Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.
Bartholomaeus, Anglicus, 13th cent., Trevisa, John, d. 1402., Batman, Stephen, d. 1584.

¶Of the Lips. Cap. 17.

ISidore saith, that Labia the Lyps,* haue that name of Lambendo, to lyeke. The ouer lyp is called Labium in Latine, and the neather is named La∣brum. Constantine sayth, that the lyps be néedefull, for they defende to hele and couer the téeth. And they be also sinewy, and be mate of diuers strings, that so they maye be more able to seele and to moue. For to the forming of the voyce they open and close themselues: For if they be cut off, eyther let by stopping, by shrinking, or else by riuelyng, wordes maye not bee perfectlye pro∣nounced.

Also the lyppes are softe and fleshie: and that is néedfull to temper the hard∣nesse of the téeth. For the teeth and the sinewes of them which be cold of kinde, should bée too much grieued with ayre that is colde, if they were not defended by the couering of the lyppes. Also the vtter parts of the lippes be ruddye, and that happeneth, as Constantine sayeth, through subtiltie of the skinne of the lyppes, which casilye receiue some deale a ruddye qualytie of a sanguine beate, and therefore the ruddinesse of the lyps, is a token of cleane & pure complection, without medling of troubled bloud, and of the inner vertue: as contrary wise, wannesse of lyppes is token of defaulte of vertue and kindly heate. Also the lyppes be thinne in substaunce, to be the more plyaunt to mouing, and the more able to put in, and for to cut the ayre, that when it is drawen so darnly, it griue not with chilnesse, the inner parts. And therefore the lippes put themselues agaynst the colde ayre, and pureth and cleanseth it, that it maye the more sweéetelye and profitablye bée drawen inwarde. All this sayeth Constan∣tine.

Aristotle liber 12. about the ende, sheweth lyke properties, where he saith, That mans lyppes be softe and fleshie, and may be seuered and departed for pre∣seruation & keping of the téeth, & for to be equall to pronounce a word. And there∣fore the lyppes haue trouble vse & ser∣uice, as the tongue, that is made to taast moysture and to speake, as Aristo∣tle expressely sayth, and therefore it née∣deth that the lyppes be moyst. For if the creation of the lyppes were not of such disposition, the tongue might not reach to the lippes to speake, and to pro∣nounce many manner of letters. For some letters be pronounced by smiting of the tongue, and some by closing of the lips. And therfore making of the lyps is needefull, that the working of kinde should be best. And therefore mans rsh is verye softe, for man is of good fée∣lyng and taaste, more than other beastes. All this telleth Aristotle Li∣bro. 12.

Then consider thou, that the lyps be Page  44 comely lyniments and couerings of the téeth, to kéepe and saue, and temper the hardnesse of the téeth, by their softness, & to shape the voyce or speach of al lettrs; to put off colde and hot aire, and to ma∣nifest the default and strength of vertue; by rednesse and palenesse of them, and be the proper limmes of vertue interpre∣tiue, to expresse the passions of the soule, that is to wit, hatred and friendship, so∣row and woc. And therefore it is sayd, that quaking of lyps in frensie and other sharpe sicknesses-betokeneth death, as it is said in Pronosticis and this sufficeth at this time touching the lyppes.