And the Square itself, the Parent of the Parallelogram, is of great Harmony as a Mystery. Indeed all other Methods of reading fortune in Cards are incomparable to it.

_Of Summarizing in the Parallelogram its Aspect and of the Fortune or Experience of the Querist that it will Report_.

With your Parallelogram thus built, observe it as an Whole; and remark if it hath an Agreeable or Unpleasing _Aspect_--one Auspicious or Unkind, according as it contains rather the red or the black Suits. For a Red Aspect is kindly. A Black Aspect contains many less favorable cards, especially if they be _Spades_.

Of _Hearts_ as a Portent.

And, for another Matter, and a wider Notice as to the Suits of Cards:--it has long been a.s.sured by those best knowing Card Intelligences that the Suit of _Hearts_ is the Suit of the Affections, Pa.s.sions, Fancies and Feelings.

Of _Diamonds_.

And the Suit of _Diamonds_ ever refers to Condition in Life, Society, Wealth, Position and the Fine Arts; and contains many Comfortable Cards.

Of _Clubs_.

In the _Clubs_ lies the Judgment, the Intellect, the Will, and the Affairs of a Man's Brains, and what he doeth of his own Mastery and Genius.

Of the ominous _Spades_ suit.

The _Spades_ is ever the suit of doubtful or worse Prognosticks; of the Events that arbitrarily fall to Man's Lot, those things which hardly can any Prescience or Plans or Conditions of our own making amend. Thence is it that in especiall comes a serious, nay even a gloomy appearance to the _Parallelogram_. Your first Glance at it, therefore, gives you a Generall Character in it, to state first to the Querist before its details.

Of a particular _Uncertainty_ in a Prognostick.

But particularly note that Matters to be read in its Cards may often refer not to the Future, or to the Present, but to the Past. Especially is this the truth with the Old or Elderly or with those Wed. Such must expect to be told of Experiences that lie behind them, rather than before them, of Good or Evil; for Fate oft allows sparingly of Incident to those of middle years, or later; and therewith she is often pleased to make her Oracle speak coldly to a Querist, of Ancient Circ.u.mstances.

The Shot seldom goeth twice into the same hole; and a Dead Trouble or Joy rarely Reviveth. And a Blessed Thing that 'tis so!

Hence, whether a Significancy in a Card speak of what is come or is yet to come, at best is none too certain; only it is true that the greater or harder Experiences of Mortall Lives seldom be duplicated. With the Young or Unwedded, the Significancies are of the Future, with far more determination.

_Of the Reading of the Parallelogram, according to the Tavola; and of the Wish-Cards_.

Note now your Card in the Right-Hand column, and also the Card next it, of course to the Leftward; which Leftward Card is spoken of as _Influencing _the other.

Of the Influences, In which the Philosophick will find a likeness to Human Circ.u.mstances.

The Significancy of it, for good or evil, is given in the _Tavola_ that follows in this Book, by its proper Suit and Degree: and this you will tell to your Querist. Next note the card, which was just now an Influencing Card, but which, now in its turn, is to be considered according to the _Influence_ cast _on_ it by the Master-Card, beyond it, leftward. Declare this Significancy. Last, declare what may be the Significancy of the Master-Card, as such and alone. And so proceed, as to each card in the _Parallelogram_, ever naming _last_ the Significance of the Master-Card, until your _Parallelogram_ is all interpreted to the Querist. And note that the Master-Card even as an _Influence_ is not more potent than another, (as far as is known), and that its Dignity and Potency arise only in its being uninfluenced; and, so speaking, from its Significance with a certain Individuality not belonging to its two Fellows. Nor are there; any Influences cast _Upward_ or _Downward_ by the Cards, out of the Row in which each lieth.

Having read the Parallelogram from beginning to end, slowly and honestly, lay forth those three _Wish Cards_, early chosen by your Querist, but not dealt in the Square.

Of the _Querist's Wish_.

If they contain more _Red_ than _Black_ Cards, this shall come: the Querist may wish a _Wish_ for his own Profit or Pleasure, even in removal of an Evil that hath been read to him in the _Parallelogram_. If there be Black rather than Red cards in the Three, he must wish a like wish for _Another_. And in either case, if the cards deciding his Privilege be of high degree, such as _Court Cards_, Aces or above the Eight, his Wish is likely to be granted, or at least it is not in vain in some sort. But if the Cards be low in Values he has desired to Fruitlessness.

Let it be minded that by the Phrase an _high_ or a _low_ Card in a Suit is ever meant, respectively, the cards above or below the _Eight_; the Aces being reckoned as the highest in a Suit. And indeed Cards must ever be read with a Considering of their Degree, and of the Six in Court Cards. Where there be no speciall Significancies given to the Degrees, the Judgement must I shift as best it can.

