Fig. V.
This eye, and round nose with a great eminence like the bill of a cock, are incontestible proofs that the owner, like that spirited little animal, is vigilant, brave, and voluptuous.
Fig. VI.
Polemon says that a man whose mouth is very wide is of an uncouth, rude, and impious disposition. According to Adamantius, such a mouth denotes ignorance and greediness. Albert is of opinion that a mouth unreasonably extended, points out the cruel, impious, warlike, and gluttonous man. Polemon and Adamantius represent the Wicked Fool with a mouth split almost from ear to ear. Sea monsters, and all voracious animals, have such mouths. I can assure you, says Porta, that my farmer has a mouth not much smaller, and he is stupid as an ass, and greedy as a dog.
Those who have large round eyeballs are generally subject to bad habits. But Adamantius justly observes, that foolish persons have large eyeballs, and so have all giddy animals, such as the bull, sheep, &c.
HANDSOME FACES.
The beauty of the face denotes good manners, and those amiable mental qualities from which true politeness proceeds. If it does not entirely satisfy the eye, it has the power, at least, of attracting attention. Beauty is followed by virtue, and repels vice. It is said that Achilles had a handsome visage, and that he was liberal and noble-minded; in war, generous, quick, and merciful. Patroclus was distinguished for his stature, and was strong and prudent. Priam, king of Troy, who was endowed with uncommon beauty of face, was highly virtuous. Troilus, who was remarkably handsome, was very generous, and an admirer of virtue. Hecuba was uncommonly beautiful, just, pious, and possessed of a masculine spirit. Andromache, who was possessed of bright eyes, fair complexion, and an elegant figure, was modest, wise, gentle, and chaste. Polyxena was fair, beautiful, and well proportioned, and surpassed all the other princesses in beauty. According to Dares, the Phrygian, she was elegant and liberal, and thought little of life. Diogenes says that Pythagoras was so extremely beautiful, that his disciples looked upon him as an Apollo, who came from the northward. He was the first real philosopher in Italy, where he not only professed the greatest sciences, but even invented several. Cyrus was extremely well proportioned, and was a lover of the fine arts and of honour. In the pursuit of glory, he willingly submitted to all manner of fatigue, and encountered the greatest dangers. Xenophon speaks of the virtue and warlike achievements of this truly great man. Plutarch relates that Darius was the handsomest and finest looking man of his time, insomuch that Alexander could easily distinguish him in battle. Evagoras’s face expressed honesty; he was so noble minded, brave, temperate, wise, and just, that some thought him to be a genius under the human form. Democles, on account of his personal beauty, surnamed the beautiful, was courageous and very prodigal. To escape the violence of Demetrius, who surprised him naked, and going to bathe, he leaped into a reservoir of boiling water. History mentions a young man, named Galetes, who was much beloved by Ptolemy, on account of his uncommon beauty, and the noble sentiments of his mind. The latter used to exclaim, “O thou dear and amiable youth! thou hast never caused any harm, but the sight of thee has afforded pleasure to many.” Scipio Africanus was graced with a matchless beauty, and surpassed all other men in the faculties of his mind, in eloquence, benignity, magnificence, and continence. He was well acquainted with the sciences and liberal arts; he was a valiant captain, and, by his heroic deeds, excelled not only the greatest princes of his time, but those of former ages. During battle he always displayed an invincible courage, and his clemency in victory was never equalled. Augustus preserved his beauty through life, and was admired for his eloquence, and the exercise of the fine and military arts. He was the most fortunate of all the Cæsars. Macrobius testifies, in his writings, that as Publius Syrus was extremely handsome, so the faculties of his mind were uncommonly brilliant, which enabled him to give that sharpness to his jests for which he was so celebrated. Lucretia, so celebrated among the Romans, owed her celebrity to her beauty and chastity. Galeatius surpassed all his cotemporaries in virtue and magnificence, as well as in beauty. He established a college, and a library, in which he placed the best professors and the choicest books. Saladin, emperor of the Turks, was handsome and generous. John Pic Mirandula, possessed great beauty of face, symmetry of shape, and elegance of figure. His imagination was brilliant, his behaviour frank, and his eloquence irresistible; for which virtues he was justly called the Phœnix of his age.
UGLY FACE.
Homer represents Thersites as having a very long head, a deformed face, and low stature, to which his manners appears to have corresponded. Leteus Metellus was so small, and his face so deformed, that he appeared ridiculous to all. Cicero reproached Piso for the deformity of his face, and the shameful profligacy of his manners. Sallust remarks, that the pale and deformed visage of Cataline was more like that of a corpse than of a living man; he was profane, cruel, and capable of the blackest crimes. Xenocrates had a disagreeable and hideous aspect, for which reason he often sacrificed to the graces, that they might give him some beauty; his mind was stupid and dull, and he used to say that “he wanted spurs to be roused to action.”