of this gesture where he saith The slothfull man is compared to the filth of a dunghill every man that takes it up will SHAKE HIS HAND Castigo Gestus XXXIV TO SHAKE OR HOLD THE STRETCHED AND RAISED HAND OVER ANY is their expression who offer to chastise and thew a willingnes to strike or take revenge Hence the prohibition of the Angel to Abraham about to sacrifice his son after he had STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND to that intent lay not thine Hand upon the childe The Prophet Isaiah respective to this signification of gesture saith That the King of Assyria should SHAKE HIS HAND against the mount of the daughter of Sion And because men are wont to use this expression by gesture to those they hold worthy of rebuke and punishment that being terrified thereby they might reclaim them from vice Hence by an Anthropopeia in many places of Scripture this gesture implies the chastizing Hand of God To this signification belongs that of the Prophet Isaiah In that day shall Aegypt be like unto women and it shall be afraid and feare because of the SHAKING OF THE HAND of the Lord of Hosts which he shaketh over it To this also belongs that of the same Prophet With his mighty wind shall he SHAKE HIS HAND over the river And the Prophet Zechariah to the same signification Behold I will SHAKE MINE HAND upon them Pugno Gestus XXXV TO STRIKE ONE WITH THE FIST is their Gesture who would be avenged of those that have offended them and would right themselves by this wilde vindictive justice of their Hands The Hand thus closely shut and the fingers all turned in is called in Latine Pugnus quoniam manus quae ante erat passa mane unde manus contracta clausis digitis effecta est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est densae The nether part of this Hand in this posture Chiromancers call the pomell or percussion of the Hand the Greeks Hypothenâ—r seu ferieus manus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 percutere Galeâ— observes that the outside of the Hand was deprived of flesh that the FIST might be more confirmed to supply the place of a weapon And indeed they naturally and easily finde this thicke weapon who would BUFFET or fight at fisticusses with others This was the gesture of the Hand that first begun the fray or skirmish in the world before time had brought in the use of other weapons Hence the Latines say Pugnam in manu esse and pugna hath its denomination from this posture of the Hand Lucretius alludes to this primitive expression of anger Arma antiquâ— manus ungues dentesque fuerunt And when we see men together by the ears we know what they intend thereby The Prophet Isaiah condemning the injurious use of this smiting expression of the Hand in 〈◊〉 and debate calls it the Fist of wickednesse Reprchendo Gestus XXXVI TO BOX OR SMITE ONE WITH THE PALM OF THE HAND is their expression who would rebuke or correct another for some saucie speech or action Hence the Hand with the fingers stretched out which Isidor calls the palme hath its name in Hippocrates from a word that signifieth to strike Agellius useth the word depalmare for this smiting expression of the palme The Greeks to the same signification of gesture use the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This contemptuous expression of anger the officer of the high Priest used to our blessed Saviour for the Text saies He strooke him with the palme of his Hand taking upon him to rebuke Christ for answering the high Priest irreverently as he cursedly supposed To the naturall signification of this offensive gesture may that of the Prophet Isaiah be referred Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people and He hath STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND against them and hath smitten them c. for all this his anger is not turned away but his HAND IS STRETCHED OUT still Apprehendo Gestus XXXVII TO LAY HAND UPON ONE is their expression who with authority apprehend and lay hold of one as a delinquent to secure their person This is one of the properest expressions of the Hand apprehension being the proper action of the Hand for Hand and Hold are conjugates as they terme them in the Schooles from which gesture the Hand is called Organon antilepticon for it is the first use of the Hand to TAKE HOLD With the Ancients this gesture is manucaptio and manus injicere This is a dangerous Habeas Corpus in officers who are the Hands of the Law without words obtains the force of an arrest and hath a spice of their authority more strong then their emblematicall Mace These actions are frequently entered in the Counter of Time Thus the officers of the high Priest LAID HANDS on Christ and tooke him Manumitto Gestus XXXUIII TO LET GO ONES HOLD AND TAKE OFF THE HAND FROM ANY ONE is their gesture who would signifie a willingnesse to release one that was before in their possession and power as having some reason to grant them their liberty This with the Ancients is manumittere and from the signification of this naturall gesture the Ancients tooke their formes of manumission used when they did enfranchise their bond-men of which the Civill Law takes much notice and the observation of Critiques are very large in that matter There is in this naturall expression of the Hand a certaine forme of the thing signified Hence the Aegyptian Priests who alwayes had their eyes fixt upon the Hand of nature in their Hieroglyphique expressed liberty by a HAND EXTENDED OUT AT LARGE in which lively symbole of gesture the fingers seem to be made frée of the Hand The medall of Tiberius Claudius Caesar in which a little graven image hath the LEFT HAND OPENED TO ITS UTTERMOST EXTENT with this inscription Libertas Augusta implies as much since the left Hand the most retentive appears fréely to manumit for as the Hand in this posture implies the naturall liberty of its owne proper and individuall body so it most properly expresses the gift of the same priviledge to others by the same freedome of gesture Incito Gestus XXXIX TO CLAP ONE ON THE BACK OR SHOULDER WITH THE HAND is their expression who would hearten and encourage others a gesture obvious in the Hand that takes part with those that are in fight and desires to set men or beasts together by the ears Significantly respective unto this is that gesture among others used in installing the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem whereby he that gives him Knight-hood LAYING HIS HAND ON HIS SHOULDER doth exhort him to be vigilant in the Faith and to aspire unto true honour by couragious and laudable actions Foveo Gest. XL. VVE USE TO STROKE THEM GENTLY WITH OUR HAND whom we make much of cherish humour or affectionately love an expression very obvious among the actions of
