':i ,p dfc if *.% *.&L.y '\i~ *s S* M. r *•» A<*< F^ >» 'T*- 1 Sterne | [____ [ S.Clarke. ___]_ E s srj ir $ on PHYSIOGNOMYj »/b/f ///e )M/'(>//tv/w/t o/ mf KiWOTTZEDGE arte/Se LOVJj Of MANKIND; MjJ, C»ZA WATER, BOSTON, Printed for William Spotswood,'fc, David West. •i 4 Advertifement. [Annexed to the most approved iondon edition of this work, from- which this first amsrican idition hasbcen rcprint(df\ THE EfTays on Phyfiognomy of M. Lavater, are now fo univerfally known and celebrated, that it is unneceflary to attempt their eulogium ; even thofe who confider the fcience they are written to fupport as vifionary, cannot but admire the lively force of imagination, and animated argument, with which the author has explained and defended his favourite hypothecs. The reception the work has met with from the public, has encouraged cer- tain literary pirates to feize almoft the whole of it, and appropriate it to themfelves, by the aid of a pair of fciflars; but in their eagernefs to grafp their regard, they have in fome places fo mangled and disfigured it by abfurd errors, in copying or of the prefs, that the author or tranflator (of whofe la- / bour they have availed themfelves, verbatim, with/ the utmoft effrontery and without any acknow- ledgment) would fcarcely be able to difcover the meanings without having recourfe to the work ■ they have fo difgraced, by their mutilated and in- accurate copy. In fome places whole fentences ab- folutely neceffary to the fenfe have been omitted, and in others, words altered to a meaning diame- trically oppofite. A lift of all the errors, which totally deftroy or change the fenfe of the paffage, without enumerating common typographical mif- takes, would fill more than a page. The pubiifhers and proprietors, therefore, of the work thus impu- dently ftolen, and wretchedly mutilated, nowpreient to the public an abridgment carefully revifed, cor- rectly printed, and containing, in additiontoall that , is to be found in the other, nearly a whole fheet of letter prefs, and two additional copper-plates, cou~ taining, twelve heads. A CONTENTS. CHAP. I.—Phyfiognomy, a Science—The Truth of Phy- fiognorny—The Advatitages of Ph/io^iomy—/// Di[ad- vantages— The Eafe and Difficulty of fludying Phyfiog- nomy—A Word concerning the Author page I CHAP. II.—On the Nature of Man, 'which is the Foun- dation of the Science of Phyfiognomy—Difference between Phyfiognomy and Paihognof/iy 20 CHAP. III.—Signs of Bodily Strength and Weaknefs— Of Health and Sickuefs 25 CH AP. IV.—Of the Congeniality of the Human Form 31 CHAP. V.—Defription of Plates I. and U. 37 CHAP. VI.—The univerfal Excellence ef the Form of Man 40 CHAP. VII.—Of'the Forehead 44 CH AP. VI11. — Of the Eyes and Eyebrows 48 CHAP. IX.—Of the Nofe 54 CHAP. X.—Of the Mouth and Lips 57 CHAP. XL—Of the Teeth and Chin to CHAP. XIL—Of Seulls 62 CH A P. XIII.—Suggefiions to the Phyfiognom'ifi concern- ing the Scull . 66 CHAP. XIV— Of the Difference of Sculls, as they re- hi is to Sex, and particularly to Nations—Of the Sculls of Children 71 CHAP. XV.—Defription of Plate III. 76 CHAP. XVI.—The Phyfiognomifl 78 CHAP. XVII.—Lavater's own Remarks on National Phyffignomy 86 CHAP. XVIII.—Extraas from Buffon on National Phyfiognomy j$g CHAP. XIX.—Some of ths wfl nnlarkahle Pafjages C O N T Ji K l a. from an excellent F(fay on National Phyfiognomy, hy Prsfeffor Kant of Konigfberg 95 CHAP. XX.—Extraas from other Writers on National Phyfiognomy—From IVinkelmann's Hiflory of Art— From the Recherches Philofophiques fur les Americainsy by M. de Pauw—Obfervations by Lintz—From a Let- ter written by M. Fuejsly—From a Letter written by Profeffor Camper 9° CHAP. XXI.—Extraas from the Manufcripts of a Man of Literature at Darmfladt, on National Phyfiog- nomy J °5 CHAP. XXII—Defcription of Plate IV. m CHAP. XXIII.—Refemblance between Parents and Children 113 CHAP. XXIV—Remarks on the Opinions of Buff on, Haller, and Bonnet, concerning the Refemblance between Parents and Children 118 CHAP. XXV'.—Obfervations on the New-born, the Dy- ing, and the Dead 123 CHAP. XXVI.—Of the influence of Countenance on Countenance 125 CHAP. XXVII.—On the influence of the Imagination on the Countenance 128 CHAP. XXVIII.— The Effeas of the Imagination on the Human Form 130 CHAP. XXIX.—Effay, by a late learned Man of 01- denberg, (' M. Sturtz), on Phyfiognomy, interfperfed witbfhort Remarks, by the Author 134 CHAP XXX.— Quotations from Huart, with Re- marks 145 CHAP. XXXI."-Remarks on an Effay on Phyfiog7iomyr by Profeffor Litchtenberg 149 C H AP. XXXI \.—Defcription ef Plate V. 170 CHAP. XXXIII. — General Remarks on Women 171 CHAP. XXXiV— General Remarks on Mule and Fe- male—A Word on the phyftognomonical Relation of the Sexes 175 CHAP. XXXV.— On the Phyfiognomy of Youth 178 CHAP. XXXVI. — Pkyfrgnotnonical Extraas from an E/fiy infer ted in the Deutfben Mufeunty a German Journal or Review 18 J CONTENTS. CHAP. XXXVII__Extraas from Maximus Ty- rius 189 CHAP. XXXVIII.—Extraas from a Manufcript by Tb--- , 0 , CHAP. XXXIX.— Extraas from Nicolai and Winkel- mann log CHAP. XL—Extraas from Ariflotle and other Authors concerning Beafis 203 CHAP. XLI—Of Birds, Fifhes, Serpents, and In- fe6is 214 CHAP. XLII—On Shades 2I8 CHAP. XLIII--Defcription of PlateVI. 221 CHAP. XIAV.—A Word to Travellers 222 CHAP. XLV--A Word to Princes and Judges 227 CHAP. XLVI—A Word to the Clergy 230 CHAP. XLV 11.—Phyfiognomonical Elucidations of Countenances 2 ? 1 CHAP. XLVIII.—Phyfiognomonical Anecdotes 233 CHAP. XLIX--Mifcellaneous Extraas from Kampfs Effays on the Temperaments, with Remarks 234 CHAP. L--Upon Portrait Painting 237 CHAP. LI--Defcription of Plate VII. 244 CHAP. LII—Mifcellaneous Quotations 2^6 CHAP. LIU.—Mifcellaneous Thoughts 24S CHAP LIV.—Of the Utility between the Knowledge of the Heart and Philanthropy—Mifcellaneous phyfiog- nomonical Thoughts from Holy Writ 252 CHAP. LV.—Of the apparently falfe Decifions of Phy- fiogmmy.—Of the general Qbjeaions made to Phyfiognomy. Particular Objeaions ahfwered. 2.57 Phyfiognomy a Science.—The Truth of Phyfiognomy.— —The Advantages of Phyfiognomy.—lis Difadvan- tages.—The Eafe and Difficulty of Jl^dying Phyfiog- nomy.—A Word concerning the Author. IT has been afTertedby thoufands, that " though " there may be fome truth in phyfiognomy, " llill it never can be a fcience." Thefe :-tfi'-*rti- ons will be repeated, how clearly foever their ob- jections may be anfwered, and however little they may have to reply. Phyfiognomy is as capable of becoming a fcience as any one of the fciences, mathematics excepted. It is a branch of the phy- fical art, and includes theology -and the belles kttres. Like thefe, it may, to a certain extent, be reduced to rule, and acquire an appropriate chnr?.ctr-r, by which it maybe taught. Whenever truth or knowledge is explained by B 1 PHYSIOGNOMY. fixed principles, it becomes fcientific, fo far as it can be imparted by words, lines, rules, and defini- tions. The queftion will ftand limply thus : Whe- ther it be poffible to explain the undeniable ftriking differences which exift between human faces and forms, not by obfcure and confufed conceptions, but by certain characters, figns and expreffions ? Whether thefe figns can communicate the ftrength. and weaknefs, health and ficknefs of the body_; the folly and wifdom, the magnanimity and rr.eann.efs, the virtue and vice of the mind ? This is the only thing to be decided ; and he who, inftead of invef- tigating the queftion, fhould continue to declaim againft it, muft either be deficient in the love of truth, or in logical reafoning. The experimental philofopher can only proceed with his difcoveries to a certain extent; only can communicate them by words ; can only fay, <{ Such and fuch are my experiments, fuch. my " remarks, fuch is the number of them, and fuch " are the inferences I draw : purfue the track that " I have explored." Yet, will he not b£ unable, fometimes, to fay thus much ? Will not his active mind make a thoufand remark?, which he will want the power to communicate ? Will not his eye penetrate recefTes, which he fhall be unable to dif- cover to that feebler vifion that cannot difcover for itfelf ? Is any fcience brought to perfection at the moment of its birth ? Does not genius continually, with eagle-eye and flight, anticipate centuries ? How long did the world wait for Wolf ? Who3 among the moderns, is more fcientific than Bonnet ? Who more accurately diftinguifhes falfehood from truth ? Yet to whom would he be able to commu- nicate his fudden perception of the truth ; the re- fult or refources of thofe numerous, fmall, inde- fcribable, rapid, profound remarks ? To whom could he impart thefe by figns, tones, images and rules ? Is it not the fame with phyfic, theology, and all the arts and fciences ? Is it not the fame with PHYSIOGNOMY. 3 painting, at once the mother and daughter of phyfiognomy ? How infinitely does he, who is painter or^poet born, foar beyond all written rule ! But must he, who poffefles feelings and power which are not to be reduced to rule, be pronounced unfcientific ? So, phyfiognomonical truth may, to a certain de- gree, be defined, communicated by fi^ns and words, as a fcience. This is the look of contempt, this ok innocence. Where fuch figns are, fuch and fuch properties refide. There can be no doubt of the truth of phyfiog- nomy. All countenances, all forms, all created beings, are not only different from each other in their clafTes, races, and kinds, but are alfo individu- ally diftindt. Each being differs from every other being of its fpecies. However generally known, it is a truth the moft important to our purpofe, :\nd necefiary to repeat, that " there is no rofe perfectly " fimilar to another rofe, no egg to an egg, no eel fl to an eel, no lion to a lion, no eagle to an eagle, ct no man to a man." Confining this propofition to man only, it is the fir ft, the moft profound, moft fecure and unlhaken foundation-ftone of phyfiognomy, that however in- timate the analogy and fimilarity of the innumera- ble forms of men, no two men can be found, who, brought together, and accurately compared, will not appear to be very remarkably differenty Nor is it lefs incontrovertible, that it is equally impoffi- ble to find two minds, as two countenances, which perfectly refemble each other. Confiderations like thefe will be fufficient to make it received as a truth, not requiring farther demon- ftration, that there muft be a certain native analogy between the external varieties of the countenance and form, and the internal varieties of the mind. Anger renders the mufcles protuberant ; and fhall not therefore an angry mind and protuberant mufcies be confidered as caufe and effect ? 