,transcriber's note3 ,i have made several changes from the original text for this online text edition4 ,first1 although ,i have not indicated it here1 in the original text the whole preface 7with the exception of the word dukkeripens7 is italicized4 ,next1 ,i have changed all the sidebars to section headings4 ,next1 the illustrations in the original text consisted of rectangular graphs and numbers1 and ,i have made approximations of these diagrams with dashes and vertical bars4 ,the ,master ,column illustration 7,fig4 #ac7 originally had shading in some of the rectangles1 which ,i have indicated by ,x's4 ,finally1 in the paragraph starting ,let it be minded444 ,i changed ,sex in ,court ,cards to ,six in ,court ,cards4 ,all other spelling remains the same4 ,,the ,,square ,,of ,,sevens ,,an ,,authoritative ,,system ,,of ,,cartomancy ,,with ,a ,,prefatory ,,notice ,,by ,e4 ,,irenaeus ,,stevenson ,,new ,,york ,,harper ,,brothers ,,printers ,,publishers ,,mdcccxcvii ,copyright1 #ahif1 by ,,harper ,,brothers ,all rights reserved ,,to ,,john ,,davis ,,adams this new forth-setting of an old mystery is cordially offered4 ,editorial ,preface ',tis easy as lying4--,hamlet ,it is safe to presume that even the most inquisitive book-hunters of the present day1 and few of the fellowship during two or three generations past1 have encountered the scarce and curious little volume here presented1 as in a friendly literary resurrection-- ,robert ,antrobus's ,the ,square of ,sevens1 and the ,parallelogram4 ,its mathematical title hardly hints at the amusement that the book affords4 ,with its solemn faith in the gravity of its mysteries1 with its uncertain spellings and capital-icings such as belong to even the ,eighteenth ,century's early part1 with its quaint phrases and sly observations 7all the time sticking strictly close to business71 it has a literary character1 as well as me occult1 that is quite its own4 ,fortune-telling with cards and belief in fortune-telling with cards-- like a hundred greater and lesser follies of the mind--were straws floating along the current of ,british life1 intellectual and social1 during the reign of ,george the ,second4 ,this was the case1 in spite of the enlightening influences of religion1 science1 and philosophy4 ,modish society was addicted to matters over which argument was hardly worth while--in which respect we find modish society the same in all epochs4 ,our ancestresses particularly were often charming women1 and almost as often sensible women2 but1 like the men of ,athens1 they were too superstitious4 ,often were they such in a fond and amusing degree4 ,lady ,betty or ,lady ,selina--for that matter1 even ,sir ,tompkin and my lord ,puce--might be spirited men and women of the world4 ,but they did not repudiate the idea of ghosts4 ,they abhorred a mirror's breakage4 ,they disliked a ,friday's errand4 ,they shuddered over a seven-times sneeze or at a howling dog at midnight4 ,and the gentle sex1 especially1 would and did tell fortunes almost as jealously as play quadrille and piquet4 ,let us be courteous to them4 ,let us remember that ,esoteric ,buddhism1 ,faith ,healing1 and ,psychic ,phenomena were not yet enjoying systematic cultivation and solemn propagandism2 and that relatively few dying folk were allowed to go on with their dying as part of a process of healing which excludes medicine and insists on the conviction that the invalids are not ill6 ,but to our ,square of ,sevens--with which even a ,gallio may deign to be diverted--especially if in using it the air is found to be full of coincidences4 ,the story of the book is already alluded to1 as odd4 ,the inquisitive reader may be referred to certain copies only4 ,therein1 inserted by ,afterthought on the ,author's part 7and therefore in a mere fraction of whatever represented the extremely small edition of the work71 may be sought the ,prefatory ,explication1 made for the ,benefit of ,my ,friends1 ,male and ,female4 ,in recounting the origin of the manual1 its author is candid1 but at the same time too long-winded for quoting entire4 ,enough to say1 as the substitute for a lengthy tale of facts1 that prior to the year #agca the author of ,the ,square of ,sevens1 ,mr4 ,robert ,antrobus1 a ,gentleman of ,bath1 was called in