io8 BACON 



has two parts : for as, in all alliances, there are mutual intelli- 

 gence and mutual offices, so the union of the mind and body re- 

 quires a description of the manner wherein they discover, and 

 act upon each other by notices, or indication and impression. 

 The description by indication has produced two arts of predic- 

 tion: the one honored with the inquiry of Aristotle, and the 

 other with that of Hippocrates. And though later ages have 

 debased these arts with superstitious and fantastical mixtures, 

 yet, when purged and truly restored, they have a solid founda- 

 tion in nature, and use in life. The first of these is physiog- 

 nomy, which, by the lineaments of the body, discovers the 

 dispositions of the mind ; the second is the interpretation of nat- 

 ural dreams, which, from the agitations of the mind, discovers 

 the state and dispositions of the body. I find the former de- 

 ficient in one part; for though Aristotle has, with great in- 

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

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

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

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

 eral inclinations and dispositions of the mind, whilst the mo- 

 tions of the face, and the gestures of the other parts, not only 

 do the same, but also express the present disposition and in- 

 clination : for, if I may use one of your Majesty's most forci- 

 ble and elegant expressions, " as the tongue applies to the ear, 

 so does gesture to the eye." And this is well known to many 

 subtile and designing persons, who watchfully 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 opportunities 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 mo- 

 tions. 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 extravagancies. We shall here only 

 observe of it, that at present it stands not upon its best founda- 

 tion ; which is, that where the same thing happens from an in- 