4 PHYSIOGNOMY. ^ After repeated obfervation, that an active and vivid eye, and an active and acute wit, are frequent- ly found in the fame perfon, fliall it be fuppofed that there is no relation between the active eye and the active mind ? Is this the effeft of accident ? Ought it not rather to be confidered as fympathy, an interchangeable and inftantaneous effect, when we perceive that, at the very moment the under- ftandi'ig is moft acute and penetrating, and the wit tie moft lively, the motion and fire of the eye un- dergo, at that moment, the moft vifible alteration ? Lut all this is denied by thofe who oppofe the truth of the fcience of phyfiognomy. Truth, ac- cording to them,'is ever at variance with herfelf : Eternal order hdegraded to a juggler, whofe pur- pose it is to deceive. Calm rear n revolts when it is afferted, that the fticr.g man may appear perfectly like the weak, the rian in full health like another in the laft ftage of a ccniumption, or that the raih and irafcible re- femble the cold ar.d phlegmatic. It revolts to hear :t affirmed, that joy and giicf, rlcafure and pain, love ar.d hatred, all exhibit themfelves under the *:;me traits, that is to fay, under no traits whatever, on the exterior of man. Yet fuch are the afler- tions of thofe who maintain that phyfiognomy is a :himeric.ii icience. They overturn all that order ind combination by which Eternal wiidom fo high- y afiem.'hes and delights the underftanding. It :anno; he too emphatically repeated, that blind .hance and arbitrary diforder conftitute the philo- bphy of fools, and that they are the bane of natu- ■al knowledge, philofophy, and religion. Entirely o banifh inch a fyfiem, is the duty of the true in- [uiier, the fage, and the divine. It is indifputable that all men, abfclutely all len, tflir.ate all things whatever by their phyfiog- cmy, their exterior temporary Vuperficies." l\y :ewmg th-Ac on every occafion, they draw their c-.c.uiicns concerning their internal properties. PHYSIOGNOMY. fj Wh'at merchant, if he be unacquainted with the perfon of whom he purchafes, does not eftimate his wares by the phyfiognomy or appearance of thofe wares ? If he purchafed of a diftant corres- pondent, what other means does he ufe in judging whether they are or are not equal to his expecta- tion ? Is not his judgment determined by the colour, the finenefs, the fuperficies, the exterior, the phyfiognomy ? Does he not judge money by its phyfiognomy ? Why does he take one guinea, and reject another ? Why weigh a third in his hand ? Does he not determine according to its colour, or impreffion, its outfide, its phyfiognomy? If a ftranger enter his fhop, as a buyer or feller, will he not obferve him ? Will he not draw conclu- sions from his countenance ? Will he not, almoft before he is out of hearing, pronounce fome opini- on of him? and fay, " This man has an honeft " look;—this man has a pleafing or forbidding " countenance." What is it to the purpoie whether his judgment be right or wrong ? He judges, and, though not wholly, he depends, in part, upon the exterior form, and thence draws inferences concerning the mind. The farmer, walking through his grounds, re- gulates his future expectations by the colour, the iize, the growth, the exterior ; that is to fay, by the phyfiognomy of the bloom, the ftalk or the ear of his corn, the ftem and fhoots of his vine-tree.— " This ear of corn is blighted—that wood is full " of fap—this will grow, that not," affirms he at the fir ft or fecond glance.—" Though thefe vine- " lhoots look well, they will bear but few grapes." And wherefore ? He remarks in their appearance, as the phyfiognomift in the countenances of fhal- low men, the v/ant of native energy. Does he not judge by the exterior ? Does not the phyfician pay more attention to the phyfiogaomy of the fick, than to all the accounts B 3 6 PHYSIOGNOMY. that are brought him concerning his patient ? Zimmermann, among the living, may be brought as a proof of the great perfection at which this kind of judgment is arrived •, and, among the dead, Kemp, whofe fon has written a treatife on tempe- rament. I will fay nothing of the painter, as his art too evidently reproves the childifh and arrogant preju- dices of thofe who pretend to difbelieve phyfiog- nomy. The traveller, the philanthropift, the mi- fanthropift, the lover, (and who not ?) all act ac- cording to their feelings and decifions, true or falfe, confufed or clear, concerning phyfiognomy. Thefe feelings, thefe decifions, excite compaflion, difguft, joy, love, hatred fufpicion, confidence, relerve, or benevolence. By what rule do we judge of the fky, but by its phyfiognomy ? No food, not a glafs of wine or beer, nor a cup of coffee or tea comes to table, which is not judged by its phyfiognomy, its exte- rior, and of which we do not then deduce fome conclufion rcfpecling its interior good or bad pro- perties. Is not all nature phyfiognomy, fuperficies and contents, body and fpirit, exterior effect and internal power, invifible beginning and vifible end- ing -? Phyfiognomy, whether underftood in its moft ex- tenfive or confined fignification, is the origin of all human decifions, efforts, actions, expectations, fears and hopjs ; of all pleating and unpleafing fenfati- ons, which are occafioned by external objects. From the cradle to the grave, in all conditions and ages, throughout all nations, from? Adam to the laffc exi'tmg man, from the worm we tread on to the moft i'uolime of philofophers, phyfiognomy is the origin of all we do and (iiffer. Every inlect is acquainted with its friend and its foe ; each child loves and fears, although it knows not why. Phyfiognomy is the caufe : r.cr is there a man to be .foundoneaith who is_not_dail_v_infl.u-__ PHYSIOGNOMY. 7 enced by phyfiognomy ; not a man who cannot figure to himfelf a countenance, which fhallto him appear exceedingly lovely, or exceedingly hateful; not a man who does not, more or lefs, the firft time he is in company with a ftranger, obferve, eftimate, compare, and judge of him according to appear- ances, although he might never have heard of the word or thing called phyfiognomy ; not a man who does not judge of all things that pafs through his hands by their phyfiognomy, that is, their inter- nal worth by their external appearance. The act of diffimulation itfelf, which is adduced as fo infuperable an objection to the truth of phy- fiognomy, is founded upon phyfiognomy. Why does the hypocrite affume the appearance of an honeft man, but becaufe that he is convinced, though not perhaps from any fyftematic reflexion, that all eyes are acquainted with the characteriftic mark of honefty ? What judge, wife or unwife, whether the crimi- nal, confefs or deny the fact, does not fometimes in this fenfe decide from appearances ? Who can, is, or ought to be abfolutely indifferent to the ex- terior of perfons brought before him to be judged ? What king would choofe a minifter without exam- ining his exterior, fecretly at leaft, and to a certain extent ? An officer will not enlift a foldier without thus examining his appearance, putting his height out of the queftion. What mafter or miftrefs of a family will choofe a fervant without confidering the exterior ? No matter that their judgment may or may not be juft, or that it may be exercifed unconfcioufly. I am weary of citing fuch numerous inftances, which are fo continually before our eyes, to prove that men, tacitly and unanimoufly, confefs the in- fluence which phyfiognomy has over their fenfati- ons and actions. I feel difguft at being obliged to write thus, in order to convince the learned of truths which lie within the reach of every child. 8 PHYSIOGNOMY. Let him fee who has eyes to fee ; but fhould the light by being brought too clofe to his eyes, produce phrenfy, he may burn himfelf by endea- vouring to extinguifh the torch of truth. I am not fond of ufing fuch expreffions j but I dare to do my duty, and my duty is boldly to declare, that I believe myfelf certain of what I now and hereaf- ter fliall affirm ; and that I think myfelf capable of convincing all lovers of truth, by principles which are in themfelves incontrovertible. It is alfo ne- ceffary to confute the pretentions of certain litera- ry defpots, and to compel them to be more cautious in their decifions. It is therefore proved, it being an eternal and manifeft truth, that, whether they are or are not fenfible of it, all men are daily influ- enced by phyfiognomy ; nay, there is not a living being, which does not, at leaft after its manner, draw fome inferences from the external to the internal •, which does not judge concerning that which is not, by that which is apparent to the fenfes. (. This univerfal though tacit confefilon, that the exterior, the vifible, the fuperficies of objects, indi- cate their nature, their properties, and that every outward fign is the fymbol of fome inherent quali- ty, I hold to be equally certain and important to the fcience of phyfiognomy. When each apple, each apricot, has a phyfiog- nomy peculiar to itfelf; fliall man, the lord of earth, have none ? The moft fimple and inanimate object has its characteriftic exterior, by which it is not only diftinguifhed as a fpecies, but individu- ally ; 2nd fliall the firft, nobleft, beft harmonifed, and moft beautiful being, be denied all character- iftic ? Whatever may be objected againft the truth and certainty of the fcience of phyfiognomy, by the moft illiterate or the moft learned ; how much foever he, who openly profeffes faith in this fci- ence, may be fubjetf; to ridicule, to philclbnlii* PHYSIOGNOMY. Q pity and contempt ; it ftill cannot be contefted, that there is no fubjedt, thus confidered, more import- ant, more worthy of obfeivation, more interefting than man ; nor any occupation fuperior to that of difclofing the beauties and perfections of human nature. I fhall now proceed to inquire into the Advanta- ges of phyfiognomy. Whether a more certain, more accurate, more extenfive, and thereby a more perfect knowledge of man, be, or be not profitable ; whether it be, or be not, advantageous to gain a knowledge of internal qualities from external form and feature ? is a queftion moft deferring of inqui- ry. This may be claffed firft as a general queftion, Whether knowledge, its extenfion, and increafe, be of confequence to man ? Certain it is, that if a man has the power, fa- culties and will to obtain wifdom, that he fhould exercife thofe faculties for the attainment of wif- dom. How paradoxical are thefe proofs, that fci- ence and knowledge are detrimental to man, and that a rude ftate of ignorance is to be preferred to all that wifdom can teach ! I here dare afiei t, that phyfiognomy lias at leaft as many claims of effen- tial advantage, as are grai.ted by mtn, in general, to other fciences. With how much juftice may we not grant pre- cedency to that fcience which teaches the know- ledge of men ? What object is fo important toman, as man himfelf ? What knowledge can more influ- ence his happinefs, than the knowledge of himfelf ? This advantageous knowledge is the peculiar pro- vince of phyfiognomy. Whoever would with perfect conviction of the advantages of phyfiognomy, let him imagine but for a moment, that all phyfiognomical knowledge and fenfation were loft to the world. What confufi- on, what uncertainty and abfurdity muft take place in millions of inftances, among the actions of men ! How perpetual muft be the vexation of the eternal IO PHYSIOGNOMY. uncertainty in all which we fhould have to tranfacY with each other ! and how infinitely would proba- bility, which depends upon a multitude of circum- ftances, more or lefs diftinctly perceived, be weak- ened by this privation ! From how vaft a number of actions, by which men are honoured and benefit- ed, muft they then defift ! Mutual intercourfe is the thing of moft confe- quence to mankind, who are deftined to live in fo- ciety. The knowledge of man is the foul of this intercourfe, that which imparts animation to