the month of ,november to pass sundry months in ,tretelly1 that antique but still lively little town of ,cornwall4 ,he describes himself as exceedingly vexed and inconvenienced by ,summons on my ,affairs connected with the ,parcelling of a piece of ,property1 unexpectedly acquired4 ,mr4 ,antrobus--who1 by-the-bye1 may perhaps be associated in the memories of readers of minor ,eighteenth-,century correspondence with such notables of the day as ,william ,pitt1 ,dr4 ,johnson1 ,admiral ,byng1 ,mark ,akenside1 ,william ,pulteney1 the ,duke of ,cumberland1 and many others of the time--was a shy1 silent man of wealth4 ,also was he one of considerable learning1 out of the way and other1 including an interest in gypsies and gypsy language remarkable for the period4 ,he lodged at the only ,inn of any suitability in the place4 ,thereby be made an unexpected acquaintance4 ,before a week had elapsed1 he became much interested in the fact that under the same roof1 but in more bumble quarters than his own1 was lying and dying another stranger in the place4 ,this was a man of some forty years1 known only as ,mr4 ,george4 ,his home is not a clear matter1 nor that he had any relatives except a little girl of six or seven years old1 his child4 ,it is likely that in alluding to him in the ,prefatory ,explication mentioned1 ,mr4 ,antrobus disguised what was already obscure1 and that ,mr4 ,george of the troublesome ,talk of the ,inn-people is an abbreviated pseudonyme4 ,mr4 ,antrobus was a humane and benevolent man1 as well as an inquisitive one4 ,he delicately assisted to make the sick guest more comfortable in his wasting body4 ,he won his confidence1 genuinely compassionated his anxieties1 and presently pledged himself to a most kindly office--the care and provision in future for the child soon to be fatherless2 long before this time motherless4 ,whether she was motherless by the actual death of the parent1 or not1 ,mr4 ,antrobus did not learn1 or does not tell4 ,but he did learn1 by a confession1 that ,mr4 ,george was really ,george ,x--1 a gypsy1 and one withal of unusual education and breeding4 ,more remarkable still1 he was a gypsy intensely embittered against' a race from which he had lived for many years wholly withdrawn4 ,the cause of such sentiments and renegade existence good ,mr4 ,antrobus tryed in vain1 with much ,delicacy to discover4 ,at the clearest1 it appeared to him to date from the dying man's marriage and from some stormy period of his career4 ,in any case1 the renunciation of ,mr4 ,george in lot and part in gypsydom was of savage sincerity4 ,he would not tolerate the idea of his child being left open to such influences2 and1 as a matter of her happy fortune in meeting with our kind ,bath antiquarian1 she never encountered them4 ,recognising in his benefactor not only a generous man1 but one genuinely interested in the whole topic of gypsy life1 character1 and affairs 7moderately studied at the time preceding a ,borrow or a ,leland71 ,george ,x-- entertained ,mr4 ,antrobus for hours and dayes in what must have been an extraordinarily free parliament4 ,it discussed not merely the concerns in general1 but the secrets1 of ,egypt4 ,mr4 ,george bad travelled much4 ,he bad acquired a deal of special knowledge delightful to ,antrobus4 ,it is provoking that ,antrobus did not commit more of it to paper4 ,but1 among other matters1 ,mr4 ,antrobus was enlightened on the secrets of looking into dukkeripens in a degree of minuteness that few gorgios enjoy4 ,as part of this last confidence--the rarest from one of the ,blood-- did ,george ,x-- disclose in course of certain sances the ,square of ,sevens1 that most particular and potent method of prying into the past and present and future4 ,in it figures the wonderful ,parallelogram1 with its ,master ,cards1 ,influences1 and so on-- which our book records4 ,moreover1 ,george ,x-- declared that whereas most of his race can or will use only corrupted or quite frivolous versions of it1 this statement set its real and rare self forth with the utmost purity1 value1 and completeness1 in a degree known to only a few of all the families of ,egypt4 ,as such a weighty bit of ,black ,art did ,mr4 ,antrobus make its details into a book4 ,as such he printed it4 ,doubtless he thought