I.—OF THE LINE OF LIFE. THIS IS CALLED CARDIACA, OR THE HEART LINE.
This being broad, of a lively color, and decently drawn in its bounds, without intersections and points, shows the party long lived and subject to few diseases.
If slender, short and dissected with obverse little lines, and deformed either by a pale or black color, it presages weakness of the body, sickness and a short life.
If orderly joined to the natural mean, and beautified in the angle with parallels, or a little across, it argues good wit, or an evenness of nature.
If the same have branches in the upper parts thereof, extending themselves towards the natural mean, it signifies riches and honor.
If these branches be extended towards the restricta, it threatens poverty, deceits, and unfaithfulness of servants.
If in this line there be found some confused lines, like hairs, be assured of diseases, and they happen in the first age. When they appear below, if towards the cavea, in the middle; if towards the patica, in the declining age.
If this line be anywhere broken, it threatens extreme danger of life in that part of the age which the pace of the breach shows. For you may find out the dangerous or diseased years of your age; this line being divided into seventy parts, you must begin your number and account from the lower part thereof, near the restricta, for the number falling where the branch is determines the year.
If the character of the sun (as commonly it is made by astrologers) be ever found in this line, it presages the loss of an eye; but, if two such characters, the loss of both eyes.
A line descending from the vital, beneath the congress of it and the hepatica, to the tuberculum of Saturn, shows an envious man, who rejoices at another’s calamity, the sight of others concurring. This also frequently shows a most perilous Saturnine disease in that wherein it touches the vital, and it is much worse if it cut the same.
But such a line passing from the vital to the annular, to the ring finger, promises honors to ensue, from or by the means of some famous lady.
The vital lines being thicker than ordinary at the end under the fore finger, denotes a laborious old age.
A line passing through the vitals to the cavea of Mars, foretells of wounds and fevers, and also of misfortunes in journeys.