it, pJeafure and profit. Let the phyfiognomift ob- serve varieties, make minute diftinctions, eftablifh figns, and invent words, to exprefs thefe his re- marks j form general abftract proportions ; extend and improve phyfiognomical knowledge, language,. and fenfation ; and thus will the ufes and advan- tages of phyfiognomy progreffively increafe. Phyfiognomy is a fource of the pureft, the mofb exalted fenfations ; an additional eye, wherewith to view the manifold proofs of Divine Wifdom and goodnefs in the creation, and, while" thus viewing unfpeakable harmony and truth, to excite more ecftatic love for their adorable Author. Where thedark, inattentive fight of the unexperienced perceives nothing, there the practical view of the phyfiognomift difcovers inexhauftible fountains of delight—endearing, moral, and fpiritual. With fecret delight, the philanthropic phyfiognomift dis- cerns thofe internal motives which would other- wife be firft revealed in the world to come. He diftinguifhes what is permanent in the character from what is habitual, and what is habitual from what is accidental. He, thererefore, who reads man in this language, reads him moft accurately. To enumerate all the advantages of phfiogno- my, would require a large treatife. The moft indif- putable, though the moft important of thefe its advantages, are thofe the painter acquires, who, if he be not a phyfiognomift, is nothing. The great- PHYSIOGNOMY. II eft is that of forming, conducting, and improving the human heart. I fhall now fay fomething with refpect to the Difadvantages of phyfiognomy. Methinks I hear fome worthy man exclaim : " O thou, who haft ever hitherto lived the friend " of religion and virtue ! what is thy prefent pur- " pofe ? What mifchief fhall not be wrought by " this thy phyfiognomy ? Wilt thou teach man the " unbleffed art of judging his brother by the am- " biguous expreffions of his countenance ? Are • " there not already fufBcient of cenforioufnefs, " fcandal, and infpedtion into the failings of " others ? Wilt thou teach man to read the fe- how often will drefs, pofiti- on, light and lhade ; and innumerable difcordant circumftances, fhow the countenance fo difadvanta- geoufly, or, to fpeak more properly, betray the P'H YSIOGNOMY. 17 phyfiognomift into a falfe judgment on the true qualities of the countenance and character ! How eafily may thefe occafion him to overlook the effen- tial traits of character, and form his judgment on what is wholly*accidental ! How furprifingly may the fmall-pox, during life, disfigure the counte- nance ! How may it deftroy, confufe, or render the moft decifive traits imperceptible ! We will therefore grant the oppofer of phyfiog- nomy all he can afk, although we do not live with- out hope, that many of the difficulties fhall be re-^ folved, which, at firft, appeared to the reader and to the author inexplicable*. It is highly incumbent upon me that i fhould not lead my readers to expect more from me than I am able to perform. Whoever publifhes a con- fiderable work on phyfiognomy, gives his readers apparently to underftand, that he is much better acquainted with the fubject than any of his cotem- poraries*. Should an error efcape him, he expofes himfelf to the fevereft ridicule ; he is contemned, at leaft by thofe who do not read him, for pretenti- ons which probably they fuppofe him to make, but which in reality he does not make. The God of truth, and all who know me, wiJk bear teftimony, that from my whole foul I defpife deceit, as I do all filly claims to fuperior wifdom and infallibility, which fo many writers, by a thou- sand artifices, endeavour to make their readers imagine they poffefs. Firft, therefore, I declare, what Ihaveuniformly declared on all occafions, although the perfons who fpeak of me and my works endeavour to conceal ir from themfelves and others, that I underftand but little of phyfiognomy ; that I have been, and con- tinue daily to be, miftaken in my judgment : but thefe errors are the moft natural and moft certain * The following lines, to the end of the Introduction, contain M. Lavater'sown remarks on himfelf. 9 3 18 P H YS 1 O'G N O M Y. means of correcting, confirming, and extending my knowledge. It will probably not be difagreeable to many of my readers, to be informed, in part, of the progrefs of my mind in this ftudy. Before I reached the twenty-fifth year of my age, there was nothing I fhould have fuppofed more improbable, than that I fhould make the fmalleft inquiries concerning, much lefs that I fhould write a book on, phyfiognomy. I was neither inclined to read nor make the flighteft obfervations on the fubject. The extreme fenfibility of my nerves occafioned me, however, to feel certain emotions at beholding certain countenances. I fometimes inftinctively formed a judgment according to thefe firft impreffions, and was laughed at, afhamed, andr^ became cautious. Years paffed away before I again dared, impelled by fimilar impreffions, to venture fimilar opinions. In the mean time, I occafionally fketched the countenance of a friend, whom by chance I had lately been obferving. I had, from my earlieft youth, a propenfit.y to drawing, and efpecially to drawing of portraits, although I had but little genius or perfeverance. By this practice my latent feelings began partly to unfold themfelves. The various proportions, fimilitudes, and varieties of the human countenance became more apparent. It has happened that, on two fucceffive days, I have drawn two faces, the features of which had a remarkable refemblance. This awakened my at- tention ; and my aftonifhment increafed when I received certain proofs that thefe perfons were as fimilar in character as in feature. I was afterwards induced by M. Zimmermann, phyfician to the court of Hanover to write my thoughts on this fubject. I met with many oppo- nents j and this oppofition obliged me to make deeper and more laborious refearches, till at length the prefent work on phyfiognomy was produced. Here I niuft repeat the full conviction I feel, PHYSIOGNOMY. Ip- fchat my whole life would be infufficient to form any approach towards a perfect and confiftent whole. It is a field too vaft for me fingly to till. I fhall find various opportunities of confefling my deficiency in various branches of fcience, without which it is impoflible to ftudy phyfiognomy with that firmnefs and certainty which are requifite. I fliall conclude by declaring, with unreferved can- dour, and wholly committing myfelf to the reader who is the friend of truth, That I have heard, from the weakeft men, re- marks on the human countenance, more acute than thofe I had made; remarks which made mine appear trifling. That I believe, were various other people to """Sketch countenances, and write their obfervations, thofe I have hitherto made would foon become of little importance. That I daily meet an hundred faces, concerning which I am unable to pronounce any certain opinion. That no man has any thing to fear from my in- flection, as it is my endeavour to find good in- man, nor are there any men in whom good is not to be found. That fince I have begun thus to obferve man- kind, my philanthropy is not diminifhed, but, I will venture to fay, increafed. And that now (January 1783), after ten years daily ftudy, I am not more convinced of the certain- ty of my own exiftence, than of the truth of the fcience of phyfiognomy, or than that this truth may be demonftrated: and that I hold him to be a weak and fimple perfon, who fhall affirm, that the effects of the impreffions made upon him by all poffible human countenances are equal. ■2Cr PHYSIOGNOMY. CHAPTER II. On the Nature of Man, which is the Foundation of the Science of Phyfiognomy—Difference between Phyfiog- nomy and Pathognomy.. MAN is the moft perfect of all earthly crea- tures, the moft imbued with the principles of life. Each particle of matter is an immenfity, each leaf a world, each infect an inexplicable compendi- um. Who, then, fhall enumerate the gradations between infect and man ? In him all the powers of nature are united. He is the effence of creation. The fon of earth, he is the earth's lord : the fum- mary and central point of all exiftence, of all powers, and of all life, on that earth which he: inhabits. There are no organifed beings with which we are acquainted, man alone excepted, in which are. fo wonderfully united thefe different kinds of life,, the animal, the intellectual, and the moral. Each of thefe lives is the compendium of various fa- culties, moft wonderfully compounded and har- monifed. To know, to defire, to act, or accurately to ob- serve and meditate, to perceive and to wifli, to. poffefs the power of motion and refiftance—thefe- combined, conftitute man an animal, intellectual,, and moral being. Endowed with thefe faculties, and with this triple life, man is in himfelf the moft worthy fubject . of obfervation, as he likewife is himfelf the moft worthy obferver. In him each fpecies of life is confpicuous ; yet never can his properties be wholly known, except by the aid of his external form, his body, his fuperficies. How fpiritual, how incor- " poreal foever his internal effence may be, ftill is he only vifible and conceivable from the harmony of PHYSIOGNOMY. 21 his conftituent parts. From thefe he is infeparable. He exifts and moves in the body he inhabits, as in his element. This threefold life which man cannot be denied to poffefs, neceffarily firft becomes the fubject of difquifition and refearch, as it prefents itfelf in the form of body, and in fuch of his facul- ties as are apparent to fenfe. By fuch external appearances as affect the fenfes, all things are characterifed j they are the founda- tions of all human knowledge. Man muft wander in the darkeft ignorance, equally with refpedt to himfelf and the objects that furround him, did he not become acquainted with their properties and powers by the aid of their externals ; and had not each object a character peculiar to its nature and effence, which acquaints us with what it is, and enables us to diftinguifh it from what it is not. We furvey all bodies that appear to fight under a certain form and fuperficies ; we behold thofe outlines traced which are the refult of their orga- nifation. I hope I fliall be pardoned the repetition of common-place truths, fince on thefe is built the fcience of phyfiognomy, or the proper ftudy of man. The organifation of man peculiarly diftinguifhes, him from all other earthly beings ; and his phyfi- ognomy, that is to fay, his fuperficies, and outlines- of this organifation, fliow him to be infinitely fupe- rior to all thofe vifible beings by which he is fur- rounded. We are unacquainted with any form equally noble, equally majeftic with that of man j and in Which fo many kinds of life, fo many pow- ers, fo many virtues of action and motion unite as in a central point. With firm ftep he advances over the earth's furface, and with erect body raifes his head to heaven. He looks forward to infini- tude ; he acts with facility and fwiftnefs inconceiv- able, and his motions are the moft immediate and the moft varied. By whom may their varieties be enumerated ? He can at once both fuffer and per- 22 PHYSIOGNOMY. form infinitely more than any other creature. He unites flexibility and fortitude, ftrength and dexte- rity, activity and reft. Of all creatures he