that a betrayed secret may lawfully be re-betrayed as fully as possible4 ,nevertheless1 it was not so much of a re-betrayal4 ,for less than what a publisher of this day would call one fair-sized edition of ,the ,square of ,sevens1 printed for ,antrobus by the great ,john ,gowne1 of ,the ,mask book-shop1 has ever appeared4 ,and1 to account for the semi-privacy surrounding the little work1 must be set forth the dolesome incident of a printing-house fire burning1 all except about a dozen or so of copies1 before there had been any distribution of the ,book among the author's ,friends1 ,male or1 ,female1 or to the ,publick4 ,by some sudden change of his own mind or his conscience1 ,mr4 ,antrobus did not order any new edition4 ,the prefatory ,afterthought mentioned may be found1 only if stuck in some of the copies of the volume--doubtless by quick and clumsy after-pastings4 ,why ,antrobus did not give the volume real currency is not known4 ,that he was urged to do so is certain4 ,it is likely1 however1 that about this same time some pecuniary losses withheld him from such expensive bobbies as printing books4 ,he returned to ,bath1 and died there in #agdj4 ,we have no particulars of the event1 nor are there more than allusions to it in the journal of the date or in the letters of contemporaries4 ,lady ,lavinia ,pitt1 however1 mentions the disease as the smallpox1 then so much dreaded4 ,he left no family--except his young ward1 the mysterious daughter of ,mr4 ,george--of the ,tretelly ,inn4 ,to her ,antrobus had given his name1 and she inherited half his estate4 ,shortly after her kind guardian's death she married an ,exeter gentleman of high family4 ,her father1 ,mr4 ,george1 died in the course of ,mr4 ,antrobus's stay at ,tretelly4 ,to some beaux and belles of the reigns of ,george ,,ii4 and ,george ,,iii4 this book1 originating in the conversation of another ,george-- ,george the ,unknown--could well seem an interesting matter4 ,all the more might it be so in view of its scarceness1 from the first4 ,there are no more copies of it1 despite the fact that fashionable dilettanti in things occult have borne it in mind4 ,could anything be more characteristic of ,horace ,walpole than to find him in a letter1 from serene ,strawberry ,hill1 confessing--to no purpose--that he is desirous of getting hold of that damned queer old woman's fortune-telling book1 by ,bob ,antrobus4 ,in the ,diary of the sprightly ,louisa ,josepha ,adelaide1 ,countess of ,bute 7afterward so unfortunate a wife and an even more unfortunate mother71 she describes a droll scene at a ,scotch castle one evening1 in which the unexpected statements of ,the ,square of ,sevens as to the lives and characters of the company put to the blush several persons of distinction who rashly tempted its wisdom--especially including the aged ,earl of ,lothian4 ,for what ,lady ,morgan thought of it1 and the characteristic story of the peculiar terms on which she offered to sell her copy to ,archbishop ,dacre1 the reader is referred to the ,bentijack ,correspondence4 ,it is on its face a model method of fortune-telling with cards2 easily the first for completeness and directness4 ,our author1 in a letter to his cousin1 ,henry ,antrobus1 quotes the eminent ,brough as styling it not only the most authoritative little book on its topic1 certainly the most interesting one2 hit the only volume on the subject which is not a confusing and puerile farrago of nonsense-- troublesome to look into and unsatisfactory to acquire4 ,certainly our ancient enthusiasts record can be learned and used systematically1 exactly as is the case with such excellent and approved systems of chiromancy as ,mr4 ,heron-,allen's and others4 ,it may be thought fortunate for modern students of card-divination that the work has survived1 so complete and clear4 ,its discreetness1 too1 is delightfully adroit1 when it suggests that its tenses1 past1 present1 and future1 are not as definite as one might desire4 ,there is no copy of the hook in the ,british ,museum1 nor in the ,paris ,bibliothque ,nationale1 nor in any public collection of ,america1 ,england1 or ,france that ,i can name4 ,one worn but perfect ,,ms copy is to be found in a private library in the ,united ,states4 ,another might yet be sought