ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 179 



by the lineaments of the body, discovers the dispositions of 

 the mind; the second is the interpretation of natural dreams, 

 which, from the agitations of the mind, discovers the state 

 and dispositions of the body. I find the former deficient in 

 one part; for though Aristotle has, with great ingenuity 

 and diligence, treated the structure of the body at rest, he 

 dropped the consideration of it in motion or gesture, 11 which 

 is no less subject to the observations of art, and more useful 

 than the other. For the lineaments of the body show the 

 general inclinations and dispositions of the mind, while 

 the motions of the face, and the gestures of the other parts, 

 not only do the same, but also express the present disposi 

 tion and inclination: for, if I may use one of your Majesty s 

 most forcible and elegant expressions, &quot;as the tongue applies 

 to the ear, so does gesture to the eye.&quot; And this is well 

 known to many subtile and designing persons, who watch 

 fully observe the countenance and gestures of others, and 

 value themselves for their talent of turning such discoveries 

 to their own advantage; and it must be acknowledged an 

 excellent way of discovering dissimulation in others, and 

 of admonishing men to choose proper times and oppor 

 tunities for their addresses, which is no small part of civil 

 prudence. A work upon this doctrine of gesture would not 

 only prove useful in particular cases, but serve as a general 

 rule; for all men laugh, weep, blush, frown, etc., alike: 

 and this holds of nearly all the more subtile motions. But 

 for chiromancy, it is absolutely a vain thing, and unworthy 

 to be mentioned among those we are now treating. 



The interpretation of natural dreams has been much 

 labored; but mixed with numerous extravagances. We 

 shall here only observe of it, that at present it stands not 

 upon its best foundation; which is, that where the same 

 thing happens from an internal cause, as also usually hap 

 pens from an external one, there the external action passes 



11 Bacon s memory here fails Mm ; for Aristotle in his Physiognomia Corporis 

 in Motu, has treated the matter elaborately, though without going much into 

 detail, & 