him and he sate upon it and Aaron and Hur stayd up his Hands the one on the one side and the other on the other side so his Hands were steady untill the going downe of the Sunne and Josuah discomfited Amalech Upon which Philo allegorizing shewes that victorious gesture of Moses Hands doth signifie that by the vertue and intention of prayer all things are overcome or it implyes the elevation of the intellect to sublime contemplations and then Amalech that is the affections are overcome Origen descanting upon the posture of Moses Hands observes that hee did elevate not extend his Hands that is his workes and actions to God and had not his HANDS DEIECTED He LIFTS UP HIS HANDS that layes up treasure in heaven For where we love thither resorts the eye and the Hand He that keepes the Law orecomes he that doth not lets Amalech prevaile Elias Cretensis thus This gesture of Moses Hands if you looke to that which falls under the aspect of the eye signifies prayer Hence in an old Scheme of Clodovaeus there are two armes erected to Heaven supported by two others with this Motto TUTISSIMUS with reference to the conquering Hands of Moses To teach Commanders that piety strikes the greatest stroke in all battailes Gâ—ropius who with an over strained phancie following his owne conceit makes use of the naturall expressions of the Hand for the exalting the Cimbrian or old Teutonique tongue into the preheminencies of the originall language presenâ—s his superstitious observations thus To joyne the hands in prayer and so to applie their upper parts to the mouth doth signifie that men in prayer should seeke to be conjoyn'd to one that is most High and because prayer proceeds from the mouth and the Hands upright with the mouth transverse seeme to delineate a Roman T he hath another inference from that similitude The STRETCHING OUT THE HANDS TO GOD is sometimes taken in Scripture for the acknowledgement of an offence as in the prayer of Solomon at the consecration of the Temple and Solomon praying STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO HEAVEN after this manner And thus Moses praying STRSETCHED OUT HIS HANDS UNTO THE LORD Thus Judas Macchabeus encountring the army of Nicanor STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS TOWARDS HEAVEN and called upon the Lord that worketh wonders ¶ To the signification of anguish and affliction belongs that of the Prophet Jeremiah Zion SPREADETH FORTH HER HANDS and there is none to comfort her For they who pray sometimes STRETCH OUT THEIR HANDS somtimes LIFT THEM UP Hence Lauretus to SPREAD OUT or EXTEND THE HAND is to open dilate and unfold that which was straitned and folded in To SPREAD OUT THE HAND is also to lift it up but to EXTEND is to erect and raise them up So he expoundinâ— the sacred sense of these speaking gestures of prayer S. Hillarie very elegantly distinguisheth betweene the EXPANSION and ELEVATION of the Hands which in this matter of prayer are promiscuously used in Scripture So upon that of the Psalmist I will LIFT UP MY HANDS in thy Name hee doth not take it for the habit of praying but for a declaration of a worke of a high elevation So likewise upon such a passage of another Psalme Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS as the evening Sacrifice He shewes that the Apostle where he exhorts them to LIFT UP pure Hands hee does not appoint a habit of praying but addes a rule of divine operation So the noble Prophet when you SPREAD FORTH YOUR HANDS I will hide mine eyes from you yea when you make many prayers I will not heare if you EXTEND YOUR HANDS not if you LIFT THEM UP but if you EXTEND YOUR HANDS because the habit of praier is in the SPREAD OUT HANDS but the power of a perfect worke is in the ELEVATION Therefore the LIFTING UP THE HANDS is an Evening Sacrifice But this for all I can finde is but the peculiar fancie of this Father For surely the ELEVATION as well as the EXPANSION or STRETCHING OUT OF THE HANDS are both significantly naturall in this sense Indeed St. Hierome drawes these two gestures of prayer into Allegories not much unlike thus TO SEND FORTH THE HAND to God as it were to seeke out for reliefe is to direct our actions to him and not to worke for vain glory He also SPREADS FORTH HIS HANDS to God who dilates in the evaporation of a vain mouth and who against the grace of the Giver is proud of the virtue of his workes Calvin in his Comment upon Timothy upon which place Cornelius à Lapide hath also noted many things observing that the Apostle hath put the signe of prayer for the thing signified sayes that this expression of gesture is very agreeable to true piety so the verity that is figured thereby doe answer the signification to wit that being by nature admonished that God is to be sought for in heaven that first wee should put off all terrene and carnall imaginations of Him that nothing may hinder us in the raising of our selves above the world Idolaters and Hypocrites in LIFTING UP THEIR HANDS in prayer are but Apes who while they by the outward