SIGNIFICATION OF THE NAILS.
Broad Nails. The person that hath the nails thus, is of gentle nature, good, and pusillanimous, and a great fear to speak before great persons, or those by whom they are in subjection; as also being guilty of extreme bashfulness.
If about these nails there happens to be an excoriation of the flesh, which is commonly called points—in these large nails it signifies the party given to luxury, yet fearful, but usually given to excess.
When there is at the extremity a white mark, it signifies ruin through negligence. The party has more honesty than subtlety.
White Nails. He that hath the nails white and long, is sickly, and subject to much infirmity by fevers; he is neat but not very strong, because of his indispositions, much addicted to the company of women by whom he will be greatly deceived.
Narrow Nails. The person with such nails, is desirous of attaining knowledge in the sciences; but is never long at peace with his neighbors. But if to narrowness they add some degree of length, the person will be led away by ambitious propensities, always aiming at things which he will be unable to obtain.
Round Nails. These declare a hasty person, yet good-natured and very forgiving; a lover of knowledge, liberal sentiment, doing no one any harm, and acting by his own principles, but too proud of his own abilities.
Long Nails. When the nails are long, the person is of a good-natured turn, but placing confidence in no man, being from his youth familiar with duplicity, but not practising it, from his strict adherence to virtue.
Fleshy Nails. This description of nail indicates an idler, loving to sleep, eat, and drink; not delighting in bustle and busy life; one who prefers a narrow income without industry, to one of opulence to be acquired by activity and diligence.
Little Nails. Little round nails discover a person to be obstinately angry, seldom pleased, inclining to hate every one, as conceiving himself superior to others, though without any reason.
Pale or Lead-colored Nails. A melancholy person, one who through choice leads a sedentary life, and would willingly give up all things for the sake of study, and to improve in the learned and metaphysical branches of philosophy.
Red and spotted Nails. Choleric and martial, delighting in cruelty and war; his chief pleasure being in plundering towns, where every ferocious particle in human nature is glutted to satiety.
When you find any black spots upon the nails, they always signify evil, as white ones are a token of good.