Chirologia, or, The naturall language of the hand composed of the speaking motions, and discoursing gestures thereof : whereunto is added Chironomia, or, The art of manuall rhetoricke, consisting of the naturall expressions, digested by art in the hand, as the chiefest instrument of eloquence, by historicall manifesto's exemplified out of the authentique registers of common life and civill conversation : with types, or chyrograms, a long-wish'd for illustration of this argument / by J.B. ...

To his ingenious Friend the Authour; on his CHIROLOGIA.

THe Hands discoursing Gestures, ever rife, Though not so much observ'd in common life, (Notes wherein Historie delights to place The circumstantiall beauties of her grace) Thy Hand hath, like a cunning Motist, found In all the Senses, wherein they abound: Which in one Bundle with thy Language ty'de, Ore-tops the poring Book-wormes highest pride. At the first sight we learne to read; and then By Natures rules to perce and construe Men: So commenting upon their Gesture, finde In them the truest copie of the Minde. The Tongue and Heart th'intention oft divide: The Hand and Meaning ever are ally'de. All that are deafe and dumbe may here recrute Their language, and then blesse Thee for the mute

Enlargemeut of Thy Alphabets, whose briefe Expresses gave their Mindes so free reliefe. And of this silent speech, Thy Hand doth shew More to the World then ere it look'd to know. He is (that does denie Thy Hand this right) A Stoique or an Areopagite.

GUIL. DICONSON.