Aristotle's works:: Containing the Master-piece, Directions for Midwives, and Counsel and Advice to Child-bearing Women with Various Useful Remedies
Aristotle · en
Physiognomy is an ingenious science, or knowledge of nature, by. which
the inclinations and dispositions of every creature are understood, and
because some of the members are uncompounded and entire of themselves,
as the tongue, the heart, &c. and some are of a mixed nature, as the
eyes, the nose, and others; we therefore say that there are signs which
agree and live together, which inform a wise man how to make his
judgment before he be too rash to deliver it to the world.
Nor is it to be esteemed a foolish or idle art, seeing it is derived
from superior bodies; for there is no part of the face of man but what
is under the peculiar influence or government not only of the seven
planets, but also of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and the
dispositions, vices, virtues, and fatility, either of a man or woman,
are plainly foretold, if the person pretending to the knowledge thereof
be an artist, which, that my reader may hereby attain to, I shall set
these things in a clearer light.
The reader should remember that the forehead is governed by Mars; the
right eye is under the dominion of Sol; the left is ruled by the Moon;
the right ear is under Jupiter; the left Saturn; the rule of the nose is
claimed by Venus; and nimble Mercury, the significator of eloquence,
claims the dominion of the mouth, and that very justly.
[Illustration]
Thus have the seven planets divided the face among them, but not with so
absolute a sway, but that the twelve signs of the Zodiac do also come in
with a part, (See the engraving): And therefore the sign Cancer presides
in the upper part of the forehead, and Leo attends upon the right
eye-brow, as Sagittarius does upon the right eye, and Libra upon the
right ear: upon the left eye-brow you will find Aquarius: and Gemini and
Aries taking care of the left ear: Taurus rules in the middle of the
forehead, and Capricorn the chin: Scorpio takes upon him the protection
of the nose: Virgo claims the precedence of the right cheek, Pisces the
left. And thus the face of man is cantoned out amongst the signs and
planets; which being carefully attended to, will sufficiently inform the
artist how to pass a judgment. For according to the sign or planet
ruling, so also is the judgment to be of the part ruled, which all those
that have understanding know easily how to apply.