can the fooneft yield, and the longeft refift. None refem- ble him in the variety and harmony of his powers. His faculties, like his form, are peculiar to himfelf. The make and proportion of man, his fuperior height, capable of fo many changes, and fuch vari- ety of motion, prove to the unprejudiced obferver his fuperior eminent ftrength, and aftonifhing faci- lity of action. The high excellence and phyfiolo- gical unity of human nature are vifible at the firft glance. The head, efpecially the face, and the formation of the firm parts, compared to the firm parts of other animals, convince the accurate ob- ferver, who is capable of inveftigating truth, of the greatnefs and fuperiority of his intellectual quali- ties. The eye, the look, the cheeks, the mouth, the forehead, whether confidered in a ftate of en- tire reft, or during their innumerable varieties o£ motion,—in fine, whatever is underftood by phyfi- ognomy-r-are the moft expreffive, the moft con- vincing picture of interior fenfation, defires, paffi- ons, will, and of all thofe properties which fa much exalt moral above animal life. Although the phyfiological, intellectual, and mo- ral life of man, with all their fubordinate powers, and their conftituent parts, fo eminently unite in one being ; although thefe three kinds of life do not, like three diftinct families, refide in Separate parts or ftories of the body, but co-exift in one point, and by their combination form one whole j yet it is plain, that each of thefe powers of life has its peculiar ftation, where it more efpecially unfolds itfelf and acts. It is beyond contradiction evident,, that, though phyfiological or animal life difplays itfelf through all the body and efpecially through all the animal parts, yet it acts more confpicuoufly in the arm* feom the Ihoulder to the ends of the fingers. PHYSIOGNOMY. 23 It is not lefs evident, that intellectual life, or the power of the undemanding and the mind, make themfelves moit apparent in the circumference and form of the folid parts of the head, efpecially the forehead ; though they will difcover themfelves, to an attentive and accurate eye, in every part and point of the human body, by the congeniality and harmony of the various parts. Is there any occa- fion to prove, that the power of thinking refides neither in the foot, in the hand, nor in the back, but in the head, and in its internal parts ? The moral life of man particularly reveals itfelf* in the lines, marks and tranfitions of the counte- nance. His moral powers and^defir^s-;-his irrita- bility, fympathy, and antipathy ; his facility of at- tracting or repelling the objects that furround him : thefe are all furamed up in, and painted upon his countenance when at reft. When any paffion is called into action, fuch paffion is depicted by the motion of the mufcles, and thefe motions are ac- companied by a ftrong palpitation of the heart. If the countenance be tranquil, it always denotes tran- quillity in the region of the heart and breaft. This threefold life of man, fo intimately inter- woven through his frame, is ftill capable of being ftudied in its different appropriate parts ; and, did we live in a lefs depraved world, we fhould find fufficient data for the fcience of phyfiognomy. The animal life, the loweft and moft earthly, would difcover itfelf from the rim of the belly to the organs of generation, which would become its central or focal point. The middle or moral life would be feated in the breaft, and the heart would be its central point. The intellectual life, which of the three is fupreme, would refide in the head, and have the eye for its centre. If we take the countenance as the reprefentative and epitome of the three divisions, then will the forehead to the eyebrows be the mirror or image of the underftand- ing ; the nofe and cheeks, the image of the moral 24 PHYSIOGNOMY. and fenfitive life ; and the mouth and chin, the image of the animal life ; while the eye will be to the whole as its fummary and centre. Ail that has been hitherto advanced is fo clear, fo well known, fo univerfal, that we fhould blufh to infift upon fuch common-place truths, were they not firft the foundation on which we muft build all we have to propofe j and, again, had not thefe truths (can it be believed by futurity ?) in this our age been fo many thoufand times miftaken and con- tefted with the moft inconceivable affectation. • The fcience of phyfiognomy, whether underftood in the moft enlarged or moft confined fenfe, indu- bitably depends on thefe general and incontrover- tible principles; yet, incontrovertible as they are, they have not been without their opponents. Men pretend to doubt of the moft ftriking, the moft convincing, the moft felf-evident truths ; although, were thefe deftroyed, neither truth nor knowledge would remain. They do not profefs to doubt con- cerning the phyfiognomy of other natural objects ; yet do they doubt the phyfiognomy of human na- ture—the firft object, the moft worthy of contem- plation, and the moft animated the realms of na- ture contain. We have already hinted to our readers, that they are to expect only fragments on phyfiognomy from us, and not a perfect fyftem. However, what has been faid, may fcrve as a fkctch for fuch a fyftem. We fhall conclude this chapter with fhow- ing the difijerence between Phyfiognomy and Pathog- nomy. Phyfiognomy is the fcience or knowledge of the correlpondence between the external and internal man, the vifible fuperficies and the invifible con- tents. Phyfiognomy, oppofed to pathognomy, is the knowledge of the figns of the power and in- clinations of men—Pathognomy is the knowledge of the figns of the paffions. Phyfiognomy there- fore teaches the knowledge of character at reft, PHYSIOGNOMY. 25 and pathognomy of character in motion. Charac- ter at reft is taught by the form of the folid and the appearance of the moveable parts while at reft. Character impaffioned is manifefted by the movea- ble parts in motion. Phyfiognomy may be compared to the fum-total of the mind ; pathognomy, to the intereft Which is the product of this fum-total. The former fhows what man is in general, the latter what he becomes at particular moments ; or, the one what he might be, the other what he is. The fii'ft ig| the root and ftem of the fecond, the foil in whitfr^ it is planted. Whoever believes the latter and not the former, believes in fruit without a tree, in corn without land. ————tsasasmi ---- CHAPTER III. Signs of Bodily Strength and Weaknefs—Of Health and Sicknefs. E call that human body ftrong, which can eafily alter other bodies, without being eafily altered itfelf. The more immediate it can act, and the lefs immediately it can be acted upon, the greater is its ftrength ; and the weaker, the lefs it can act, or withftand the action iof others. There is a tranquil ftrength, the effence of which is immobility; and there is an active ftrength, the effence of which is motion. The one has motion, the other liability, in an extraordinary degree. There-is the ftrength of the rock, and the elafti- city of the fpring. There is the Herculean ftrength of bone.s and D w 36 PHYSIOGNOMY. finews ; thick, firm, compact, and immoveable ai a pillar. There are heroes lefs Herculean, lefs firm, fi- newy, large ; lefs fet, lefs rocky ; who yet, when roufed, when oppofed in their activity, will meet oppreffion with fo much ftrength, will refift weight with fuch elaftic force, as fcarcely to be equalled by the moft mufcular ftrength. The elephant has native, bony ftrength. Irri- tated or not, he bears prodigious burdens, and .cruflies all on which he treads. An irritated wafp TOas ftrength of a totally different kind : but both have compactnefs for their foundation, and efpe- cially the firmnefs of confirmation. All porofity deftroys ftrength. The ftrength, like the underftanding of a man, is difcovered by its being more or lefs compact. The elafticit-y of a body has figns fo remarkable, that they will not permit us to confound fuch body with one that is not elaftic. How manifeft are the vari- eties of ftrength between the foot of an elephant and a flag, a wafp and a fly ! Tranquil, firm ftrength is fhown in the propor- tions of the form, which ought rather to be fhort than long. In the thick neck, the broad flioulders, and the countenance, which, in a ftate of health, is rather bony than flefliy. In the fhort, compact, the knotty forehead ; and efpecially when the finus frontales are vifible, but not too far projecting ; flat in the middle, or fuddenly indented, but not in fmooth cavities. In horizontal eyebrows, fituated near the eye. Deep eyes, and ftedfaft look. In the broad, firm nofe, bony near the forehead, eS pecially in its ftraight, angular outlines. In fhort, thick, curly hair of the head and beard. In fhort, broad teeth, ftanding clofe to each other. In com- pact lips, of which the under rather projects than retreats. In the ftrong, prominent, broad chin. PHYSIOGNOMY. 27 In the ftrong, projecting os occipitis. In the bafs voice, the firm ftep, and in fitting ftill. Elaftic ftrength, the living power of irritability, muft be difcovered in the moment of action; and the firm figns muft afterwards be abftracted, when the irritated power is once more at reft. " This " body, therefore, which at reft was capable of " fo little, acted and refilled fo weakly, can, thus " irritated, and with this degree of tenfion, be- t( come thus powerful." We fhall find on inquiry, that this ftrength, awakened by irritation, genejj rally refides in thin, tall, but not very tall, ana bony, rather than mufcular bodies; in bodies of dark or pale complexions ; of rapid motion, join- ed with a certain kind of ftiffnefs ; of hafty and firm walk ; of fixed penetrating look ; and with open lips, but eafily and accurately to be clofed. Signs of weaknefs are, difproportionate length of body ; much flefh; little bone; extenfion ; a tottering frame ; a loofe fkin ; round, obtufe, and particularly holLow outlines of the forehead and nofe ; fmallnefs of nofe and chin ; little noftrils ; the retreating chin; long, cylindrical neck ; the walk very haity or languid, without firmnefs of ftep ; the timid afpect ; clofing eyelids; open mouth; long teeth ; the jaw-bone long, but bent towards the ear ; whitenefs of complexion ; teeth inclined to be yellow or green*; fair, long, and tender hair ; flirill voice. I fliall now proceed to confider Medicinal Semei- otics, or the Signs of Health and Skhnefs.