IS 16.] Ancient Craniologi/. 303 



Tiio best form of a licad is nioiierate the neck itself strong, it is a sign of 



as to ?,i8aluess aiid tliickiiess, and of a stiengtli, lust, cholor, inagnauimity, aud 



Xleceiit and couvenientroiiiulncss, which, a mailial i)iMnoi% 



before and behind, is tempered with a 4, When a man or v.onjan have th« 



little eoniprcssion. head long and sharp, like a pyramid, or 



The reason why some have little heads, siigar-Ioar, it denotes a man shameless, 

 and so, consequently, no great plenty of wiio in liis youth had a vivacity of spirit, 

 sense, is, as tlie physicians say, lack of Nvhich by the age of twenty vanished 

 matter; and tlie j;reat head is caused away. Many such heads may lie seen 

 llirongh the abundajicc and snpeitluity among us, such jjcisoiis are <jlnttons and 

 of seed ill the formation. I^ut, if there great caters, rash and bold, which pro- 

 be sutlicicnt matter with tlie force of (he ceeds from dryness of the brain, 

 first formative power, the head will be 5. A head well-composed, and of a 

 of a decent form, and not nnieii niali- good form, according to tlie dimensions 

 cious. For malice is lepresented in a oi'thc b(jdy, and if the ventricle before 

 iiiau by some deformity or moDstrous- be well-formed and well tempered, sig- 

 jiess. liifies goodness and wisdom: for the ap- 

 ■ The brain, one of tlie uoblest parts of prehension of species procreds from heat 

 the body, is according to the form of the and moisture, and the retention proceeds 

 cranium or skull; for, if the cranium be from the draught in the hind part, 

 corrupted, the braiii is so too. The head 6. A head having the middle ventricle 

 of man hath proporUonately more brains somewhat compr'jssed toward the sides 

 than in any oliier living creature: and denotes the cogitative faculty to be- 

 men have more biains than women; and natural, quick, diligently comprehensive, 

 the head of man hath more joints than rationative, and eloquent, v\ hich pro- 

 any other creature's. So the w«ll-formed ceeds from the union of the spirits that 

 head is like a mallet, or sphere, thcro are in that place. Those who have the 

 being some crainency, before and behind, head tlms are learned and knowing. 

 The form of the middle ventricle should 7. A head that is altogether spherical, 

 be a little compressed ; so the cogitative signities mobility, inconstancy, forgct- 

 faculty is the more notable. fulness, little discretion or wisdom. 



If tlie fore part be dcpi essed, the man 8. The head very little is necessarily 



is of no judgiBoiit; if the hhidmore, he an evil sign ; and the less it is flic more 



liatli no memory, having a great weak- folly tlicre is. The person is snliject ta 



ness iu the motion of the nerves, and sickness, because of the small quantity 



consequently of all p;uls of the body, of brains, the ventricles being narrow. 



The strengiii of the brain is demon-' the spirits therein are pressed, and can- 



sttrated by the strength of tlic body and not exercise their functions, but remain 



i)crves, as also by tlic liroadth of tiie slmllled together and smothered : hence 



shoulders, the breast, and the lateral it comes, that their imagination is neither 



parts, called Jnjpncondyes, which are the IVee nor good, and their memory is slip 



jnncturesof the liver to the spleen. l>ery. Such persons are very choleric 



' The head which is of a handsome and and hasty in all their actions, aiKl ai^ 



tlecent form, augmcnlsthe sense and vir- more like Saint Matluuin than Socrates, 



tiio, and denotes in the mail magnifi- They are commonly vertiginous, and ex- 



fence and honor; but, if deformed, the ceed not the age of fifty-six years. 



contrary. 9. A head out of measure long, and 



The judgements we sliall tliencc draw oblique in the organs, denotes impudicity 



are these: and impriHlencc. They are like the 



1. A head, not beyond measure great, swine, as Porta says, wearying them- 

 dcnotcs persons fair, wiie, and well-con- selves in the defileincut of venereal ac- 

 dilioiied, studious, having a strong and tioiis. 



great memory, given to the reading of- 10. Ahead that is low and flat dc- 



good books. ' notes iin|:udonce and dissoluteness; a 



2. 'I'hose that have the head out of head high before, folly and stupidity of 

 measure big, are commonly foolish, in- spirit. 



docile, not far from a little madness; they 11. A head that hath, as it wcr«, a 



do nolhing that speaks any gentility of diteh behind, and is depressed and liol- 



Kpirit, but live sadly, in :( perpetual me- low, denotes .t man subject to wiathful- 



lancholy, or haply gluttony. ness, lieiiig of a melancholic hnmonr. 



3. When the li(,ad is proportionate tn This head hatb some likeness to that of a 

 tb« bodv, the sinvws gf the neck biff; and caind. 



13. A 



