The text describes the significance of hands in human expression and culture. It discusses how the beauty of hands is linked to their proportional structure and conveys ideas about the meanings attributed to hand gestures in ceremonies. Additionally, it explores the dual nature of fingernails as both ornamental and practical elements, even associating them with symbolic power and potential harm.
Maaxel and the Service of
Length is, namely, when one allows free contraction without force to go inward.
The Beauty of the Hands is something special to humans; because beyond the Ornamentation, it has in Observation a sort of hidden Power; which can bring about Awe, Love, Reverence and I do not know what else. Allowing the Hand to grasp signifies among many Peoples the Offering of Grace and Favor, just as refusing or retracting signifies Reconciliation. The laying of Hands has long had special and diverse meanings as a Ceremony: But more on that in the ordering and composition of the Histories. And just as the Beauty of the Hands also mostly depends on pleasing Proportion; so some Sculptors have established a rule as follows: Namely, that the Middle Finger makes up exactly half of the entire Hand: And that the Short Nails on all Fingers are placed exactly halfway on that Limb. These Nails are not only for Ornamentation, but also made for protection and stiffness to the Fingers: also for grasping, tying and untying, scratching, and more. Likewise, some hold from experience as Omens and signs of Diseases and otherwise. The Peevish and Malicious Womenfolk call them Girls' Weaponry. Indeed, the Nails not only deliver some Venom by those who scratch the Wounds that immediately fester and help the swelling, but they also frequently bring their own Master great discomfort when they are in the Flesh.