—Not I, but an experienced phyfician ought to write on the phyfiognomonical and pathognonfbnical femeiotica of health and ficknefs, and defcribe the phyfiolo- gical character of the body, and its propenfities to this or that diforder. I am beyond defcription ignorant with refpect to the nature of diforders and their figns; ftill may I, in confequence of the 28 PHYSIOGNOMY. few obfervations I have made, declare, with fome certainty, by repeatedly examining the firm parts and outlines of the bodies and countenances of the fick, that it is not difficult to predict what are the difeafes to which the man in health is moft liable. Of what infinite importance would fuch phy- fiognomonical femeiotics, or prognoftics of poffible or probable diforders, be, founded on the nature and form of the body ! How effential were it, could |he phyfician fay to the healthy, " You naturally " have, fome time in your life, to expect this or " that diforder. Take the neceffary precautions " againft fuch or fuch a difeafe. The virus of the " fmall-pox flumbers in your body, and may thus " or thus be put in motion : thus the hectic, thus " the intermittent, and thus the putrid fever." Oh, how worthy, Zimmermann, would a trea- tife on phyfiognomonical Dixtetice (or regimen) be of thee ! Whoever fhall read this author's work on Expe- rience) will fee fee how characteriftically he de- fcribes various difeafes which originate in the paf- fions. Some quotations from this work, which will juftify my wifh, and contain the moft valuable femeiotical remarks, cannot be unacceptable to the reader. " The obfervirfg mind examines the phyfiogno- " my of the fick, the figns of which extend over " the whole body ; but the progrefs and change " of the difeafe is principally to be found in the " countenance; and its parts. Sometimes the pa- t{ tient carries ttfe marks of his difeafe : in burn- " ing, bilious, and hectic fevers ; in the chlorofis; " the common and black jaundice ; in worm ca- " fes."—I, who know fo little of phyfic, have fe- veral times difcovered the difeafe of the tape-worm in the countenance. " In the furor uterinus, the leaft obfervant can pf H Y S I 0 G N 0 M Y. 29; « read the difeafe. The more the countenance " is changed, in burning fevers, the greater is the " danger. A man whofe natural afpedt is mild «« and calm, but who flares at me, with a florid " complexion, and wildnefs in his eye?, prognof- " ticates an approaching delirium. I have like- " wife feen a look indefcribably wild, accompa- " nied by palenefs, when nature, in an inflam- " mation of the lungs, was coming to a crifis, " and the patient was becoming exceffively cold " and frantic. The countenance relaxed, the " lips pale and hanging, in burning fevers, are " bad fymptoms, as they denote great debility ; " and if the change and decay of the counte- " nance be fudden, the danger is great. When " the nofe is pointed, the face of a lead colour, " and the lips livid, inflammation has produced " gangrene. " There is frequently fomething' dangerous to " be obferved in the countenance, which cannot (< be known from ether fymptoms, and which yet " is very fignificant. Much is to be obferved in the " eyes. Boerhaave examined the eyes of the pa- " tient with a magnifying glafs, that he might fee u if the blood entered the fmaller veffels. Hippo- 11 crates held, that the avoiding of light, involunta- " ry tears, fquinting, one eye lefs than the other, " the white of the eye inflame^, the fmall veins " inclined to be black, too much fwelled, or too " much funken, were each and all bad fymptoms. " The motion of the patient, and his pofition in (t bed, ought likewife to be enumerated among the " particular fymptoms of difeaffi The hand car- " ried to the forehead, waved or groping in the " air, fcratching on the wall, and pulling up the " bed-clothes, are of this kind. The pofition in " bed is a very fignificant fign of the internal fitua- '* tion of the patient, and therefore deferves cyer\ U 3. 30 PHYSIOGNOMY. " attention. The more unufual the pofition is, in " any inflammatory difeafe, the more certainly may " we conclude that the anguifh is great, and con- " fequently the danger. Hippocrates has defcri- " bed the pofition of the fick, in fuch cafes, with " an accuracy that leaves nothing to be defined. " The beft pofition in ficknefs is the ufual pofition " in health." I fliall add fome other remarks from this phyfl- cian and phyfiognomift, whofe abilities are fuperi- or to envy, ignorance and quackery. " Swift was " lean while he was the prey of ambition, chagrin, " and ill-temper ; but, after the lofs of his under- " ftanding, he became fat." His defcription of Envy, and its effects on the body, is incomparable. " The effects of Envy are vifible, even in children. " They become thin, and eafily fall into confump- " tions. Envy takes away the appetite and fleep, '* and caufes feverifh motion ; it produces gloom, " fliortnefs of breath, impatience, reftleffnefs, and t( a narrow cheft. The good name of others, on " which it feeks to avenge itfelf by flander, and " feigned but not real contempt, hangs like the (( fword fufpended by a hair over the head of En- " vy, that continually wifhes to torture others, " and is itfelf continually on the rack. The i( laughing fimpleton becomes difturbed as foon as " Envy, that worft of fiends, takes poffcflion of " him, and he perceives that he vainly labours " to debafe that merit which he cannot rival. His " eyes roll, he knits his forehead, he becomes " morofe, peevifh, and hangs his lips. There is, " it is true, a kihd of envy that arriyes at old " age. Envy in her dark cave, poffefied by tooth- " lefs furies, there hoards her poifon, which, " with infernal wickednefs, fhe endeavours, to " eject over each worthy perfon and honourable act. " She defends the caufe of vice, endeavours to PHYSIOCNOMY. 3t " confound right and wrong, and vitally wounds " the pureft innocence." —^naaBB—iwi CHAPTER IV. Of the Congeniality of the Human Form. THE fame vital powers that make the heart beat, give motion to the finger ; that which roofs the fkull, arches the finger-nail. Art is at varience with herfelf: not fo Nature. Her crea- tion is progreffive. From the head to the back, from the fhoulder to the arm, from the arm to the hand, and from the hand to the finger ; from the root to the ftem, the ftem to the branch, the branch to the twig, the twig to the bloffom and fruit, each depends on the other, and all on the root : each is fimilar in nature and form. There is a determi- nate effect of a determinate power. Through all nature each determinate power is productive only of fuch and fuch determinate effects. The finger of one body is not adapted to the hand of another body. Each part of an organized body is an image of the whole. The blood in the extremity of the finger, has the character of the blood in the heart. The fame congeniality is found in the nerves, in the bones. One fpirit lives in all. Each member of the body is in proportion to that whole of which it is a part. As from the length of the fmaileft, member, the fmaileft joint of the finger, the pro- portion of the whole, the length and breadth of the body may be found ; fo alfo may the form of the whole from the form of each tingle part. When the head is long, all is long, or round when the head is round, or fquare when it is fquare. g2 PHYSIOGNOMY. One form, one mind, one root appertain to all: therefore is each organized body fo much a whole, that, without difcord, deftruction, or deformity, nothing can be added or diminifhed. Every thing in man is progrefiive ; every thing congenial ; form, nature, complexion, hair, fkin, veins, nerves, bones, voice, walk, manner, ftyle, paffion, love, hatred. One and the fame fpirit is manifeft in all. He has a determinate fphere, in which his powers and fenfations are .dlowed, with- in which they may be freely exercifed, but beyond which he cannot pafs. Each countenance is, in- deed, fubject to momentary change, though not perceptible, even in its folid parts ; but thefe chan- ges are all proportionate: each is meafured, each proper and peculiar to the countenance in which it takes place. The capability of change is limited. Even that which is affected, affumed, imitated, he- terogeneous, ftill has the properties of the indivi- dual, originating in the nature of the whole, and is fo definite, that it is only poffible in this, but in. no other being. I almoft blufh to repeat this in the prefent age. What, Pofterity ! wilt thou fuppofe, thus to fee me fo often obliged to demonftrate to pretended fages, that nature makes no emendation ? She labours from one to all. Her's is not disjointed organiza- tion, not mofaic work. The more there is of the mofaic in the works of artifts, orators, or poets, the lefs are they natural ; the lefs do they refem- ble the copious ftreams of the fountain ; the ftem extending itfelf to the remoteft branch. The more there is of progreffion, the more there is of truth, power, and nature ; the more extenfive, general, durable, and noble is the effect. The defigns of nature are the defigns of a moment ; one form, one fpirit, appear through the whole. Thus nature forms her leaft plant, and thus her moft exalted man. I fhall have effected nothing by. PHYSIOGNOMY. 33 my phyfiognomical labours, if I am not able to deftroy that opinion, fo taftelefs, fo unworthy of the age, fo oppofite to all found philofophy, that nature patches up the features of various counte- nances, in order to make one perfect countenance ; and I fliall think them well rewarded, if the con- geniality, uniformity, and agreement of human organization be fo demonftrated, that he who fhall deny it, will be declared to deny the light of the fun at noon-day. The human body is a plant, each part of which has the character of the ftem. Suffer me to repeat this continually, fince this moft evident of all things is continually controverted, among all ranks of men, in words, deeds, books, and works of art. I therefore find the greateft incongruities in the heads of the greateft matters. I know no painter, of whom I can fay he has thoroughly ftudied the harmony of the human outline, not even Pouffin, no not even Raphael himfelf. Let any one clafs the forms of their countenances, and compare them with the forms of nature. Let him, for in- ftance, draw the outlines of their foreheads, and endeavour to find fimilar outlines in nature, and he will find incongruities, which could not have been expected in fuch great matters. Chodowiecki, excepting the too great length and extent, particularly of his human figures, perhaps had the moft exact feeling of congeniality in cari- cature, that is to fay, of the relative propriety of the deformed, the humorous, or other character- iftical members and features. For as there is con- formity and congeniality in the beautiful, fo is there alfo in the deformed. Every cripple has the diftortion peculiar to himfelf, the effects of which are extended to his whole body. In like manner, the evil actions of the evil, and the good aclions of the good, have a conformity of character ; at 34 PHYSIOGNOMY. leaft, they are all tinged with this conformity of character. Little as this feems to be remarked by poets and painters, ftill is it the foundation of their art ; for wherever emendation is vifible, there admira- tion is at an end. Why has no painter yet been pleafed to place the blue eye betide the brown one ? Yet, abfurd as this would be, no lefs abfurd are the incongruities continually encountered by the phy- fiognomical eye—The nofe of Venus on the head of Madona.