PHYSIOGNOMY. 
of this art or science, pronounced that lliose 
eyes generally termed black frequently de- 
noted health, firmness, courage, and hononr ; 
but the grey, deceit and instability. Thus 
far probability at least accompanies his re- 
marks. It is, however, impossible to sub- 
scribe to his assertion, that short sighted 
persons are deceitful and crafty, or that 
those who squint have similar propensities 
to evil, as it is evident bolh the peculiarities 
alluded to are the consequences of injury, 
and are never found in people whose organs 
of vision are perfect: indeed many instances 
might be cited of the actual and known 
causes of squinting and near sight, which 
frequently occur in adults from extreme 
anxiety and disease. 
Small eyes situated deep in the sockets 
are said, by Paracelsus, to indicate active 
wickedness, with a mind calmilated to op- 
pose with vigour, and sulfer with perseve- 
rance ; and their opposites, or very large 
prominent eyes, he conceived explained the 
avaricious, covetous, propensities of their 
possessor ; those in constant motion denotes 
fear and care ; winking is tlse mark of fore- 
sight, of an amorous disposition, and quick- 
ness in projecting ; and the eye fearful of 
looking directly forward, decides upon in- 
nate modesty, 
Lavater thought blue eyes, in general, 
signified effeminacy and weakness, and yet 
he acknowledged that many eminent men 
have had blue eyes; still he was convinced 
that strength and manhood more particular- 
ly belong to the brown : in opposition to 
this opinion, the Chinese, who are known 
to be an imbecile people, rarely have blue 
eyes ; these contradictions, it must be con- 
fessed, weaken the reliance we are inclined 
to place on appearances during the quiescent 
state of the eyes, and the indications of 
their colour. Men intemperate in anger, 
and easily irritated, may be found with eyes 
of all the usual colours; wlieu they incline 
to green, ardour, spirit, and courage, are 
constant attendants. People of a phleg- 
matic habit, but who may be roused to 
activity, have clear blue eyes, which never 
belong to those inclined to melancholy, and 
they rarely belong to the choleric. Bene- 
volence, tenderness, timidity, and weak- 
ness, are exhibited by the perfectly semi- 
circular arch formed by the under part of 
the upper eye-lid : persons of acute and 
solid understandings have a generous open 
eye, composing a long and acute angle with 
tlic nose; and when the eye lid forms a 
horizontal line over the pupil, it is a strong 
indication that he who possesses it is subtile, 
able, and penetrating. Widely opening 
lids, shewing tlie white of the ball under the 
other colours, may be observed in the 
phlegmatic and timid, as well as in the 
courageous and rash ; but upon comparing 
these marks in the different characters just 
mentioned, a very perceptible dilFerence is 
discovered in the characteristics of the 
eyes ; the latter are less oblique, better 
shaped, and more firm. 
The eye brows are essential in the ex- 
pression of the eyes, in anger they are 
brought down and contracted ; in all plea- 
sant sensations, and in astonishment, they 
assume a fine arch ; in youth they are natu- 
rally and regularly arched ; the horizontal 
and rectilinear eye-brow belongs to the 
masculine bias of the soul ; and the above 
designations combined shew strength of un- 
derstanding, united with feminine kindness ; 
those that are deranged in their appearance, 
and the hairs growing in various directions, 
demonstrate a wild and perplexed state of 
mind ; but if the hair is fine and soft they 
signify gentle ardour. ' The compressed firm 
eye-brow, formed of parallel hairs, is a cer- 
tain proof of profound wisdom, true percep- 
tion, and a manly firm habit of thought. 
There are eye-brows which meet across the 
nose, this circumstance gives the person an 
air of ferocious gloom which is admired by 
the Arabs, but the ancients, versed in phy- 
siognomy, conceived such to be characteris- 
tic of cunning ; Lavater, on the contrary, ob- 
serves, that he had discovered them on the 
most wortliy and open countenances, ad- 
mitting at the same time that they may de- 
note a heart ill at ease. Those who think 
profoundly, and those equally prudent and 
firm in their conduct, never have high and 
W'eak eye-brows, in some measure equally 
dividing the forehead, they rather betray 
debility and apathy, and though men of an 
opposite character may be found with them 
they invariably signify a diminution of the 
powers of the mind. Thick angular eye- 
brows, interrupted in fheir lengths, signify 
spirit and activity ; and when they ap- 
proach the eyes closely, the more firm, 
vigorous, and decided, is the charactoi- ; the 
reverse shews a volatile and less enterpriz- 
ing disposition ; when the extremes are 
remote from each other, the sensations of 
the possessor are sudden and violent. White 
eyc-brows are demonstrative of weakness, 
in the same degree that the dark-brown are 
of firmness. 
The good Lavater considered the nose tis 
