Chapter War of Wartburg to Warning-Givers of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Alexander Ross tells us that the battle between the British and French, in which the former were overthrown, in the reign of Charles VIII., was foretold by a skirmish between magpies and jackdaws. —Arcana Microcosmi (appendix, 219).

(40) MANTLE (The Test). A boy brought to king Arthur’s court a mantle, which no one could wear who was unfaithful in love, false in domestic life, or traitorous to the king. If any such attempted to put it on, it puckered up, or hung slouchingly, or tumbled to pieces.—Percy: Reliques (“The Boy and the Mantle”).

(41) METEORS. Falling stars, eclipses, comets, and other signs in the heavens, portend the death or fall of princes.

Meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven;
The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the earth…
These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.
   —Shakespeare: Richard II. act ii. sc. 4 (1597).

Consult Matt. xxiv. 29; Luke xxi. 25.

(42) MICE AND RATS. If a rat or mouse, during the night, gnaw our clothes, it is indicative of some impending evil, perhaps even death.

Nos autem ita leves, atque inconsiderati sumus, ut si mures corroserint aliquid quorum est opus hoc anum, monstrum putemus? Ante vero Marsicum bellum quod Clypeos Lanuvii—mures rosissent, maxumum id portentum haruspices esse dixerunt. Quasi vero quicquam intersit, mures diem noctem aliquid rodentes, scuta an cribra corroserint…cum vestis a soricibus roditur, plus timere suspicionem futuri mali, quam præsens damnum dolere. Une illud eleganter dictum est Catonis, qui cum esset consultus a quodam, qui sibi erosas esse Caligas diceret a soricibus, respondit; non esset illud monstrum; sed vere monstrum habendum fuisse, si sorices a Caligis roderentur.—Cicero: Divinatio, ii. 27-

(43) MOLE-SPOTS. A mole-spot on the armpits promises wealth and honour; on the ankle bespeaks modesty in men, courage in women; on the right breast is a sign of honesty, on the left forebodes poverty; on the chin promises wealth; on the right ear, respect; on the left, dishonour; on the centre of the forehead it bespeaks treachery, sullenness, and untidiness; on the right temple it foreshows that you will enjoy the friendship of the great; on the left temple it forebodes distress; on the right foot wisdom; on the left, rashness; on the right side of the heart it denotes virtue; on the left side, wickedness; on the knee of a man, it denotes that he will have a rich wife; on the left knee of a woman, she may expect a large family; on the lip it is a sign of gluttony and talkativeness; on the neck it promises wealth; on the nose it indicates that a man will be a great traveller; on the thigh it forebodes poverty and sorrow; on the throat, wealth and health; on the wrist, ingenuity.

(44) MOON (The). When the “mone lies sair on her back, or when her horns are pointed towards the zenith, be warned in time, for foul weather is nigh at hand.” —Dr. Jamieson.

Foul weather may also be expected “when the new moon appears with the old one in her arms.”

Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone,
Wi’ the auld moone in her arme,
And I feir, I feir, my deir master,
Tha twe wil lcome to harme.
   —The Ballaa of Sir Patrick Spence.

To see a new moon for the first time on the right hand, and direct before you, is lucky; but to see it on the left hand, or to turn round and see it behind you, is the contrary.

If you first see a new moon through glass, your wish will come to pass.

(45) NAILS. A white spot on the thumb-nail promises a present; on the index finger it denotes a friend; on the long finger, a foe; on the third finger, a letter or sweetheart; on the little finger, a journey to go.

In America, white spots on the nails are considered lucky.