23
JUDGMENTS DEDUCED FROM THE NAILS.
They who have their nails broad, are of a gentle ⟨disposition⟩, bashful, and afraid of speaking before ⟨their⟩ superiors, or indeed to any without hesitation ⟨and⟩ a downcast eye.
If round the nails there is usually any excoriation, or sprouting of the skin, the person is luxurious, fearful, and an epicure, loving, enjoyment, ⟨provided⟩ it is to be obtained without danger.
When there are certain white marks at the end, ⟨it⟩ testifies that the person is improvident, soon mining their fortune through negligence.
Narrow Nails. The person with such nails is ⟨desirous⟩ of attaining knowledge in the sciences: ⟨but⟩ is never at peace long with his neighbours.
When to narrowness they add some degree of ⟨length⟩, the person is led away by ambitious desires, ⟨aiming⟩ at things he cannot obtain; one who, having formed notions of grandeur, grasps at the ⟨shadow⟩ while he loses the substance.
If at both ends there is a redness, or mixture of ⟨several⟩ colours, the person is choleric, and delights ⟨in⟩ fighting.
When the end is black, the man loves agriculture; he places happiness in mediocrity, and ⟨from⟩ thence avoids the cares attendant on either ⟨extreme⟩ of fortune.
Round nails declare a hasty person, yet good-natured, and very forgiving, a lover of knowledge, ⟨honest⟩ in mind, doing no one any harm, and acting according to his own imagiuation, being rather ⟨too⟩ proud of his own abilities.
Long Nails. When the nails are long the person is good-natured, but placing confidence in no ⟨man⟩, being from his youth conversant in deceit,