It is well not to oblige, of any one evening, or on a set and single occasion, more than a Querist or so--maybe, oblige at most three Querists--by making Squares of Sevens and Reducing the same and Reading what may lie therein. Too much of any good thing makes it over-common, blunts the Appet.i.te and dulls the Apprehensiveness of the Reader. With fatigue, too, may come Carelessness and, on good occasion, even Lying: and, besides, let us respect the Supernaturall.

THE _TAVOLA_ OF SIGNIFICANICIES AND INFLUENCES, PROPER TO THE TRUE _READING_ OF THE PARALLELOGRAM; ADJUSTED IN A SYSTEM OF ALTERNATIVES

NOTE

In transcribing this "Tavola," the Editor has somewhat modernized the spelling and capitalizing, for the convenience of the reader.

With reluctance, but of necessity, he has also amended--or emended--the phrasing, where it is in the original hardly consonant with modern taste.

OF HEARTS

_The Ace_.

As a _Master-Card_, a special Emotional Experience. Influenced by a _King_ of like Suit, there is figured an Intimate Friend, or one in whom the Querist is much bound. By a _Queen_ of like Suit--an Emotion for a Woman of beauty and charm. By a Knave of like Suit, an Attachment to a Man younger than the Querist.

Influenced by any _high heart_ other than those above, an Amorous or Affectionate Temper of mind or body. By a _low heart_, an impressionable, kindly Nature. These are Five Special Interpretings. The more general are: influenced by a Diamond, Good Fortune in something, measured by the degree of the Influencing Card. By a Club, a Talent or Gift to be made much of.

By a Spade, an Error, or Disappointment, in the degree of the influencing card.

_The King_.

As Master-Card, is figured that the Querist deals or has had much to do with a Man of fair skin and light type, of good temperament.

Influenced by an Ace of like suit, one notably unselfish. By Knave, a Lover, Husband, Friend. By a Queen, a Love-match. By a Diamond, a Man of Wealth or artistic nature. By a high club, a Man of Energy withal; by a low club, one of Prudence. By a Spade, a man of some defect of Temperament, or of a Chronic Malady or Blemish, ominous to him and others.

_The Queen_.

As Master-Card, is referred to specially, an amiable, affectionate Woman, rather one sentimental than of intellect. Influenced by like suit, if an Ace, she is admired of Many; if a King, she is wedded, betrothed, or beloved by one in especial. By a Knave of like suit, she is beloved by a Male Relative in especial, not of her own near family. By other cards of like suit, degrees of regard. By a Diamond, a Woman gifted, and esteemed much in Modish Life.

By a Club, though not learned she appreciates knowledge in others. By a spade, she is not of firm health; or not of wholly firm Virtue.

_The Knave_.

As Master-Card--the Querist's closest Friend; yet likely held such because of feeling rather than judgment. Influenced by an Ace of like suit, there is no Inequality in the affection. By a King of like suit, Resemblance to the Querist in physique or mind or disposition. By a Queen of like suit, one with distinctively feminine traits. By another card of like suit, a popular man with his fellows. By a diamond, of wealth or social Position; but if by a Nine of Diamonds, not enduring in such Happy Fortune. By a Club, a Friend of judgment and good at advice. By a Spade, a Friend of not too sound health: or apt of offence.

_Ten_.

As Master-Card, a general reference to Matrimony, as being ever the card-matrimonial. Influenced by like suit, a High-Marriage and that auspicious: by a low heart, a Marriage not one's first or first-wished. By a Diamond, a Marriage with money in it. By a Club, a Marriage of reason or of circ.u.mstances. By a Spade, an Interrupted or more or less Disastrous Match.

_Nine_.

As Master-Card: a Card of Good Augury for what we wish for Another. Influenced by its like suit, an unexpected Meeting, with a person much affected or desired. By a Diamond, a Pleasure in store. By a Club, a Wish partly fulfilled, rather than wholly. By a Spade, a Wish fulfilled but followed by some detrimental Event.

_Eight_.

As Master-Card, a Love-Interest. As influenced by like suit, an Interest of much Romance. By a Diamond, a Lost Article recovered. By a Club, the Victory in a difference or argument as to some plan or act. By a Spade, a Caprice to warm the heart; or a new Article of dress or household stuff.

_Seven_.

As Master-Card: the Card of Trust and Confidence approved of.

Influenced by like suit, honest Love, or Family regard. By a Diamond, wise Trust in a commercial or social step. By a Club, in a Secret. By a Confidence misplaced in a person or event.