The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

PHYSIOGNOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBED BY THE SAGES.
DCLXXVIII. Soft hair indicateth timidity, and harsh
hair is a sign of bravery. For behold, the camel, and
the hare, and the lamb have soft hair, but the lion
and the wild pig have harsh hair; now this characteristic
is found also in the fowl of the air. An abundance of
hair on the belly indicateth a strong desire for marriage;
and this [observation] is derived from winged fowl.
DCLXXIX. The man with coarse hair, and lofty
stature, and a broad belly, and a closely knit back,
and broad shoulders, and little flesh on his neck, and
a fleshy breast, and small thighs, and red and dry eyes,
and a long and pointed forehead, is a mighty man
and a hunter; but he who hath the reverse of these
attributes is a weak and timid man.
DCLXXX. He whose flesh is soft, and who is not
fat overmuch, whose arms move easily, whose hair is
soft and not black overmuch, and whose complexion
is between red and white, is a good man by nature and
in him there is no wickedness.
DCLXXXI. He that hath much flesh on his neck,
and large feet, and shoulders drawn upwards, and a
round belly, and forehead and a tinge of green in his
eyes, is a man who is without sexual passion.
DCLXXXII. He that hath his eyes open always, and