The Human Figures

The texture of the female flesh compared to male flesh is softer and more tender. The muscles in women's bodies are more delicately defined than in men, similar to how pleasant soft and tender things can be both to the eye and touch. Thus, we find enjoyment in observing and touching the female form. This softness and flexibility of the flesh is undoubtedly very useful for many of the functions of the female body, particularly for those actions requiring grace rather than strength. For this reason, women generally sing well as they can easily control their breath from the lungs through the windpipe. Similarly, some people naturally have a flexible tongue which, when speaking or quarreling, they often do not control, leading to silence. These muscles tend to stiffen with age, altering one's singing to humming and quarreling to murmuring. It is found even in younger people, sometimes gifted with beautiful singing voices. Fine singing, compared to other talents, is fleeting. From the ancient Jewish customs, we learn that Levites chosen for singing would be released from service at the age of 50.

The head of an adult can generally be divided into four equal parts. The first begins at the top of the crown to the start of the forehead where the hair roots end. The second part is the forehead itself, ending where the nose begins, directly aligned with the eyes. The third part is the length of the nose.

Translation Notes

- "beklonken van Vlees": The phrase means the 'texture of the flesh'.
- "Schoonste Lichamen": Translated as 'finest bodies', referring to aesthetic quality.
- "Snap-rabatters": Could refer to people with a talent or knack for talking or quarreling.
- "Hayr-worten": Means 'hair roots'.
- "Oogstraal": Means 'line of sight'.