Symbol professe to have their mindes erected upwards the first of them sticke in the wood and stone as if God were inclosed there the second sort intangled in vaine cares or wicked cogitations lye groveling on the earth and by a contradiction of gesture beare witnesse against themselves The Ancients are very copious in expressing these outward formes of devotion in the Hands for they say the HANDS STRETCHED OUT PUT FORTH HOLDEN ABROAD EXPANSED and ERECTED and all to imply the naturall piety of the Hand in this expression With Tertullian the Hands thus affected are EXâ—ANS'D with Virgil HOLDEN ABROAD as Nonnius interpreteth the action they are the OPEN AND EXTENDED HANDS And in this gesture many things are contained Maldonat conceives the meaning of this naturall ELEVATION OF THE HANDS is to teach us that Heaven is the throne and as it were the Cathedrall Temple of God Pintus thinkes this gesture shewes that God is on high and that all things are to be hoped for at His Hands Cresollius sayes that this deportment of our Hands declares that we affectionately fly unto the protection of God our heavenly Father Even as little children disabled by some fright with stretcht out Hands run into the lap of their parents or as men in the midst of shipwracke stretch out their Hands to some friendly Saviour For since the force of this Organum organorum the Hand the most excellent instrument of common life doth chiefly consist in three things in Giving Doing and Repelling who LIFTS UP HIS HANDS seems wholy to deliver and commit himself and all that he is into the sacred power of the Godhead as if with David he had his soule
commanded silence makes Hydaspes himselfe to STRETCH OUT HIS HAND to appeare them and did them be still And Barclay brings in Euphormio when there was a noise that he could not bee heard with THIS GESTICULATION OF HIS HAND signifying that he had somewhat to say unto them Prophane Histories that containe a relation of things really done are not barren in this expression of the Hand For when Titus was returned to Rome after the destruction of Jerusalem and his Father Vespasian and hee triumphed in common as soone as they were set in their ivory Tribunals the Souldiers with loud voice declared their valour and fortitude Vespasian having received their prayses they offering still to speake on in his commendations he BECKNED WITH HIS HAND and made a signe unto them to bee silent When Commodus the Emperour was set in his throne to behold those famous Actors which were to celebrate a sacred Agon or Pageant in honour of Jupiter Capitolinus and the Theater full of spectatours before any thing was said or acted on the Stage suddenly there starts out one in a Philosophers habit with a staffe in his Hand and a scrip on his shoulder halfe naked who running to the midst of the Stage stood still and Bâ—CKONING WITH HIS HAND for silence discovered the treason of Perennius to Commodus Thus Drusus being sent to appease the rebellion in Pannonia standing up upon the Tribunall BECKONED WITH HIS HAND for silence to be made And after Constantine the Emperor was baptized having caused a Throne to bee erected in the Palace of Trajan he declared with the eloquence of a Monarch the reason which had moved him to alteration of Religion His Oration being heard of all the world with great applause in such sort that for the space of two houres the cryes of a great many were heard which made acclamations at length the Emperour rose up and MAKING A SIGNE WITH HIS HAND required silence which instantly made all that great multitude hold their peace The most sacred History is not without examples of holy men who have significantly made use of this expression of the Hand For wee reade that Peter BECKOND with his Hand unto them that were gathered together in Maries house to hold their peace Thus Paul stood up and BECKOND with his Hand and said Men of Israel and ye that fear God hearken c. And when Claudius Lysiâ—â— the chiefe Captaine had given Paul licence to speake unto the people Paul stood upon the greices of the Castle into which they were leading him and BECKOND unto the people and when there was made a great silence he began his Apology in the Hebrew tongue Alexander likewise used this BECKING with the Hand when hee would have excused the matter unto the people In the Originall Peter is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manu silentio postulato as one Translation anxuere manu ut tacerent as Beza in the others the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is left out for the BECKING MOTION OF THE HAND upon such occasions cannot well be understood otherwise then for a signe of reaving audience Juro Gestus XVII TO LIFT UP THE RIGHT HAND TO HEAVEN is the naturall forme and ceremony of an oath used by those who call God to witnesse and would adjure confirme or assure by the obligation of an oath An expression first used by the Hands of the ancient Patriarchs and is thought to have flowed from God himselfe who in many places of holy Writ is brought in speaking of himselfe to have used this gesture for confirmation of his gracious promises by the outward solemnity of an oath Hence it was that Abraham said unto the King of Sodome I have LIFTED UP MY HAND UNTO THE LORD that is I have sworne that I will not take from a thread even to a shooe latchet c. Unto this naturall expression the Psalmist alludes HE LIFTED UP HIS HAND that is he swore And to the signification of this gesture of the Hand some referre that passage of the Psalmist Whose Right Hand is a Right Hand of falshood that is they have forsworne and broke their vow Hence by a forme of speech taken from this expression TO LIFT UP THE HAND in the Scripture phrase is the same as to sweare and take a solemne oath With reference to the manifest attestation and significant obligatory force of the Hand in this businesse the