The History of Monsters. 302 — Ulisse Aldrovandi

part of the palm, they indicated eight, and on the right hand eight hundred. The little, ring, and middle fingers of the left hand, curved toward the base of the palm so as to cover it, revealed nine, but on the right hand they disclosed nine hundred.

When the index finger of the left hand was curved so that the tip of the nail was fixed at the first joint of the thumb, it indicated ten, and on the right hand, one thousand. When the index of the left was positioned as described, and the little finger was bent as if signifying one, it demonstrated eleven, although on the right hand this would denote one hundred and ten. Next, with the index finger so positioned and the little and ring fingers bent to signify two, they designated twelve; this gesture on the right hand denotes one hundred and twenty. Again, with the index arranged as described and the little, ring, and middle fingers bent to denote the number three, they showed thirteen; when this gesture was observed on the right hand, it was understood as one hundred and thirty. Furthermore, with the index figured as above but the ring and middle fingers curved to denote four, they signified fourteen, and on the right, one hundred and forty. Again, with the index so disposed, if the middle finger was bent for the number five, fifteen was shown, and on the right, one hundred and fifty. And so on, with the index figured the same way and the ring finger bent to signify six, sixteen was meant, while on the right hand, one hundred and sixty was signaled. Similarly, with the index shaped as above and the ring finger curved for the mark of seven, seventeen was indicated, and on the right, one hundred and seventy.

However, if the index finger of the left hand was curved so that its nail touched the base of the thumb, it demonstrated ninety, and—still on the left—nine thousand. Indeed, when the nail of the index was curved to the lowest joint of the thumb with the middle finger bent and the ring and little fingers extended, ninety-five was understood. If the index of the right hand, pressed to the first joint of its own thumb, was added to this number, it signified one thousand; from both hands arranged thus, the result was one thousand and ninety-five. Among the ancients, this number was said to be a symbol of silence. They inferred this because if a boy did not speak within the space of three years—which consist of one thousand and ninety-five days—they predicted from then on that he would never speak.

When the thumb fixed the tip of its nail on the last joint of the index finger (speaking here of the left hand), it signified twenty, while that same gesture on the right hand denoted two thousand. But if the thumb and index finger joined nails in a gentle touch, they revealed thirty on the left hand and three thousand on the right. Likewise, with the thumb and index joined in a gentle touch and the ring and little fingers of the left hand bent, thirty-two is noted. When the joint of the thumb was placed over the middle part of the index so as to form a cross, forty was understood on the left hand and four thousand on the right. Again, with the thumb of the left hand bent generally toward the palm in the shape of the Greek letter Gamma, fifty was noted on the left and five thousand on the right. Further, with the thumb inclined and the index finger placed over its middle part, sixty was manifested on the left hand and six thousand on the right. Again, with the left thumb extended so that it clung to the middle of the index, seventy was shown, but seven thousand on the right. Finally, with the thumb extended between the index and middle fingers so the index was bent around it, eighty was noted on the left and eight thousand on the right.

So much for the hands; now something must be said about the feet of statues. In many statues of the ancients, the left foot was observed to be thrust forward, a gesture by which they intended to indicate an attack, as such a posture seemed more suited for marching forward.

Since we have spoken of statues signifying something through the gestures of their hands and feet, we must also discuss those carved with weapons, banners, shields, and figures of animals. Let one stand as an example of all: the statue called Hermansul, which Goropius described among the Saxons. This depicted an armed man holding a military banner with the image of a rose in his right hand and a scale in his left. His chest was unarmed, and a lion was carved upon his shield. Near him was a bear. The statue was erected in a flowery field, and the banner was made of many bands tied to a spear. Goropius asserted that this statue indicated there is no peace so secure that arms should not always be at the ready. By the unarmed chest, an undaunted mind was to be understood. By the bear