Joynts near to his Finger is always a wretched, miserable Person, covetous, obstinate, incredulous, and one that will believe nothing that contradicts his own private Interest. And thus much shall suffice to be said of Judgments in Physiognomy concerning the Hands. Thus he that Nature rightly understands, May from each Line imprinted in his Hands, His future Fate and Fortune come to know, And what Path it is his Feet shall go= His secret Inclinations be may see, And to what Vice he shall addicted be = To th’ End that when he looks into his Hand, He may upon his Guard the better stand ; And turn his wandering Steps another way, Whene’er he finds he does from Virtue stray.