late nationall Covenant was expresly ordered to be tooke with the Right Hand held up on high The Angels also when they sweare doe it not without this manuall asseveration for the Angell in the Apocalyps that Iohn saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth when he sware that there should be time no longer lifted up his Hand to Heaven ¶ This vowing expression of the Hand Marius used in the battaile of the Cymbres when he promised and vowed a Hecatomb or solemne sacrifice of an hundred Oxen. Thus also Catulus vowed to build a Temple to Fortune for that day Asseveratione Deo attestor Gestus XVIII TO EXTEND AND RAISE UP BOTH THE HANDS TO HEAVEN is an expression of establishment and a most strong kinde of asseveration implying as it were a double â—ath There is a passage in the prophesie of the Prophet Daniel which doth confirme and illustrate this expression And I heard the man cloathed in linnen which was upon the waters of the rivers when he HELD UP HIS RIGHT HAND AND HIS LEFT UNTO HEAVEN which was a double oath as our Glosse hath it Lauretus upon this place saith that the lifting up of the right and the left Hand signifies an oath with a commination and a promise Ovid well knowing this double forme of an oath describing Philomela frighted at the comming of her sister Progne as she strove to sweare and call the gods to witnesse to the purity of her thoughts and that she was compelled to that dishonourable fact very elegantly makes her HOLD UP HER HANDS for spéech Such an asseveration of gesture I lately observed in some at the publique taking of the last Nationall Covenant who as I conceived rather out of a zealous earnestnesse to ingage themselves in the Cause then out of any affectation or privity to this double formality of a Vow tooke the Covenant with BOTH THEIR HANDS HELD UP In the same posture of expression we finde Gadatas the Eunuch in Xenophon LIFTING UP HIS HANDS TO HEAVEN taking an oath Suffragor Gest. XIX TO HOLD UP THE HAND is a naturall token of approbation consent election and of giving suffrage An expression of the Hand so common that Chirotonia which properly is this gesture of the Hand is usurped per metalepsin connexi pro suffragio To this declaration of the Hand that elegant metaphor of the Prophet Zephanie is referred The deepes made a noise and LIFT UP THEIR HANDS ON HIGH that is shewed signes of
common life being a kinde of indulgent declaration of the minde used to pacifie and please others performed by drawing our Hand with a sweetning motion over the head or face of the party to whom we intend this insinuation This the Ancients call mulcere caput alterius a gesture often used by men in signe of favour and encouragement to ingenious and towardly youths Admoneo Gest. XLI TO TAKE HOLD GENTLY Of ANOTHERS HAND is a gesture used by those who admonish and perswade which hee that shall set himselfe to observe the actions of men may upon such occasions finde used to the same intents and purposes Mithropaustes used this gesture in admonishing Demaratus the Lacedemonian who being in the Court of Persia the King willing him to aske what gift he would Hee besought the King to grant him this favour to licence him to goe up and downe the City of Sardis with his royall Hat on his head as the Kings of Persia do For Mithropaustes the Kings cozen TAKING HIM BY THE HAND said unto him Demaratus the Kings Hat thou demandest and if it were on thy head it would cover but little wit Nay though Jupiter should give thee his Lightning in thy Hand yet that would not make thee Jupiter And we finde Timon surnamed Misanthropos as who would say Loup-garou or the man-hater using this expression who meeting Alcibiades with a great traine as he came one day from the Councell and Assembly of the City not passing by him nor giving him way as hee did to all other men but went straight to him and TOOKE HIM BY THE HAND and said O thou doest well my sonne I con thee thanke that thou goest on and climbest up still for if ever thou be in authority woe be unto those that follow thee for they are utterly undone Such an intention of gesture but with more vehemency of expression the Angels used to Lot while he lingred in Sodome LAYING HOLD UPON HIS HAND and UPON THE HAND of his wife and UPON THE HAND of his two daughters to admonish and perswade them to a sudden departure from that accursed City Confido Gestus XLII TO LEAN UPON ANOTHERS HAND is their gesture who make a confiding use of the staffe of their age or affection an expression importing that they much rely upon their faith and friendship and often seene in the Hand of great Princes when for greater state and ease they goe supported in this wise The signification of which countenance of Majesty doth in effect shew that the Nobleman on whose Hand the King leaned was next and subordinate in authority to himself and that the waight of all the principall affaires of State did lye on his Hands Thus in the Booke of the Kings of Judah we reade of a Prince the same that mockt at the words of Elisha when he foretold of the releefe of Samaria on whose Hand Iohoram King of Israel lean'd that is as the Glosse upon our Bibles hath it a Prince to whom the King gave the charge oversight of things as doth more plainly appeare by the 27. verse of the same Chapter And the speech of Naaman to Elisha after hee had cured him of his Leprosie makes it more apparant Onely herein let the Lord be mercifull to thy servant that when my Master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship and leane upon my Hand c. Where Naaman craveth to bee pardoned of zeale without knowledge as M. Junius saith it being no such thing as should trouble his conscience to bow himselfe in an officious sort and civill duty to bend his body that his Lord might leane upon his Hand when he went into the Temple of the Idol Rimmon to adore Thus Libo Drusus sustained