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THe ingenious Phylosopher Aristotle doth Phisiognomate of the noblenesse of the part of the breast, which commonlye is decerned be∣twéene the breastes. The same properly named
Methafrenon, where frenes and the Midriffe con∣sisteth: and this is a pellicle, deuiding the region of the naturall members, from the region of the nutritiue: which through a lyke deuision, is the same named the Midriffe (as it were parting or deuiding in two) and knitte or fastned, to the back bone and breast, in the compasse of the breast, ha∣uing a circuler forme.
This hollow place of the breast, is here ment of the Phisiognomer, where the heares common∣ly grow on men, and right agaynst the Midriffe.
The person which hath this part of the breast, appearing bigge, sufficient fleshy, and brawned: is (of the Philosopher) noted strong according to nature, and applyed of him to the male kinde.
The creature which hath this part appearing weake, not fleshie, nor brawned: are denoted fée∣ble, and weake after nature, and applyed for the forme, vnto the female kinde.
Such a person which hath this part so bending in, through the méeting there of the muscles, right agaynst the furcle of the two semicircles méeting at if, that they cause there a déepe hollownesse or pitte in the middle of the same: doth denote such a person to be euill conditioned, and not to felow∣ship withall, rude, and of a disdainefull nature. But the maner of his disoayning, he couereth and hydeth, for that he is close minded, as touching his
malicious stomacke: which he subtilly cloaketh, by his dissenibling woordes.
The Phisiognomer Cocles, noted a certaine husbandeman in his tyme, which had the Metha∣phrenon so hollow standing in, that a man might well haue hidde, the whole fist in the same: who he diligently noted and knewe to be euill condi∣tioned, especially a wrangler, contentious, and double tongued.
He which hath this part appearing eminent, is noted to be very yrefull: in that the bearing out of this part, procéedeth through the ouermuche heate of the hart, and of the same cause is mooued, to be verye yrefull, as reporteth Galen in libro Tegm. and through this yrefulnesse caused to bée forgetfull of himselfe, vndiserete, and vnaduised of that he doth: and applyed for the nature and propertie vnto the horse, for that the horse hath such a forme of the breast, and is of a vehement furie, as Aristotle vttereth.
This part consisting a meane, in the hollow∣nesse, that is, the Methaphrenon, neyther to high bearing out, nor to deepe formed inwarde (as the breast plate of a harnesse) is a laudable note, after the minde of the Phisiognomer Cocles: and such a person, sayth he, is knowne to be of a temperate qualitie, and well conditioned.
The selfe same vttereth Conciliatore, and the
lyke taught in the Chapter of the signification of the breast.