in far ,australia1 if still owned by descendants of ,mr4 ,antrobus's young ward4 ,only by a special personal interest in the matter1 and with a sense of risk to an heirloom1 ,i am permitted to make the manuscript for this edition4 ,undoubtedly1 as ,r4,a41 ,mr4 ,antrobus dressed the mystic ,significances of the cards in the book's ,tavola in ,english less blunt and uncultivated than they came to his ears from the lips of the dying ,george--4 ,but that he took no other liberties of the least consequence is pretty certain4 ,he respected the ,supernaturall here1 as in his grave brochure on the ,cock ,lane ,ghost1 which spectre1 alas6 mightily took him in4 ,and1 by the way1 the reader will please observe in his pages here following that though the method of building and so of forming the ,square1 and of reducing it1 seems at first glance bothersome and complicated1 it is only a childishly easy performance in the way of making a square of seven rows of seven cards1 and then of making the rows only three cards deep1 at most6 ,crazy superstition and the aim at mummery have added the details of process that seem tedious4 ,and1 really1 they are not ineffective in a drawing-room4 ,what we read of thus as carefully put together1 conscientiously printed as a thing to be taken with seriousness1 in its author's time1 may in our social day serve a lighter end--and entertain the parlor1 rather than awe the boudoir4 ,with this intent1 as well as in offering something of a literary curio1 the present ,editor assists it toward the glimpses of--not the moon1 but the electric chandelier4 ,and its ,nineteenth-,century sponsor hopes that many curious and pleasant fortunes may be read by it2 and that in its pages the ominous ,spade1 the mischief-working ,influencing-,card1 the stern ,master-,card1 the evil ,female or ,male ,enemy1 and the ,vain and ,amoratious ,man 7who must be ever1 indeed1 a terrible combination to endure7 may not be frequently encountered--in any case1 that along with many other troubles and trials1 such unpleasing meetings may not come outside the vagaries of a pack of cards4 ,e4 ,,irenaeus ,,stevenson4 ,new ,york1 #ahif4 ,,bradamante4 ,but is this authentic8 ,is it an original8 ,is it a true1 original thing1 sir8 ,,gradasso 7making a leg74 ,madam1 'tis as authentic as very authenticity itself--'tis truth's kernel1 originality's core--provided you are but willing to believe it such4 ,,bradamante4 ,sir1 you quibble4 ,,gradasso 7making a leg74 ,madam1 'tis precisely in my vocation to quibble1--and delicately4 ,from ,the ,superglorious ,life and ,death of ,prince ,artius3 ,a ,tragedy4 ,act ,,li41 sc4 li4 ,,the ,,square ,,of ,,sevens ,of the ,preparing of the ,square of ,sevens from which is made the ,parallelogram2 with the due ,shuffles1 ,deals1 and ,disposals thereto4 ,take a ,pack of ,fifty-,two ,cards1 ,shuffle the same well1 ,seven times4 ,then present the ,pack to the ,person whose ,queries you seek to answer1 who accordingly shall be called your ,querist4 ,therewith must your ,querist chuse from the ,pack1 without seeing the cards in it--three several ,cards1 which are to be called his ,wish-,cards2 the same being chosen with a ,cut between each ,choice4 ,the ,querist must not seek to see these same ,wish-,cards2 they are to be laid apart on the ,table1 or left to ,repose in the ,querist's care1 till all that followeth of the ,square1 the ,parallelogram1 and the ,reading be ended4 ,of the ,dealing of a ,first ,seven ,cards4 ,again take in hand your ,pack and ,shuffle it yet smartly1 there being ,forty-nine ,cards now left in it4 ,proceed next earnestly to ,deal them forth on the table in the following ,order and ,manner1 and without first seeing their ,faces4 ,and be solicitous of laying them down just as they shall come1 ,faces upward1 in a ,downward and ,oblique ,line2 taking them from the ,topmost of the ,pack until you have laid forth ,seven1 ,cards4 ,and while you cruise and lay down the same1 and indeed during all that here ensueth of ,directions for your following1 avoid foolish ,conversation and sottish ,pleasantries with those about you2 ---- #a ---- ---- #b ---- ---- #c ---- ---- #d ---- ---- #e ---- ---- #f ---- ---- #g ,,fig4 #a ---- having your mind serious to your task4 7,fig4 ,i47 ,shuffle again2 and therewith from the store of the ,pack add to the above ,seven ,cards1 a ,dealing of ,six more1 to be taken from the ,bottom of the ---- ---- #ac ---- ---- ---- #ab ---- ---- ---- #aa ---- ---- ---- #aj ---- ---- ---- #i ---- ---- ---- #h ---- ---- ,,fig4 #b ---- ,pack1 chusing these also without knowledge of ,suits or ,values4 ,they shall be laid in an ascending ,border of ,six1 to the ,right ,hand of your first ,series4 7,fig4 #b47 ,again ,shuffle2 and deal out ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ad ---- ---- ---- ---- #ae ---- ---- ---- ---- #af ---- ---- ---- ---- #ag ---- ---- ---- ---- #ah ---- ---- ---- #ai ,,fig4 #c ---- ---- from the ,top of the ,pack ,six other ,cards laying them in a downward ,border1 leftward1 to the thirteen already placed4 7,fig4 #c47 ,nineteen cards now face you in the ,series4 ,shuffle again1 and deal from the ,bottom of the ---- ---- ---- #bd ---- ---- ---- ---- #bc ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #bb ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ba ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #bj ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #d ---- ---- ,pack1 to the ,right hand of the ,figure a-making1 ,five cards1 in an ascending ,border4 7,fig4 #d47 ,shuffle again2 and from the ,top of the ,pack deal down other ,five ,cards1 laid in descent1 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #be ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #bf ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #bg ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #bh ---- ---- ---- ---- #bi ,,fig4 #e ---- ---- ---- as a ,left-,hand ,border4 7,fig4 #e47 ,your next ,shuffling and ,dealing will cause you to lay down1 from the ,bottom of the ,pack1 ,four ,cards1 in a ,right ,ascension 7,fig4 #f71 as you were laying ---- ---- ---- ---- #cc ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #cb ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ca ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #cj ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #f ---- ---- ---- a ,tiled ,floor or a ,ceiling ,pattern4 ,there are now three-and-thirty ,cards laid4 ,again ,shuffle1 and from the ,top of the ,pack lay-- downward--a ,leftward ,border of ,four ,cards4 7,fig4 #g47 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #cd ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ce ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #cf ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #cg ,,fig4 #g ---- ---- ---- ---- ,of the sudden appearing of the ,fair ,cross4 ,observe that each side of your ,figure thereby has ,four ,cards1 and its midmost ,rows1 horizontal and perpendicular contain1 like the first ,row laid1 ,seven cards apiece2 and offer thereby a ,fair ,cross1 the ,goodliest ,sign4 ,the first ,figure needed1 the ,square1 is now nearing ,shape2 its ,rows1 diagonal or horizontal or perpendicular1 equalizing4 ,shuffle1 and deal from the ,bottom of the ,pack1 a ,rightward ,border of ,three ,cards1 upward laid4 7,fig4 #h47 ,you have now four rows of sevens1 in your figure3 a ,cross1 withal still to be found in its middle--reckoned up and down and right and left4 ,you must now ,shuffle--so well as your lessened cards will allow1 yet with but one ,shuffle--and deal1 from your ,pack's ,top1 a downward ,left-,hand ,border of ,three ,cards4 7,fig4#i47 ,note that you now have in your ,figure three ,rows of ,sevens2 which you may well ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #dj ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ci ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #ch ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #h ---- ---- ---- ---- wish were ,guineas for your ,purse4 ,again ,shuffle1 as best you can1 and from your ,bottom ,cards in the ,pack deal ,two ,cards1 laid at the right1 upward1 as in ,fig4 #aj1 nearly finishing ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #da ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #db ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #dc ,,fig4 #i ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- your ,square1 now holding four rows of ,sevens4 ,again mix your cards2 and deal from their ,top1 ,two ,cards1 leftward laid in descent1 as in ,fig4 #aa4 ,how much1 ,o1 ,friend1 in ,human ,life is nearly ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #de ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #dd ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #aj ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- perfect1 yet not quite perfect6 ,truly no ,man shall reckon this ,life a ,perfect ,matter with him6 ,r4,a4 ,confuse now1 as best and honestest you may 7for you can hardly essay a shuffle71 at least ,once your two last ,cards3 and so complete your ,square ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #df ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #dg ,,fig4 #aa ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- of ,sevens1 out of which will presently rise the ,parallelogram2 by laying its ,forty-eighth and ,forty-ninth cards in ,opposition ,comers1 as in ,fig4 #ab4 ,the ,square is completed4 ,consider this ,figure attentively4 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #dh ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- #di ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #ab ,for now have you before you the very ,square of ,sevens3 being a magicall ,square ,figure of ,forty-nine ,cards1 whose ,rows include ever ,seven ,cards1 taken anyways4 ,and that same mysticall ,square now must be made ready for use in ,reading your ,querist's ,fortune 7or ,experiences7 by making it into a ,parallelogram of smaller compass1 through what is called its formal ,reduction4 ,of the ,square ,formally ,reduced to ,the ,parallelogram2 and of ,the ,master-,cards ,the ,sacrifice4 ,having thus built your ,square1 chuse the extreme right-hand card in its ,uppermost ,row4 ,lay it on such card of the same ,suit as lieth nearest it1 in the same ,row1 if there be such2 save on the last ,card on the ,left of the ,row4 ,of the ,master-,card and ,master-,column4 ,this ,leftward ,card in each ,row is called the ,row's ,master-,card1 and it cannot be covered by any other card1 nor be moved4 ,it must open and alone abide as it is2 and the ,seven ,master-,cards1 counted downward on the ,square's left ,edge1 make what is called the ,master-,column4 ,if you have no other card of the same ,suit as your right-ward card --or none save those of the ,master-,column--let it lie4 ,but if you can lay it on another1 not a ,master-,card1 of any degree in the ,suit--for observe the degree here matters not--so do4 ,and then mark if1 leftward and toward the ,master-,card of the ,row1 lies another of the same ,suit4 ,if so1 take up the two cards you laid together2 and lay them on this third one4 ,look again and carefully2 and1 if another of the ,suit be found1 carry to it the former ones4 ,so do until you have no more of its ,suit toward its left1 to join unto1 and until all the cards of one ,suit in the ,row lie piled together2 save the ,master-,card1 which even if it be of the ,suit lieth alone1 leftward1 as it was first dealt out and down1 in the last ,square4 ,of the ,reduction4 ,proceed then with the next ,suit in the ,row3 and so with each ,row1 until you have thus sorted all the cards save the ,master-,cards4 ,this is the ,reduction4 ,close now and straiten-up together each of the ,rows thus broken into ,piles2 pushing ever toward the ,master-,row4 ,thus have you a new ,figure1 smaller than the last ,square of ,sevens1 and somewhat irregular3 there be in some ,rows five cards1 in others less2 even so few1 though rarely1 as three or two4 ,note that a ,pile of ,cards is reckoned only as one card4 ,note1 too1 that with cards that have become hid beneath others you have no concern4 ,of the ,sacrifice4 ,next1 cast or lay aside in a parcel1 all ,cards in the ,figure that are not contained in the three ,columns1 leftward 7the ,master-,column1 and two other ,columns74 ,if1 your ,reduction done1 any ,row offer to sight but two ,cards--the ,master-,card and its neighbor--so must the ,row abide4 ,but this comes rarely4 ,you will best not disturb the ,cards hid in the ,piles1 for it is well to let ,sleeping ,dogs lie1 and moreover needless ,fingering and ,quiddling of the ,parallelogram is not commended4 ,with the cards thus rejected have you no more to do4 ,they are called the ,sacrifice4 ---- ---- ---- ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ---- ---- ---- ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ---- ---- ---- ,master ---- ---- ---- ,,fig4 #ac ,column ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ---- ---- ---- ,,xxxx ,,xxxx ---- ---- ---- ,the ,parallelogram made4 ,now have you a ,parallelogram of ,one-and-,twenty ,cards in sight 7,fig4 #ac71 reduced from the ,square that formerly held ,nine-and-,forty4 ,with these ,one-and-,twenty now under your eyes ,i will be your ,querist's affair4 ,you may indeed ask why so much ,labour is made of building the ,square only to reduce it1 to despoil it1 and to force it to hide or to part with so many of its ,sevens--as by a sudden ,slaughter or a ,panic or a ,plague4 ,but it is held that by such prior ,shufflings1 ,dealings1 and ,placings are much cherished the accidentall ,declarings of ,fates intelligence2 and that by the other ,processes1 embracing ,the ,sacrifice1 there remain for ,reading just the ,cards decreed2 free from disposition by light-fingered ,craft1 or from ticklish ,arrangements by ,skill4 ,a ,thing of ,great ,mystery and ,fair ,harmony--as ,jacobus of ,utrecht calleth the ,soul4 ,and the ,square itself1 the ,parent of the ,parallelogram1 is of great ,harmony as a ,mystery4 ,indeed all other ,methods of reading fortune in ,cards are incomparable to it4 ,of ,summarizing in the ,parallelogram its ,aspect and of the ,fortune or ,experience of the ,querist that it will ,report4 ,with your ,parallelogram thus built1 observe it as an ,whole2 and remark if it hath an ,agreeable or ,unpleasing ,aspect--one ,auspicious or ,unkind1 according as it contains rather the red or the black ,suits4 ,for a ,red ,aspect is kindly4 ,a ,black ,aspect contains many less favorable cards1 especially if they be ,spades4 ,of ,hearts as a ,portent4 ,and1 for another ,matter1 and a wider ,notice as to the ,suits of ,cards3--it has long been assured by those best knowing ,card ,intelligences that the ,suit of ,hearts is the ,suit of the ,affections1 ,passions1 ,fancies and ,feelings4 ,of ,diamonds4 ,and the ,suit of ,diamonds ever refers to ,condition in ,life1 ,society1 ,wealth1 ,position and the ,fine ,arts2 and contains many ,comfortable ,cards4 ,of ,clubs4 ,in the ,clubs lies the ,judgment1 the ,intellect1 the ,will1 and the ,affairs of a ,man's ,brains1 and what he doeth of his own ,mastery and ,genius4 ,of the ominous ,spades suit4 ,the ,spades is ever the suit of doubtful or worse ,prognosticks2 of the ,events that arbitrarily fall to ,man's ,lot1 those things which hardly can any ,prescience or ,plans or ,conditions of our own making amend4 ,thence is it that in especiall comes a serious1 nay even a gloomy appearance to the ,parallelogram4 ,your first ,glance at it1 therefore1 gives you a ,generall ,character in it1 to state first to the ,querist before its details4 ,of a particular ,uncertainty in a ,prognostick4 ,but particularly note that ,matters to be read in its ,cards may often refer not to the ,future1 or to the ,present1 but to the ,past4 ,especially is this the truth with the ,old or ,elderly or with those ,wed4 ,such must expect to be told of ,experiences that lie behind them1 rather than before them1 of ,good or ,evil2 for ,fate oft allows sparingly of ,incident to those of middle years1 or later2 and therewith she is often pleased to make her ,oracle speak coldly to a ,querist1 of ,ancient ,circumstances4 ,the ,shot seldom goeth twice into the same hole2 and a ,dead ,trouble or ,joy rarely ,reviveth4 ,and a ,blessed ,thing that 'tis so6 ,hence1 whether a ,significancy in a ,card speak of what is come or is yet to come1 at best is none too certain2 only it is true that the greater or harder ,experiences of ,mortall ,lives seldom be duplicated4 ,with the ,young or ,unwedded1 the ,significancies are of the ,future1 with far more determination4 ,of the ,reading of the ,parallelogram1 according to the ,tavola2 and of the ,wish-,cards4 ,note now your ,card in the ,right-,hand column1 and also the ,card next it1 of course to the ,leftward2 which ,leftward ,card is spoken of as ,influencing the other4 ,of the ,influences1 ,in which the ,philosophick will find a likeness to ,human ,circumstances4 ,the ,significancy of it1 