how Saturn "causeth a complexion of colour between blacke and
yeallowe, meager, distorted, of an harde skinne, eminent vaines, an
hairie bodie, small eies, eie brows joyned together &c.," and how "he
maketh a man subtle, wittie, a way-layer, and murtherer;" how, again,
Jupiter is "magnipotent, good natured, fortunate, sweete, pleasant,
the best wel-willer, honest, neate, of a good gate, honorable, the
author of mirth and judgement, wise, true, the revealer of truth, the
chiefe judge, exceeding all the planets in goodnesse, the bestower of
riches and wisedome;" how Mars "broaches bould spirites, bloud,
brawles and all disordered, inconsiderate, and headdy actions;" how
"his gestures are terrible, cruell, fierce, angry, proude, hasty and
violent," and how also "he is reputed hoat and drie in the highest
degree, bearing sway over redde choler." I should like to tell him
about the passions, actions, and the gestures they occasion,
described as they are with a sweet and silly unreasonableness that is
very charming to read, and makes no demand whatever upon the
understanding. But charming as are the pages of Lomazzo, those of
Torrotti are more charming still, and they have a connection with our
subject which Lomazzo's have not. Enough, therefore, that Mr.
Haydocke did not get through more than half Lomazzo's treatise, and
that, glancing over the untranslated pages, I see frequent allusions
to Gaudenzio in the warmest terms, but no passage so important as the
longer of the two quoted above.



CHAPTER III. VARALLO, PAST AND PRESENT.