History of Monsters. 151

size of the family; if for craftsmen, it foretells profit, since those dreaming of a multitude of ears are said to hear many voices of those hiring their labor. These things, to tell the truth, show various clevernesses of human wit rather than savoring of firm doctrine.

If we continue through these trifles, they ascribe grace of the face to injury and hatred; the mouth to shame, dignity, and health; the beard to authority, profit, and joy; the teeth to family and kinsfolk; the palate to the cook and the sweetness of life; the throat to life and punishment; the chin to the foundation and cause of reputation; the area under the chin to wife, children, and other things that are guarded; the hollow of the throat to death (because animals are slaughtered there), as well as feminine ornaments; and finally the whole neck to strength—on account of the nape—pleasure, and the decor of the home.

If we descend to the thorax, according to the interpreters of dreams, the chest signifies strength, counsel, and secrets; the ribs, because they protect us, are judged to be attendants and procurators; the back, because it bears burdens, designates labors—and even grandchildren, because they come after us. Finally, the shoulders represent family members of lesser authority, the arms represent brothers, and the elbows represent lighter tasks. Through the hands, they understand arts and strength; through the palm of the hand, they understand labors and extreme poverty; however, through the left hand, they predict a sign of profit and business to be done, since this hand is more suited for protection.

Otherwise, in their view, if a man is outstanding in pleading causes and sees himself in his sleep having many hands, he ought to expect prosperity, since this portends an abundance of clients, friends, and money. On the other hand, if the dreamer is a wicked man and finds himself filled with many hands in his rest, evil is to be expected, since many hands are needed to prepare chains. Indeed, hands removed in a dream, as Artemidorus maintained, reveal the arts, and if the hands were beautiful, they presage a happy success in things to be done—especially for those who complete some work with their hands.

From the hand hang the fingers, which, among the dream-interpreters, have their own meanings; for through them they indicate small works and faith. Separately, however, the thumb signifies strength and letters; the index finger signifies faith, religion, letters, and the ability to write; the middle finger signifies impudence and foul deeds; the ring finger signifies wife, children, and dignities; and the pinky signifies children and their guardianship. Finally, the nails show protection and firmness.

Dream-interpreters liken the navel to parents and the fatherland: for just as a fetus is nourished through the navel, likewise nourishment is received from the fatherland and from parents. Therefore, what appears regarding the navel in dreams prophesies about the fatherland and parents. The belly is also said to designate wealth, for the body receives nourishment from it just as a man does from his riches. Otherwise, according to the opinion of Hippocrates, the belly is likened to the sea; since if someone seems to see a turbulent sea in their sleep, he conjectured that they were suffering from an affliction of the belly—or would suffer from one—for just as rivers discharge themselves into the sea, similarly all excrements flow to the belly.

Regarding the internal organs, some things must be told: for through the heart they understand parents, children, and wife; through the lungs, words and speech; through the stomach, pleasure, estates, and annual returns; through the gallbladder, indignation, anger, and diseases; through the spleen, laughter; through the kidneys, children and strength; through the intestines, hidden wealth; through the bladder, feminine finery; and through the uterus, sons and daughters.

Nor are the private parts left behind, which, among them, denote honor, pleasure, wealth, and strength.

Indeed, separately, the anus signifies cares and impediments, since excrements are pushed out through that part. The vulva indicates shameful pleasure, while the buttocks—most abject parts—indicate impudence, filthiness, as well as slaves and tenant farmers.

Furthermore, they note maidservants and child-guardians by the hips; more serious operations by the knees; family members and friends (by whose help we are supported) by the shins, as well as the ornament and protection of the law; abject slaves and those upon whose assistance we most rely by the ankles; the foundation of the whole house by the feet, as well as slaves, because the feet sustain the weight of the entire body just as slaves always work at home and in the fields, and those who work poorly are punished with the torture of shackles. Finally, the highest strength is noted by the heel—specifically that which a man can trust most greatly—and lastly, protection and ornament are shown by the skin.

Thus far concerning the parts; now we think something must be said about the whole. For they write,