—I have been affured by a man of fafhion, that, at a mafquerade, with only the aid of an artificial nofe, he entirely concealed himfelf from the knowledge of all his acquaintance. So much does nature reject what does not appertain to herfelf. I have never yet met with one Roman nofe among an hundred circular foreheads in profile. In an hundred other fquare foreheads, 1 have fcarcely found one in which there were not cavities and prominences. I never yet faw a perpendicular forehead with ftrongly arched features in the lower part of the countenance, the double chin excepted. I meet no ftrong-bowed eye-brows combined with bony perpendicular countenances. Wherever the forehead is projecting, fo in gene- ral are the under lips, children excepted. I have never feen gently arched, yet much re- treating foreheads, combined with a fhort fnub nofe, which, in profile, is fharp and funken. A vifible nearnefs of the nofe to the eye, is always attended by a vifible widenefs between the nofe and mouth. A long covering of the teeth, or, in other words a long fpace between the nofe and mouth, always indicates fmall upper lips. Length of form, and tA! generally amended by well drawn flefhy lips. i, fhall at prelent produce but one more example. which will convince all who poffefs acute phyfio- PHYSIOGNOMY. 3| gnomical fenfation, how great is the harmony of all nature's forms, and how much fhe hates the incongruous. Take two, three, or four fhades of men re- markable for underftanding ; join the features fo artificially that no defect fhall appear, as far as re- lates to the act of joining ; that is, take the fore- head of oue, add the nole of a fecond, the mouth of a third, the chin of a fourth, and the refult of this combination of the figns of wifdom fhall be folly. Folly is perhaps nothing more than the emendation of fome heterogeneous addition. " But let thefe four wife countenances be fuppofed " congruous." Let them fo be fuppofed, or as nearly io as poffible, ftill their combination will produce the figns of folly. Thofe therefore who maintain that conclufion cannot be drawn from a part, from a fingle fection of the profile, to the whole, would be perfectly right, if unarbitrary Nature patched up counte- nances like arbitrary Art ; but fo fhe does not. Indeed, when a man, being born with underftand- ing, becomes a fool, there expreffion of heteroge- neoufnefs is the confequence. Either the lower part of the countenance extends itfelf, or the eyes acquire a direction not conformable to the fore- head, the mouth cannot remain clofed, or the fea- tures of the countenance, in fome other manner lofe their confiftency : all becomes difcord; and folly, in fuch a countenance, is very manifeft. Let him who would ftudy phyfiognomy, ftudy the relation of the conftituent parts of the counte- nance : not having ftudied thefe, he has ftudied nothing. He only is an accurate phyfiognomift, and has the true fpirit of phyfiognomy, who poffeffes fenfe, feeling, and fympathetic proportion of the conge* niality and harmony of nature ; and who hath a fimilar fenfe and feeling for all emendations and $6 PHYSIOGNOMY. additions of art and conftraint. He is no phyfio- gnomift who doubts of the propriety, fimplicity, and harmony of nature, or who has not this phyfio- t gnomical effential ; who fuppofes nature feledts members to form a whole, as a compofitor in a printing-houfe does letters to make up a word ; who can fuppofe the works of nature are the patch-work of a harlequin jacket. Not the moft infignificant of infects is fo compounded, much lefs man, the moft perfect of organized beings. He refpires not the breath of wifdom, who doubts of this progreffion, continuity, and fimplicity of the ftructure of nature. He wants a general feel- ing for the works of nature ; confequently of art, the imitator of nature. I fhall be pardoned this warmth. It is neceffary. The confequences are infinite, and extend to all things. He has the mafter-key of truth, who has this fenfation of the congeniality of nature, and, by neceffary induction, of the.human form. All imperfection in works of art, productions of •the mind, moral actions, errors in judgment ; all fcepticifm, infidelity, and ridicule of religion, na- turally originate in the want of this knowledge and fenfation. He foars above all doubt of the Divi- nity and Chrift, who hath them, and who is con- fcious of this congeniality. He alfo who, at firft fight, thoroughly underftands and feels the conge- niality of the human form, and that from the want of this congeniality arifes the difference ob- ferved between the works of nature and of art, is fuperior to all doubt concerning the truth and di- vinity of the human countenance. Thofe who have this fenfe, this feeling, call it which you pleafe, will attribute that only, and no- thing more, to each countenance, which it is ca- pable of receiving. They will confider each ac- cording to its kind, and will as little leek to add a heterogeneous character, as a heterogeneous nofe PHYSIOGNOMY. 37 to the face. Such will only unfold what nature is defirous of unfolding, give what nature is capable of receiving, and take away that with which na- ture would not be incumbered. They will perceive in the child, pupil, friend, or wife, when any diS cordant trait of character makes its appearance ; and will endeavour to reftore the original conge- niality, the equilibrium of character and impulfe, by acting upon the ftill remaining harmony, by co- operating with the yet unimpaired effential powers. They will confider each fin, each vice, as deftruc- tive of this harmony ; will feel how much each departure from truth, in the human form, at leaft to eyes more penetrating than human eyes are, muft be manifeft, muft diftort, and muft become difpleafing to the Creator, by rendering it unlike his image. Who, therefore, can judge better of the works and actions of man, who lefs offend or be offended, who more clearly develop caufe and effect, than the phyfiognomift, poffeffed of a full portion of this knowledge and fenfation ? CHAPTER V. Defcription of Plates I. and II. E fliall occafionally introduce fome figures, in order to fapport and elucidate thofe opi- nions and propofitions which may be advanced. Thefe plates refer to objects that have been already alluded to in the preceding pages. w E 38 PHYSIOGNOMY. Defcription of Plate I. Number 1. See the Frontif- piece. This is a boldly fketched portrait of Albert Durer. Whoever examines this countenance, cannot but perceive in it the traits of fortitude, deep penetration, determined perfeverance, and inventive genius. At leaft, every one will ac- knowledge the truth of thefe obfervations, when made. Number 2. Moncrief. There are few men capable of obfervation, who will clafs this vifage with the ftupid. In the afpedt, the eye, the nofe efpecially, and the mouth, are proofs, not to be miftaken, of the accomplifhed gentleman, and the man of tafte. Number 3. Johnson. The moft unpradtifed eye will eafily difcover, in this fketch of Johnfon, the acute, the comprehen- five, the capacious mind, not eafily deceived, and rather inclined to fufpicion than credulity. Ntyjlfcer 4. Shakespeare. How deficient muft all outlines be ! Among ten thoufand can one be found that is exact ? Where is the outline that can pourtray genius ? Yet who does not read, in this outline, imperfect as it is, from pure phyfiognomonical fenfation, the clear, the capacious, the rapid mind, all conceiving, all embracing, that, with equal fwiftnefs and facility, imagines, creates, produces ? Number 5. Sterne. The moft unpradtifed reader in phyfiognomy will not deny to this countenance all the keen, the fearching penetration of wit, the moft original fancy, full of fire, and the powers of invention. PI ah U. W physiognomy. 39 Who is^fo dull as not to view, in this countenance, fomewhat of the fpirit of poor Yorick ? Number 6. S. Clarke. Perfpicuity, benevolence, dignity, ferenity, dif- paffionate meditation, the powers of conception and perfeverance, are the moft apparent charac- teristics of this countenance. He who can hate fuch a face, muft laborioufly counteract all thofe phyfiognomonical fenfations with which he was born. Defcription ef Plate II. Hitherto we have beheld nature in the moft per- fect of her productions; we muft now view the reverfe: we muft proceed to contemplate her in her deformity. In this alfo how : "'J' ' fhe fpeak to the eyes of all, at the firft gl; Number 1. Who does not here read reafon debafed, and ftu- pidity almoft funken to brutality ? This e\ve, v'-iHo wrinkles of a lowering forehead. thi-; ?v'■■■■■■ mouth, the whole pofition of the head, do they not all denote manifeft dulnefs and debility f Number 2. A fool. From the fmall eyes in this figure, the open mouth, particularly from the under part of the countenance, no man whatever will expect pene- tration, reafoning, or wifdom. Number 3. True or falfe, nature or caricature, this coun- tenance will, to the common fenfations of all men, depict an inhuman and brutalfltharacter. It is im- poffiWe that brutality fhould be overlooked in the E2 40 PHYSIOGNOMY. nofe and mouth, or in the eye, though ftill it de- ferves to be called a human eye. Number 4. Let us proceed to the characters of paffion, which are intelligible to every child; fo that concerning thefe there can be no difpute, if we are in any de- gree acquainted with their language. The more violent the paffion is, the more apparent are its figns. The effect of the ftiller paflions is to con- tract, and of the violent to diftend the mufcles. Every one will perceive, in this countenance, fear mingled with abhorrence. Number 5. No man will frpat c; . ;i fj'iefs, tranquillity, content, ftrength of mind, and magnanimity, from this countenance, iear and tc ror are here ftrongly marked. Number 6. Terror, he by native indocility of cha- "^ .., ;- "«-ic itrongly marked. Such examples might be produced without end ; but to adduce fome of the moft decifive of the va- rious claffes is fufficient We fhall give fome far- ther fpecimens hereafter. CHAPTER VI. The Univerfal Excellence of the Form of Manr.- EACH creature is indifpenfable in the immen- fity of God's creation; but each creature does PHYSIOGNOMY. 41 not know it is thus indifpenfable. Of all earth's creatures, man alone rejoices in his indifpenfability. No man can render any other man difpenfable. The place of no man can be fupplied by another. This belief of the indifpenfability and individu- ality of all men, and in our own metaphyfical in- difpenfability and individuality, is one of the unac- knowledged, the noble fruits of phyfiognomy ; a fruit pregnant with moft precious feed, whence fhall fpring lenity and love. Oh, may pofterity behold them flourifh ! may future ages repofe under their fliade ! The moft deformed, the moft cor- rupt of men is ftill indifpenfable in this world of God, and is more or lefs capable of knowing his own individuality and unfuppliable indifpenfability. The wickedeft, the moft deformed of men, is ftill * more noble than the moft beauteous and perfect animal. Contemplate, O man ! what thy nature is, not what it might be, not what is wanting. Humanity, amid all its diftortions, will ever remain wondrous humanity ! Inceffantly might I repeat doctrines like this: Art thou better, more beauteous, nobler, than many others of thy fellow-creatures ? If fo, re- joice, and afcribe it not to thyfelf, but to Him who, from the fame clay, formed one vend for honour, another for difhonour; to Him who, without thy advice, without thy prayer, without any defert of thine, caufed thee to be what thou art. Yea, to Him ! « for what haft thou, O man ! " that thou didft not receive ? Now, if thou didft " receive, why doft thou glory as if thou had ft: « not received ?"