A brief and most pleasau[n]t epitomye of the whole art of phisiognomie, gathered out of Aristotle, Rasis, Formica, Loxius, Phylemo[n], Palemo[n], Consiliator, Morbeth the Cardinal and others many moe, by that learned chyrurgian Cocles: and englished by Thomas Hyll Londoner

Of the sygnyfycacyon of the eares. The. xxviii. Chapter. (Book 28)

[illustration]

TThe eares expresse the temperaunce, and the proporcion of the principall membres and speciallye the brayne, whiche experience cer∣tifieth vs, because the brain somtime sendeth out an intoxicate matter very fulsum behind the eares, where is engendred an impostome, after the diuersities of the humours.

The eares great, and thicke, declare that man to be simple or a fole, slouthfull, a grosse feader, of an euyll memory, and of a dull capacitie, and long lyued.

The eares very small, and thynne: declare that mā to be of a good witte, vnderstandyng, and wysdom, se∣cret, peaceable, warye, fearful, honest, clenly, somwhat sparyng, shamefast, vayn gloriouse, bolde or hardy, of a good memory, and sufficiently content to serue.

The eares somwhat ouer long, that is, aboue the commune fourme, or large by an ouerthwarte maner, declare that man to be bold, vnshamefast, vayn, slouth¦full, folyshe, contente to serue, and maye indure but a whyle to laboure, and a great feader.

And in a maner, al they which haue great or bigge eares (as Cocles hath noted it) haue a short necke, a well facioned heade, and they be sanguyne, and for the more parte tendyng to choler, or to grosse sanguyne somwhat aduste: and these persons be impacyent, and sone or for a lyghte cause angrye, & for that Aristotle nemeth them nidiottes, but that they be of a good cō∣dicion, after their fury past, and also of good memo∣ry and long lyued, because in them is a good propor∣cion betwene hote & moyste: and he that is a meane is temperate in hys doynges. The eares greate and rysyng high or long, declare folyshnes and a babbler.

They whyche haue ouer small eares, be condicioned to the ape, and great eares, after the asse, whose pro∣perties both of the axe, & asse, be well knowen: Ptho∣lomie the Philosopher saieth, that the, eares greate bowyng downward, argue riches, and when the eares be very smal, it signifieth paucitie of matter, and the weake vertue of the brayne, and it argueth also a cho∣leryke matter, of the whyche be caused subtyl spirites, and therfore suche be wittye in vngracyouse workes, and be theues, nidiottes, (and so couetouse) that they desire all thynges, and thorowe their concupiscence, they be luxuriouse, and peraduenture vnderstanded of the immoderate desires, & not by the power or ver∣tue of the matter. The eares bearyng or hangyng ve∣ry great oute, (as Palemon sayeth) declare foolyshues and garrulitie, and to be also couetouse. The eares

also as they were cutted, and verye shorte: declare (as Loxius sayeth) a dyuerle dysceate. The eares fashyo∣ned, that the connexed lynes semicircularlye, bee i•• the mydle sumwhat flatte towarde the centre, and of meane bygnes, whiche maye agree decently to the head, do witnes a goodnes of nature in that person. And the eares ouer rounde: declare that person to be vnapt to learne or to be taught. The eares long and narrow: declare enuiousnes. The eares hanging flat to the head: declare dulnes, & slouthfulnes, as Alber∣tus affirmeth: note also, that smal eares declare short lyfe. and to be perfit of hearyng, thorow the vertue of heate. The eares very great and farre bearyng oute as Consiliator sayth, declare foolyshnes, garrulitie, and imprudencie. And Ptholomie the Philosopher sayeth, that he whiche hath thynne and drie eares, shall neuer haue substaunce or be riche, and it decia∣deth a very cholericke complexion, of whiche proce∣deth an exhauste intencion in congruente operacy∣ons, and argueth also most instabilitie.