On Chiromancy

of the beginner indicates. From which such men are of meager intellect and discretion, and they are always detained by a false imagination with which they believe they can most frequently deceive others. This happens from a great dryness of the brain which descends from heat and a supernatural superfluity; and (as we have said) the mensal line flows from the virtue of the whole body. For all the accidents that occur in the human body are derived therefrom. And since two virtues are principally present in an animal man—that is, the irascible, by which external harms are avoided, and another, the concupiscible, by which we follow delightful things—enemies, from whom harms arise, are understood through the irascible part, whence the lower part is ascribed to enemies. The superior part, however, is ascribed to the intrinsic virtue of the heart itself, from which natural inclinations are taken. This, indeed, flows for the most part from the spleen, according to the chiromantic discipline. But when the table of the hand, which lies between the mensal and the natural middle [line], is narrower in the middle, it will denote a parsimonious and avaricious man; but if it is wider, it will show a moderate measure in expenditures, or even prodigality; also a man too credulous, and for the most part, deceived because of the vice of excessive credulity. When, however, it is mediocre, it will promise the liberality of the man. And when the table of the hand is entire and is open in the hand, [it signifies] the complexion of the body or of the man himself, according as it tends in diverse ways. For just as we have taught, the mensal line has its signification from the whole body; therefore, the line of the head moved toward the [mensal] line shows a defect of natural heat, inasmuch as it could not duly dilate the said lines; likewise, the opposite is also true, when they are too distant, it will in turn signify an excessive heat. When, however...