by the Hand of his brother entred into the Senate house to answer to that enormity hee was accused of who when hee saw Tiberius a great way off he held up his Hands imploring mercy with great humility Which statelinesse of gesture was much used in Asia by great persons and is at this day by your Italian Ladies Impedio Gestus XLIII TO HOLD FAST ANOTHERS HAND in the signification of hindrance and restraint is a gesture so obvious in the cholericke perturbations of humane life that it needs no illustration by example since we may every day meet with satisfaction in the publique streets for in quarrells where there is any moderation or over mastering power on one side this restraint of the Hand is used both with signification and advantage To this gesture may be referred that of the Prophet Zechariah A great tumult from the Lord shall be among them and they shall lay hold every one on the Hand of his neighbour and his Hand shall rise up against the Hand of his neighbour and Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem c. Recordo Gestus XLIV TO IOG ONE ON THE ELBOW is the usuall intimation of those who put others in minde and take upon them the part of a Remembrancer a gesture very frequent in the common passage of humane affaires much practised by the Hands of the ancient Romane Nomenclators as appeares by the testimony of Horace Mercemur servum qui dictet nomina laevum Qui fodiat latus Recommendo Gestus XLV TO TAKE ONE BY THE HAND in courtesie to recommend them unto another by way of presentation is an usuall expression in the Hands of men a gesture significant and remarkable having beene tooke notice of by ancient Chronologers for the Hand according to the primitive intention of Nature having by a necessary consent of Nations beene ever chosen Chronologer of al remarkable actions hath consequently proved its own Biographer If therefore we but cast an intuitive eye upon those memorials the Right Hand of Time hath left fairly noted in the Left Palme of Antiquity even by the old autography of the Hand wee may spell out the sense of this naturall expression For when Valentinian had a full purpose to adorne his sonne Gratian a pretty young stripling and well growne with the Imperiall Ensignes when he had wrought the Souldiers to accept thereof hee ascended up the Tribunall and taking the youth by the Right Hand hee brought him up before them and in a publique Oration recommended him as ordained Emperour to the Armie Another Copie of this naturall gesture we finde in the Hand of Pertinax refusing in modesty the Empire pretending his age and meane descent who taking Glabrio by the Hand and pulling him forth placed him in the Imperiall Throne recommending him as more fit for the Empire And Commodus in a speech he made unto the Souldiers of his Army puts them in minde how his father Marcus when hee was an infant carried him in his armes and delivered him into their Hands recommending him as it were to their tutelage and fidelity Thus also Tiberius though with dissimulation tooke Nero and Drusus Germanicus children by the Hands and recommended them
to the care of the Senate in a dissembling Oration he made Thus Cyrus taking Hystaspas by the Right Hand gave her unto his friend Gobrias who having stretched out his Hand before received her at his Hands And this expression Raguel used when he gave his daughter Sarah to wife to young Tobias an expression which delivered from Hand to Hand is one of the solemne rites of Matrimony to be used by the father of the Bride Officiose duco Gestus XLVI TO LEAD ONE BY THE HAND is their expression who take care of the weaknesse and inability of others in matters of progressive motion used most commonly to young children whom wee would teach and assist to goe with more ease and safety of which manuduction Holy Writ affords many examples Thus Agar by commandement of the Angel held her childe by the Hand which allegorically signifies the workes of the Law that is the Law commandeth workes Thus the Tribune tooke the Nephew of Saint Paul by the Hand And to this may be referred that of the Prophet Ezekiel Thus saith the Lord unto Cyrus whose Right Hand I have holden And to the signification of this gesture appertains that of the Prophet Isaiah concerning the misery of Jerusalem There is none to guide her among all the sonnes whom she hath brought forth neither is there any that TAKETH HER BY THE HAND of all the sonnes that shee hath brought up This sense of gesture hath that also of the Author to the Hebrewes In the day when I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND to lead them out of the land of Aegypt The like phrase of gesture occurres in divers other places of Scripture But when this expression is used to a female and one of riper yeares 't is significant to present an officious and tender respect or serviceable affection The aspiring affectation of women raised by Choppines to an artificiall elevation of stature hath made this courtly garb of gesture more necessary and commodious to great Ladies and hath preferr'd it to bee one of the eight parts of speech of a Gentleman-ushers Accidence Hence Ovid a man well versed in such obsequious expressions makes Jupiter at his arrivall into Crete LEAD EUROPA BY THE HAND into the Cave of Dicte This expression is sometimes used to the blinde for the Hand as it speaks by signes unto the dumb so in a more necessary garbe of speech it officiates the place of an eye and speaking in the conducting dialect of a friendly assistance supplyes the defect of an ocular direction Samson when the Philistines had boared out his eyes was beholden to the Lad that HELD HIM BY THE HAND for the last atchievement of his fatall strength And in this sense the blind man and his leader are a kind of relatives Impatientiā prodo Gestus XLVII TO APPLY THE HAND PASSIONATELY UNTO THE HEAD is a signe of anguish sorrow