—« Can the eye fay to the hand, - proved, more perfect, more holy ; even he is in frequent danger, at leaft is frequently tempted to turn from the common herd of depraved men ; from the deformed, the foolifh, the apes, the hy- pocrites, the vulgar of mankind ; in danger of for- getting that thefe mifhapen forms, thefe apes, thefe hypocrites, alfo are men; and that notwithstand- ing all his imagined or his real excellence, all his noble feelings, the purity of his views (and who has caufe to boaft of thefe ?) all the firmnefs, the foundnefs of his reafon, the feelings of his heart, the powers with which he is endowed, ftill he is, very probably from his own moral defects, in the eyes of his fuperior beings, in the eyes of his much more righteous brother, as diftorted as the moft ridiculous, moft depraved moral or phyfical mon- fter appears to be in his eyes. Liable as we are to forget this, reminding is ne- ceffary both to the writer and reader of this work. Forget not, that even the wifeft of men are men. Forget not how much pofitive good may be found even in the worft, and that they are as neceffary, as good in their place as thou art. Are they not, equally indifpenfable, equally unfuppliable ? They poffefs not, either in mind or body, the fmaileft thing exactly as thou doft. Each is wholly, and in every part, as individual as thou art. Confider each as if he were tingle in the univerfe ; then wilt thou difcover powers and excellencies in him, which, abftradtedly of comparifon, deferve all at- PHYSIOGNOMY. 43 tentionand admiration. Compare him afterwards with others, his fimilarity, his diffimilarity to fo many of his fellow-creatures. How muft this in- cite thy amazement ! How wilt thou value the in- dividuality, the indifpenfability of his being ! How wilt thou wonder at the harmony of his parts, each contributing to form one whole ; at their relation, the relation of his million-fold individuality, to fuch multitudes of other individuals ! Yes, we wonder at and adore the fo fimple, yet fo infinitely varied expreffion of Almighty power inconceivable, fo efpecially and fo glorioufly revealed in the nature of man. ^ j No man ceafes to be a man, how low foever he \ may fink beneath the dignity of human nature. Not being beaft, he ftill is capable of amendment, of approaching perfection. The worft of faces ftill is a human face. Humanity ever continues the^ honour and ornament of man. It is as impoflible for a brute animal to become ^ man, although he may in many actions approach, or almoft furpafs him, as for man to become a brute, although many men indulge themfelves in actions which we cannot view in brutes without abhorrence. But the* very capacity of voluntarily debating himfelf, in appearance even below brutality, is the honour and privilege of man. This very capacity of imitating all things by an adt of his will, and the powers of his underftanding, this very capacity man only has, beafts have not. The countenances of beafts are not fufceptible of any remarkable dete- rioration, nor are they capable of any remarkable amelioration or beautifying. The worft of the countenances of men may be ftill more debafed ; but they may alfo, to a certain degree be improved and ennobled. The degree of perfection, or degradation, of which man is capable, cannot be delcribed. For 44 PHYSIOGNOMY. this reafon, the worft countenance has a well- founded claim to the notice, efteem, and hope of all good men. Again, in every human counte- nance, however debafed, humanity is ftill vifible, that is, the image of the Deity. I have feen the worft of men, in their worft of moments, yet could not all their vice, blafphemy, and oppreffion of guilt, extinguifh the light of good that fhone in their countenances, the fpirit of hu- manity, the ineffaceable traits of internal, external perfectibility. The tinner we would exterminate, the man we muft embrace. O phyfiognomy, what a pledge art thou of the everlafting clemency of God towards man ! O man, rejoice with what- ever rejoices in its exiftence, and contemn no be.- ing whom God doth not contemn ! CHAPTER VII. Of the Forehead. I SHALL appropriate this and fome of the fol- lowing chapters to remarks on certain individu- al parts of the human body. The following are my own remarks on foreheads. The form, height, arching, proportion, obli- quity, and pofition of the fkull, or bone of the forehead, fhow the propenfity, degree of power, thought and fenfibility of man. The covering or flcin of the forehead, its pofition, colour, wrinkles, and tenfion, denote the paffions and prefent ftate of the mind. The bones give the internal quanti- ty, and their covering the application of power. Though the fkin be wrinkled, the forehead bones remain unaltered; but this wrinkling varies according to the various forms of the bones. A certain degree „ of flatnefs produces certain wrir>. PHYSIOGNOMY. 45 kles ; a certain arching is attended by certain other wrinkles ; fo that the wrinkles, feparately confi- dered, will give the arching ; and this, vice verfa, will give the wrinkles. Certain foreheads can only have perpendicular, others horizontal, others curved, and others mixed and confufed wrinkles. Cup-formed (fmooth) cornerlefs foreheads, when they are in motion, commonly have the fimpleft and leaft perplexed wrinkles. I confider the peculiar delineation of the out- line and pofition of the forehead, which has been left unattempted by ancient and modern phyfiog- nomifts, to be the moft important of all the things prefented to phyfiognomical obfervation. We may divide foreheads, confidered in profile, into three principal claffes, the retreating, the perpen- dicular, and the projecting. Each of thefe claffes has a multitude of variations, which may eafily again be claffed, and the chief of which are recti- linear ; half round, half rectilinear, flowing into each other ; half round, half rectilinear, inter- rupted -, curve lined, fimple ; the curve lined, double and triple. I fliall add fome more particular remarks, which I apprehend will not be unacceptable to my read- ers : I. The longer the forehead, the more compre- henfion, and lefs activity. 2. The more compreffed, fhort, and firm the forehead, the more compreffion, firmnefs, and lefs volatility in the man. 3. The more curved and cornerlefs the outline, the more tender and flexible the character ; the more rectilinear, the more pertinacity and feve- rity. 4. Perfect perpendicularity, from the hair to the eye-brows, want of underftanding. 5. Perfedt perpendicularity, gently arched at the 46 PHYSIOGNOMY. top, denotes excellent propenfities of cold, tran- quil, profound thinking. 6. Projecting—imbecility, immaturity, weak- nefs, ftupididity. 7. Retreating, in general, denotes fuperiority of imagination, wit, and acutenefs. 8. The round and prominent forehead above, ftraight lined below, and on the whole perpendicu- lar, fhows much underftanding, life, fenfibility, ardour, and icy coldnefs. 9. The oblique, rectilinear forehead, is alfo very ardent and vigorous. 10. Arched foreheads appear properly to be feminine. u. A happy union of ftraight and curved lines, with a happy pofition of the forehead, exprefs the moft perfect character of wifdom. By happy uni- on, I mean, when the lines infenfibly flow into each other ; and by happy pofition, when the forehead is neither too perpendicular, nor too re- treating. 12. I might almoft eftablith it as an axiom, that right lines, confidered as fuch, and curves, confi- dered as fuch, are related as power and weaknefs, obftinacy and flexibility, underftanding and fen- fation. 13. I have hitherto feen no man with fharp pro- jecting eye-bones, who had not great propenfity to an acute exercife of the underftanding, and to wife plans. 14. Yet there are many excellent heads which have not this fharpnefs, and which have the more folidity, if the forehead, like a perpendicular wall, fink upon the horizontal eyebrows, and be greatly rounded on each fide towards the temples. 15. Perpendicular foreheads, projecting fo as not immediately to reft upon the nofe, which are fmall, wrinkly, fhort and fhining, are certain figns of PHYSIOGNOMY. 47 weaknefs, little underftanding, little imagination, little fenfation. 16. Foreheads with many angular, knotty pro- tuberances, ever denote much vigorous, firm, harfh, oppreffive, ardent activity, and perfeve- rance. " 17. It is a fure fign of a clear, found under- ftanding, and a good temperament, when the pro- file of the forehead has two proportionate arches, the lower of which projedts. 18. Eyebones with defined, marking, eafily de- lineated, firm arches, I never faw but in noble and in great men. All the ideal antiques have thefe arches. 19. Square foreheads, that is to fay, with ex- tenfive temples and firm eyebones, fhow circum- fpedtion and certainty of character. 20. Perpendicular wrinkles, if natural to the forehead, denote application and power ; horizon- tal wrinkles, and thofe broken in the middle, or at the extremities, in general negligence, or want of power. 21. Perpendicular, deep indentings, in the bones of the forehead, between the eyebrows, I never met with but in men of found underftanding, and free and noble minds, unlefs there were fome pofi- tively contradictory feature. 22. A blue vena frontalis, in the form of a Y, when in an open, fmooth, well-arched forehead, I have only found in men of extraordinary talents, and of an ardent and generous character. 23. The following are the moft indubitable figns of an excellent, a perfectly beautiful and fignifi- cant, intelligent, and noble forehead. An exact proportion to the other parts of the countenance. It muft equal the nofe or the under part of the face in length, that is, one-third. In breadth, it muft be either oval at the top # 48 PHYSIOGNOMY. (like the foreheads of moft of the great men of En- gland) or nearly fquare. A freedom from unevennefs and wrinkles, yet with the power of wrinkling when deep in thought, afflicted by pain, or from juft indignation. Above it muft retreat, project beneath. The eyebones muft be fimple, horizontal, and, if feen from above, muft prefent a pure curve. There fhould be a imali cavity in the centre, from above to below, and traverfing the forehead fo as to feparate into four divilions, which can only be perceptible by a clear defcending light. The fkin muft be more clear in the forehead than in the other parts of the countenance. The forehead muft every where be compofed of fuch outlines as, if the fedtion of one third only be viewed, ft can fcarcely be determined whether the lines are ftraight or circular. 24. Short, wrinkled, knotty, regular, preffed in one tide, and fawcut foreheads, with interefting wrinkles, are incapable of durable friendfhip. 25. Be not difcouraged fo long as a friend, an enemy, a child, or a brother, though a tranfgreff- or, has a good, well proportioned, open forehead : there is ftill much certainty of improvement, much caufe of hope. C II A P T E R VIII. Of the Eyes and Eyebgosus. 1T)LUE Eyes are generally more fignificant of I 3 weaknefs, effeminacy, and yielding, than brown and black. True it is, there are many pow- erful men with blue eyes; but I find more ftrength, PHYSIOGNOMY. 