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THE lyppes be of softe fleshe with a good moouinge bycause of the speech. The greate lyppes are meete for fooles and dullardes. The redde coloure of the lyppes, on the syde of the openynge of the mouthe, commeth of the vaynes that be in that place. The naturall coloure of the lyppes is redde in the vtter partes bycause of the fynesse of the skynnes, and sygnyfyeth cleanes
of complexion and wythoute myxti∣tion of troubled bloode in great ver∣tue. The blacknes of the Lyppes sygnifieth the contrarye, for the ver∣tue of the bloode and naturall heate is gonne and those that haue suche Lyppes are syckely. The neather lippe lose and verye redde sygnifyeth greate fleshelynes, and vnshamefast∣nes in a woman. The lippes grosse de∣clare great substance of matter drawen of heate. And the grossenes declareth the humours and the grosse spyrites, of the whyche proceedeth dulnes of vnderstandynge. If they be ryghte and thycke, that is to saye fyrme and fast, and Ioyned togyther Mars is theyr planette. And lykewyse whan the mouthe is greate.
Softe lyppes and somewhat smy∣lynge whyche be in a merrye face be∣token fleeshelyenes. Yet sometime they be also deceyuours, theeues and full of fraude and gyle.
They that haue not red lyppes wyth∣in are sycke, or very neare to sickenes. The lyppes of the mouth very great, and slacke, or to muche tourned out∣ward signifie simplicitie, and readines to wrath and grosse witte: and fleame ruleth in them. Thynne lyppes and lose in the vppermost partes, so that the vpper lyppe be bowynge downe to the ioynyng of the lyppes, signifieth magnanimitie: thynne lyppes and hard appearyng aboute the téeth signi∣fie a beastly vnderstandyng and wytte vnapt to be taught. The lyppes that bée great beneath in the neather part, betoken folysh men, and lyke to Asses. The vpper lyppe very apparent in the Gummes, signifie men that loue con∣tumelies and euyll slaunderynge, and are alwayes in brawlynge and contra∣uersies: the lytle lyppes with a lytle mouth, signifieth weakenesse of the spirite and naughty crafte. The best maner or sorte of lyppes and mouth is when they are not to moyste, for the
moystnes of the mouth and lyppes, sygnifye fearefulnesse and maligni∣tye. The greate blabbe lyppes, beto∣ken greate follye, babblynge and au∣dacitie. The lyppes that bée neyther to thycke nor to thynne, and some∣what tourned outwarde, sygnifye, se∣cretenesse, pollicie, wrathe, and a great wytte. The lyppes that bee well co∣loured, moore thynne then thycke, signifie a fayre condicioned man, and chaungeable to two wayes: But ra∣ther vnto vertue. And of suche men Iupiter is the Plannette. The lyppes that bée not equall, so that one is grea∣ter then the other, declare the man to bee wyse and of a chaungeable for∣tune. The vpper lyppes smale and somewhat loftye, signifie the man to bee a blabbe and a longe tongue, ve∣rye enuious, and an accusour.
Thynne vpper lyppes, hangynge and tourned insyde out, betoken a theefe, and a deceyuour. You maye not iudge of the Ethiopians lyppes vnlesse you
haue bene conuersaunt amonge them and diligentlye noted and obserued theyr qualities. But of our regions and countreys, we maye geue iudge∣mente.