griefe impatiencie and lamentation used also by those who accuse or justifie themselves The recourse and offer of nature in this relieving expression of the Hand makes good the Adage Ubi dolor ibi digitus The Prophet Jeremiah prophesying against Judah foretels that she should be brought to use this note or signe of lamentation ¶ And Tamar defloured by her brother Ammon LAID HER HAND UPON HER HEAD as it were accusing or justifying her selfe as Lorinus And 't is probable that the Shunamites childe when he cryed My head my head made use of this dolorous expression of the Hand Thales by a pretty Pageant put Solon into such a passion by making him beleeve his sonne was dead at Athens that like a mad man he straight beganne to beat his head like one impatient in affliction and overcome with sorrow The Head is the naturall hieroglyphique of health and the Hand of reliefe and protection as being the Champion of the Head Hence in the straits of imminent perils or dolorous calamity they usually meet in a Committee of safety Hence Tiberius Gracchus engaged in extreame danger as it were justifying himselfe and recommending his life and safety which depended on his Head to the people of Rome LAYING HIS HAND UPON HIS HEAD went forward to the Capitoll which by the sinister interpretation of his enemies turned to his prejudice they inferring that by this signe he craved the Diadem Some such passage you shall finde in Aristophanes where Dicaepolis to this effect Et si non vera profatus fuero manu supra caput imposita quaeque universus approbet populus Sollicite cogito Gestus XLVIII TORUE OR SCRATCH THE HEAD WITH THE HAND is their naturall gesture who are in anguish or trouble of minde for commonly when we are in doubt and uncertaine what to doe we musing SCRATCH OUR HEAD Hence by a proverbiall translation from this gesture Caput fricare seu digito scalpere is used pro cogitare But why we should in earnest meditation so naturally expresse our endeavour by this recourse of the Hand to the head to scratch where it doth not itch is may be to rowze up our distracted intellect or else the Hand which is the Engineere of invention and wits true Palladium having a naturall procacity to bee acquainted with their phansie officiously offers it selfe to facilitate the dispatch of any affaires that perplex a faculty so neer ally'd unto it the Hand in the collaterall line of Nature being couzen germane to the Fancie Pudeo Gestus XLIX THE RECOURSE OF THE HAND TO THE FACE in shame is a naturall expression as Alexander Aphrodisaeus proves For shame being a passion that is loath to see or be seene the bloud is sent up from the breast by nature as a mask or veile to hide the labouring face and the applying of the Hands upon the face is done in imitation of the modest act of Nature Hence Licentius a Noble young man writing to Austin a learned and sweet Poem very cunningly alludes to this naturall expression Et mea Calliope quamvis te cominus altum Horreat vultus abscondat This declaration of shame by the Hand we finde Marke Antony to have used after the battaile of Actium fought betweene him and Octavius Caesar For he flying with a doting speed after Cleopatra who was fled before having overtaken her and being pluckt up into her Gally at his first comming saw her not but being ashamed and cast downe with his adverse fortune went and sate downe alone in the prowe of the Ship and said never a word CLAPPING HIS HEAD BETWEEN BOTH HIS HANDS ¶ And this expression is not onely used in respect of our selves but of others also as daily experience and the actions of men doe declare For when there were divers Oratours of Greece very fluent and elegant speakers sent Ambassadours unto Philip and Demosthenes had not spoken sufficiently for the honour of the Commonwealth If there bee any credit to bee given to Aeschines his enemy putting it
that he who did oblige himselfe unto another or offered his faith gave his wrest to wit the joynt whereby the Hand is joyned to the wrest to be apprehended and wrung to signifie that he was held oblig'd custome having a little chang'd the most naturall forme without impeachment of signification ¶ That this gesture is significant to licence warrant and assure is not difficult to prove For thus Artaxerxes King of Persia by giving his Right Hand to Mithridates the brother of Ariobarzaneâ— promising to kill Datamen gave him licence and an open warrant with pardon of punishment to doe what he would in that businesse And Saint Paul when he would warrant and assure the Galatians Corinthians Colossians and Thessal onians to whom he writ that those Epistles were his his salutations in the close intimate that they were witten with his owne Hand ¶ This gesture is also significantly used when we chuse an Umpire put to arbitration and comprimise To which that of Job may be referred Neither iâ— there any dayes-man betwixt us that might lay his Hand upon us both To which expression of gesture that also of the Apostle Saint Paul seems to appertaine The Law was given by Angels in 〈◊〉 Hand of a Mediator as if that Law of the Old Testament about keeping whereof the people of Israel had covenanted with God had as by giving the Hand come to that people by mediation of Moses and did prefigure what was to be done by the Angel of the Testament or Mediator of a better Testament to wit that a better Law established between God and Man the Mediator of the new Covenant mediating between both the parties and stretching out his armes in his suffering had LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM TO CONFIRME a more holy league and covenant Reconcilio Gestus LVII TO SHAKE THE GIVEN HAND is an expression usuall in friendship peacefull love benevolence salutation entertainment and bidding welcome reconciliation congratulation giving thanks vnlediction and wel-wishing This loving declaration of the Hand the