4g manhood, and thought, combined with brown than with blue. Wherefore does it happen, that the Chinefe, or the people of the Philippine Iflands, are very feldom blue-eyed ; and that Europeans only, or the defcendants of Europeans, have blue eyes in thofe countries ? This is the more worthy inquiry, becaufe there are no people more effemi- nate, luxurious, peaceable or indolent than the Chinefe. Choleric men have eyes of every colour, but more brown, and inclined to green, than blue. This propenfity to green is almoft a decifive token of ardour, fire, and courage. I have never met with clear blue eyes in the me- lancholic, feldom in the choloric ; but moft in the phlegmatic temperament, which, however, had much adtivity. When the under arch defcribed by the upper eyelid is perfedtly circular, it always denotes good- nefs and tendernefs, but alfo fear, timidity, and weaknefs. The open eye, not compreffed, forming a long acute angle with the nofe, I have but feldom feen, except in acute and underftanding perfons. Hitherto I have feen no eye, where the evelid formed a horizontal line over the pupil, that' did not appertain to a very acute, able, fubtle man ; but be it underftood, that I have met with this eye in very worthy men, but men of great penetration and fimulation. Wide, open eyes, with the white feen under the apple, I have often obferved in the timid and phlegmatic, and alfo in the courageous and rafli. When compared, however, the fiery and the fee- ble, the determined and the undetermined, will eaidy be diftinguifhed. The former are more firm, more ftrongly delineated, have lefs obliquitv, have thicker, better cut, but lefs fkinny eyelids. " 5° •PHYSIOGNOMY. ADDITION, From the Gotha Court Calendar•, 1771, or rather from Buff on. " The colours moft common to the eyes are, -the orange, yellow, green, blue, grey, and grey mixed with white. The blue and orange are moft predominant, and are often found in the fame eye. Eyes fuppofed to be black are only yellow, brown, or a deep orange ; to convince ourfelves of which, we need but look at them clofely ; for when feen at a .diftance, or turned towards the light, they appear to be black ; becaufe the yellow-brown co- lour is fo contrafted to the white of the eye, that the oppofition makes it fuppofed black. Eyes alfo of a lefs dark colour pafs for black eyes, but are not efteemed fo fine as the other, becaufe the contraft is not fo great. There are alfo yellow and light yellow eyes, which do not appear black, becaufe the colours are not deep enough to be overpowered by the fhade. " It is not uncommon to perceive fliades of orange, yellow, grey, and blue, in the fame eye ; and whenever blue appears, however fmall the tindture, it becomes the predominant colour, and appears in ftreaks over the whole iris. The orange is in flakes, round, and at fomelittle diftance from the pupil ; but it is fo ftrongly effaced by the blue, that the eye appears wholly blue, and the mixture of orange is only perceived when clofely infpected. " The fineft eyes are thofe which we imagine to be black or blue. Vivacity and fire, which are the principal charaderiftics of the eyes, are the more emitted when the colours are deep and contrafted, rather than when flightly Ihaded. Black eyes Jhave moft ftrengh of expreffion, and moft vivacity ; PHYSIOGNOMY. 5* but the blue have moft mildnefs, and perhaps are more arch. In the former there is an ardour uninterruptedly bright, becaufe the colour, which appears to us uniform, every way emits fimilar re- flexions. But modifications are diftinguifhed in the light which animates blue eyes, becaufe there1 are various tints of colour, which produce various reflexions. " There are eyes which are remarkable for hav- ing what maybe faid to be no colour. They ap- pear to be differently conftituted from others. The iris has only fome fliades of blue, or grey, fo feeble, that they are, in fome parts, almoft white ; and the fhades of orange which intervene are fo fmall that they fcarcely can be diftinguifhed from grey or white, notwithftanding the contraft of thefe colours. The black of the pupil is then too mark- ing, becaufe the colour of the iris is not deep enough, and, as Imay fay, we fee only the pupil in the centre of the eye. Thefe eyes are unmean- ing, and appear to be fixed and aghaft. " There are alfo eyes, the colour of the iris of which is almoft green ; but thefe are more uncom- mon than the blue, the grey, the yellow,, and the yellow-brown. There are alfo people whofe eves are not both of the fame colour. " The images of our fecret agitations are parti- cularly painted in the eyes. The eye appertains more to the foul than any other organ ; feems af- fected by, and to participate in, all its motions ; expreffes fenfations the moft lively, paffions the moft tumultuous, feelings the moft delightful, and fentiments the moft delicate. It explains them in all their force, in all their purity, as they take birth ; and tranfmits them by traits fo rapid, as to infufe into other minds the fire, the activity, the very image with which themfelves are infpired. 52 PHYSIOGNOMY. The eye at once receives and reflects the intelli- gence of thought, and the warmth of fenfibility. It is the fenfe of the mind, the tongue of the un- derftanding." Again, w As in nature, fo in art, the eyes are differently formed in the ftatues of the gods, and in heads of ideal beauty, fo that the eye itfelf is the diftinguifliing token. Jupiter, Juno, and Apollo, have large, round, well arched eyes, fhort- ened in length, in order that the arch may be the higher. Pallas, in like manner, has large eyes ; but the upper eyelid, which is drawn up, is ex- preflive of attraction and languifhment. Such an eye diftinguifhes the heavenly Venus Urania from Juno ; yet the ftatue of this Venus bearing a dia- dem, has for that reafon often been rniftaken, by thofe who have not made this obfervation, for the ftatue of Juno. Many of the modern artifts ap- pear to have been defirous of excelling the ancients, and to give what Homer calls the ox-eye, by mak- ing the pupil project, and feem to ftart from the locket. Such an eye has the modern head of the erroneoufly fuppofed Cleopatra, in the Medicean villa, and which prefents the idea of a perfon ftrangled. The fame kind of#eye a young artift has given to the ftatue of the Holy Virgin in the church St. Carlo-al Torfo." I fhall quote one more paffage from Paracelfus, who, though an aftrological enthufiaft, was a man of prodigious genius : " To come to the practical part, and give pro- per figns, with fome of their fignifications, it is to be remarked, that blacknefs in the eyes generally denotes health, a firm mind not wavering, but cou- rageous, true, and honourable. Grey eyes gene- rally denote deceit, inftability, and indecifion. Short fight denotes an able projector, crafty and intriguing in action. The fquinting, or falfe- PHYSIOGNOMY. 53 fighted, who fee on both fides, or over and under, certainly denotes a deceitful, crafty perfon, not eafily deceived, miftruftful, and not always to be trufted ; one who willingly avoids labour where he can, indulging in idlenefs, play, ufury, and pilfer- ing. Small and deep funken eyes are bold in op- pofition ; not difcouraged, intriguing, and adtive in wickednefs ; capable of fuffering much. Large eyes denote a covetous greedy man, and efpecially when they are prominent. Eyes in continual mo- tion, fignify fhort or weak fight, fear and care. The winking eye denotes an amorous difpofition, forefight, and quicknefs in projecting. The down- caft eye fhows fliame and modefty. Red eyes fig- nify courage and ftrength. Bright eyes, flow of motion, befpeak the hero, great acts, audacious, > cheerful, one feared by his enemies." It will not be expedted I fhould fubfcribe to all thefe opinions, they being, moft of them ill found- - ed,- at leaft ill defined. • The Eyebrows.: Eyebrows regularly arched are charadteriftic of feminine youth; rectilinear and horizontal, are rnafculine ; arched and the horizontal combined, denote rnafculine underftanding,w and feminine kindnefs. Wild and perplexed, denote a correfponding mind, unlefs the hair be foft, and they then fignify gentle ardour. Compreffed, firm, with the hairs running paral- lel, as if cut, are one of the moft dec.five figns of a firm, manly, mature underftanding, profound wifdom, and a true and unerring perception. Meeting eyebrows, held fo beautiful by the Arabs, and by the old phyfiognomifts fuppofed ) be the mark of craft, 1 can neither believe to be beautiful, nor charadteriftic of fuch a quality. ■ F 3 54 PHYSIOGNOMY. They are found in the moft open, honeft, and worthy countenances. It is true, they give the face a gloomy appearance, and perhaps denote trouble of mind and heart. Sunken eyebrows, fays Winkelmann, impart fomething of the fevere and melancholy to the head of Antinous. I never yet faw a profound thinker, or even a man of fortitude and prudence, with weak, high eyebrows, which in fome meafure equally divide the forehead. Weak eyebrows denote phlegm and debility, though there are choloric and powerful men who have them ; but this weaknefs of eyebrows is al- ways a deduction from power and ardour. Angular, ftrong, interrupted eyebrows, ever denote fire and productive adtivity. The nearer the eyebrows are to the eyes, the more earneft, deep and firm the character. The more remote from the eyes, the more vola- tile, eafily moved, and lefs enterprifing. Remote from each other, warm, open, quick fenfation. White eyebrows fignify weaknefs ; and dark brown, firmnefs The motion of the eyebrows contains numerous expreffions, efpecially of ignoble paffions, pride, anger, and contempt. — ■ •' —■t>mi——— ---- CHAPTER IX. Of the Nofe. f'HAVE generally confidered the Nofe as the foundation or abutment of ilu brain. Whoever PHYSIOGNOMY. 55 is acquainted with the Gothic arch will perfectly underftand what I mean by this abutment : for upon this the whole power of the arch of the fore- head refts, and without it the mouth and cheeks would be oppreffed by miferable ruins. A beautiful nofe will never be found accompany- ing an ugly countenance. An ugly perfon may haveMfine eyes, but not a handfome nofe. I meet withlhoufands of beautiful eyes before one fuch nofe ; and wherever I find the latter, it denotes an extraordinary chara&er. The following is requi- fite to the perfectly beautiful nofe : Its length fhould equal the length of the fore- head. At the top fhould be a gentle indenting. Viewed in front, the back fhould be broad, and nearly parallel, yet above the centre fomething broader. The button, or end of the nofe, muft be neither hard nor flefhy, and its under outline muft be remarkably definite, well delineated, nei- ther pointed nor very broad. The fides feen in front muft be well defined, and the defcending nofirils gently fhortened. Viewed in profile, the bottom of the nofe fhould not have more than one third of its length. The noftrils above muft be pointed ; below, round, and have in general a gentle curve, and be divided into two equal parts, by the profile of the upper lip. The fides, or arch of the nofe, muft be a kind of wall. Above, it muft clofe wejl with the arch of the eyebone, and near the eye muft be at leaft half an inch in breadth. Such a nofe is of more worth than a kingdom. There are, indeed, innumerable ex- cellent men with defedtive nofes, but their excel- lence is of a very different kind. I have feen the pureft, moft capable, and nobleft perfons, with fmall nofes, and hollow in profile ; but their worth mcfl confifted in fuffering, liftening, learning, and enjoying the beautiful influences of imagination ; r