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On the top, or in the middle of the cup, ⟨it⟩ promises to the consulting party the ⟨triumph⟩ which he desires over his enemy: but he ⟨will⟩ not obtain it so easily if the serpent be in ⟨the⟩ thick or cloudy part. By the letter which ⟨frequently⟩ appears near the emblem, the ⟨enemy⟩ may easily be guessed, as it marks the initial ⟨of⟩ his name.
The Letter.—By letters we communicate ⟨to⟩ our friends either pleasant or unpleasant ⟨news⟩ such is the case here. If this emblem is in ⟨the⟩ clear part, it denotes the speedy arrival of ⟨welcome⟩ news; surrounded with dots, it ⟨announces⟩ the arrival of a considerable remittance ⟨of⟩ money; but hemmed in by clouds, it is ⟨quite⟩ the contrary, and forbodes some ⟨melancholy⟩ tidings. If it be in the elear, and ⟨accompanied⟩ by a heart, lovers may expect a letter, ⟨which⟩ secures to the party the possession of the ⟨beloved⟩ object; but in the thick it denotes a refusal.
The Coffin, the emblem of death, ⟨prognosticates⟩ the same thing here, or long illness if ⟨it⟩ be in the thick. In the clear, it denotes ⟨long⟩ life; in the thick, at the the top of the cup, ⟨it⟩ signifies a considerable estate left to the ⟨party⟩ by some rich relation: in the same manner, ⟨at⟩ the bottom, it shows that the deceased is not ⟨as⟩ nearly related to the consulting party.
The Star denotes happiness if in the ⟨clear⟩ and at the top of the cup; clouded, or in ⟨the⟩ thick, it signifies long life, though exposed ⟨to⟩ various troubles; if dots are about it, it ⟨foretells⟩ great fortune, honours, &c. Several stars ⟨denotes⟩ so many good and happy children; but ⟨surrounded⟩ by dots, show that your children ⟨will⟩ cause you grief and vexation.