Greeke expresse in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An expression usuall between those who desire to incorporate comâ—â—iâ— or grow into one and make a perfect joynt The most happy point of amity a naturall forme very rich in signification since they who thus professe communion of goodâ— while they willingly EMBRACE EACH OTHERS HAND signifie that they are both content that their works shall be common by this gesture speaking plainly as if they in effect should say What damage happens unto thée I shall esteeme as my owne losse and thy emolument and profit I shall entertaine as mine owne and thou shalt finde me ready prest with a consonant and willing minde both to yéeld to thée a share of my welfare and reciprocally to beare a part of thy calamity For all this is the more significantly implied by this gesture in regard that works are the words of love and the Hand is the Tongue of hearty good-will The minde of man naturally desirous by some symbole or sententious gesture to utter and disclose herselfe in the affections of love doth manifestly set forth her disposition by this courtly declaration of the Hand a naturall complement where with she commonly sweetens her affectionate respects to others And this naturall expression seems to result from the sympathy between the will and the Hand for the will affectionately inclined and moved to stretch forth her selfe the Hand that is moved by the same spirit willing to goe out and set a glosse upon the inward motion casts it selfe into a forme extending to a semblance of the inward appetite neither is the Hand at any time found too short for such an expression if the will be disposed to cooperate with it For nature who hath ingeniously thought on many conveniences of expression for the use and benefit of common life among others seems to have ordained the Hand to be the generall instrument of the minde and endued it with a courteous appetite of closing with anothers Therefore when the minde would disclose the virtue strength and forcible operation of her favour and good-will out of the abundance of her love she puts forth the Hand and in that as it were the heart it self with affectionate love and receives them againe by a naturall bill of exchange in the Hand of another which verily is a signe of mutuall agréement and of a perfect conjunction for which cause Pindarus a Poet of an aspiring wit placed the heart and Hand as relatives under one and the same parallel To the naturall sense of this gesture appertains divers passages of Tacitus The Lingones saith he according to their accustomed manner had sent gifts to the Legions right Hands in token of mutuall love and hospitality The Centurion Sisenna carried in the name of the Syrian Army to the Souldiers of the guard right Hands in token of concord And Ambassadours came from Artabanus King of the Parthians calling to minde their friendship and allyance with the Romans and desiring to reniâ—e Right Hands To bring this important gesture of the Hand in friendship a little nearer to the authenticke light of sacred History So John to Jonaâ—â—â— when he asked him whether his heart were right give me thine Hand So James and Cephas and John gave to Barnabas the Right Hand of fellowship that is they gave him their Hands in token of agreement in matters of doctrine ¶ That this gesture is significant in salutation bidding welcome and entertainment is apparent by many testimonies of the Ancients Virgil in the first place witnesseth the same complaining to his mother thus Cur dextrae jungere dextram Non datur And in another place 〈◊〉 speaking to 〈◊〉 concerning his affection to Anchises Milâ—i 〈◊〉 jâ—venili 〈◊〉 amare Campâ—â—â—are virum 〈◊〉 conjungert dextrâ— Horacâ— also concerning himselfe Aâ—â—â—rrit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mihi â—mine tantum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid aâ—iâ— dulcissime rerum To this signe of salutation and entertainment appertaines that medall whose inscription is Traâ—â—â—us Adrianus wherein you may see the Emperour himselfe joyning his Right Hand with the Hand of Iâ—piâ—er sitting with this inscription placed under the base ADVENTUS AUG We read of Richaâ—d the second to have used this expression of welcome to his Nobles when they appeared at Westminster Mâ—â—ichans delivered this gesture as a certaine secret to his disciples that when they met one another they should salute by joyning Hands by which signe they declared that they were delivered out of darknesse as Epiphâ—â—iâ—s reporteth And there is no expression of love more frequent in the entercourses of common life then this Thus Abradâ—â—uâ— in Xenophon comes to Cyrus and taking him by the Right Hand makes use of this gratefull expression and both Xenophon and all other Authors are full of such loving occurrences of the Hand and mutuall declarations of hospitable love Thus Pallas in Virgil entertaining Aeneas and bidding â—im welcome
convenient enough to expresse a certaine anxious and turbulent heat of cogitation of an Oratour that cannot sufficiently explaine his minde or doe as he would Cresollius conceives that infringere articulos that Qintillian speaks of as an elegant and comely action in the Hands of the ancient Rhetoricians and so commendable that they used it as a Manuall introduction to their Orations was no other but this Action Canon XLII THe Hands gently set together by a sweet approach causing a low sound by their light encounter or complosion make an opportune cadence of Action to attend the close or period of a sentence This Action was commended by the practice of Proaeresius that accomplished Oratour of old time the Master of brave speech and grace in ready speaking who publickly pleaded his cause at Athens to the great admiration of all men of whom one of his Auditours Eunapius thus speaks Proaeresius orditur flumen quodaam orationis singulos periodos pulsu manum finiens Canon XLIII BOth Hands smitten together with a certaine kinde of gravity doth affirme with Rhetoricall asseveration Canon XLIV BOth the Palmes held respective to the body declare benevolence Canon XLV BOth Palms held averse before the Breast denote commiseration This Action with this signification I have observed in some ancient painted tables the Hands of cunning Motists And verily without the knowledge of the naturall and artificiall properties of the Hand as Franciscus Junius well observes it is impossible for any Painter or Carver or Plastique to give right motions to his works or Hand for as the History runnes and ascribes passions to the Hand gestures and motions must come in with their accommodation The notions therfore of this Hand may bee of good use for the advancement of those curious Arts. Canon XLVI THe Hands addrest to both sides are well disposed to satisfie or to request Canon XLVII IF both Hands by turnes behave themselves with equall Art they fitly move to set off any matter that goes by way of Antithesis or opposition Canon XLVIII VVE may use likewise the advantage of both Hands when wee would present by some ample gesture the immensity of things some spaces far and wide extent a great number almost infinite large affections or when the voyce is reiterate by conduplication Canon XLIX BOth Hands modestly extended and erected unto the shoulder points is a proper forme of publicke benediction for the Hands of an Ecclesiasticall Oratour when hee would dismisse his Auditours It was the custome of the Hebrew Divines to observe this Decorum in elevation of the Hands for solemne Benediction And the Romanists who in matter of ceremony much emulate the externall devotion of the Jew in all their extensions and elevations of the Hand which they use in blessing keepe them within these prescribed bounds Not that there is any mystery in this point only the elevation of the Hand declares that we have chosen heavenly things according to Origen and the extension or spreading out of the Hands signifies the effectuall force of prayers as Basil expounds it Tertullian therefore regulating the Hands in this rite to a decencie of motion would have them temperately and modestly erected whereupon it seems to me the Papists conforming their Rubrique to the Jewish Talmud limit the Priests Hands not to overtop or exceed the distance of the shoulders This solemne Action according to some modern Expositors implies the solemnity of a presentation of the Auditours to God in prayer and doth denote unto them Gods favourable goodnesse protection and spirituall Benediction desires God to confirme the blessing given who opens with his Hands and fills all creatures with his blessings and seems to wish the accomplishment of all that is comprised in their Manuall vote That Priestly Blessing or solemne Benediction with which the Priests under the Law blessed the People was apparantly uttered and pronounced by this advancement of Gesture because they could not lay their Hands on all the Congregation they lifted them up onely to the shoulder-points the ordinary forme that was then in use was to impose the Hand which could not be done with any decent expedition and this the Levites conferred face to face from the place where they stood Such a solemne Benediction was that where with Melchisedech is said to have blessed Abraham when he met him in his returne from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him The like was practised by the Hand of Aaron when he lift up his Hands towards the people and blessed them And Symon the High Priest the sonne of Onias in finishing the solemne service lifted up his Hands over the whole Congregation of the children of Israel to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips The people bowing themselves that they might receive a blessing from the most High The forme of which solemne Benediction the Psalmist gives us Lift up your Hands to the Sanctuary and praise the Lord. The Lord that hath made heaven and earth Blesse thee out of Sion For thus the Levites used to praise the Lord and blesse the People Spirituall Benediction having been ever accompanied with this sacred Manifesto of the Hands Hence we finde it observed that among the Hebrewes of old when the Priest blessed the People they used to erect three fingers to wit the Thumbe the Index and middle finger by which number of their fingers they tacitely implyed a Secret of the Trinitie Pâ—trus Blessensis seemes to allude to this action of the Hand His Benedictionibus sacerdos alios Benedicens protrusas ante vultum suum Palmas utrasque tenebat Cum vero dicebat Dominus quod Hebraico illo trino uno nomine exprimebant Tres digitos priores id est Policem Indicem Medium utriusque manus rectum altius erigebat dicto it à Domino digitos remittebat ut prius Addit statim Quid per trium digitorum elevationem melius quâm Trinitatis excellentia mysticè intelligi potest a qua scilicet vera plena Benedictio A Gesture of the Hand used in the same sense and signification by the Pope at this day who when he is carried upon mens shoulders in solemne procession with the same posture of his Right Hand and number of his fingers bestowes his Canonicall Benedictions upon the people onely waving them into a Crosse. Buxtorfius sayes that the moderne Jews at the feast of their Passeover when the Priest at the end of their Prayers Blesseth the people he extends and spreads abroad his Hands and Fingers which they call Châ—â—umim whereupon Schechina or the Glorie and Majestie of God doth rest upon the Hands of the Priest wherefore they give a strict charge that none of the people presume to looke upon their Hands at that time unlesse he would be imitten with blindnesse And in the Feast of Reconciliation when the Priest pronounceth the Blessing he extends out his Hands towards the