for good or evil1 is given in the ,tavola that follows in this ,book1 by its proper ,suit and ,degree3 and this you will tell to your ,querist4 ,next note the card1 which was just now an ,influencing ,card1 but which1 now in its turn1 is to be considered according to the ,influence cast on it by the ,master-,card1 beyond it1 leftward4 ,declare this ,significancy4 ,last1 declare what may be the ,significancy of the ,master-,card1 as such and alone4 ,and so proceed1 as to each card in the ,parallelogram1 ever naming last the ,significance of the ,master-,card1 until your ,parallelogram is all interpreted to the ,querist4 ,and note that the ,master-,card even as an ,influence is not more potent than another1 7as far as is known71 and that its ,dignity and ,potency arise only in its being uninfluenced2 and1 so speaking1 from its ,significance with a certain ,individuality not belonging to its two ,fellows4 ,nor are there2 any ,influences cast ,upward or ,downward by the ,cards1 out of the ,row in which each lieth4 ,having read the ,parallelogram from beginning to end1 slowly and honestly1 lay forth those three ,wish ,cards1 early chosen by your ,querist1 but not dealt in the ,square4 ,of the ,querist's ,wish4 ,if they contain more ,red than ,black ,cards1 this shall come3 the ,querist may wish a ,wish for his own ,profit or ,pleasure1 even in removal of an ,evil that hath been read to him in the ,parallelogram4 ,if there be ,black rather than ,red cards in the ,three1 he must wish a like wish for ,another4 ,and in either case1 if the cards deciding his ,privilege be of high degree1 such as ,court ,cards1 ,aces or above the ,eight1 his ,wish is likely to be granted1 or at least it is not in vain in some sort4 ,but if the ,cards be low in ,values he has desired to ,fruitlessness4 ,let it be minded that by the ,phrase an high or a low ,card in a ,suit is ever meant1 respectively1 the cards above or below the ,eight2 the ,aces being reckoned as the highest in a ,suit4 ,and indeed ,cards must ever be read with a ,considering of their ,degree1 and of the ,six in ,court ,cards4 ,where there be no speciall ,significancies given to the ,degrees1 the ,judgement must ,i shift as best it can4 ,it is well not to oblige1 of any one evening1 or on a set and single occasion1 more than a ,querist or so--maybe1 oblige at most three ,querists--by making ,squares of ,sevens and ,reducing the same and ,reading what may lie therein4 ,too much of any good thing makes it over-common1 blunts the ,appetite and dulls the ,apprehensiveness of the ,reader4 ,with fatigue1 too1 may come ,carelessness and1 on good occasion1 even ,lying3 and1 besides1 let us respect the ,supernaturall4 ,,the ,,tavola ,,of ,,significanicies ,,and ,,influences1 ,,proper ,,to ,,the ,,true ,,reading ,,of ,,the ,,parallelogram2 ,,adjusted ,,in ,a ,,system ,,of ,,alternatives ,,note ,in transcribing this ,tavola1 the ,editor has somewhat modernized the spelling and capitalizing1 for the convenience of the reader4 ,with reluctance1 but of necessity1 he has also amended--or emended--the phrasing1 where it is in the original hardly consonant with modern taste4 ,,of ,,hearts ,the ,ace4 ,as a ,master-,card1 a special ,emotional ,experience4 ,influenced by a ,king of like ,suit1 there is figured an ,intimate ,friend1 or one in whom the ,querist is much bound4 ,by a ,queen of like ,suit--an ,emotion for a ,woman of beauty and charm4 ,by a ,knave of like ,suit1 an ,attachment to a ,man younger than the ,querist4 ,influenced by any high heart other than those above1 an ,amorous or ,affectionate ,temper of mind or body4 ,by a low heart1 an impressionable1 kindly ,nature4 ,these are ,five ,special ,interpretings4 ,the more general are3 influenced by a ,diamond1 ,good ,fortune in something1 measured by the degree of the ,influencing ,card4 ,by a ,club1 a ,talent or ,gift to be made much of4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,error1 or ,disappointment1 in the degree of the influencing card4 ,the ,king4 ,as ,master-,card1 is figured that the ,querist deals or has had much to do with a ,man of fair skin and light type1 of good temperament4 ,influenced by an ,ace of like suit1 one notably unselfish4 ,by ,knave1 a ,lover1 ,husband1 ,friend4 ,by a ,queen1 a ,love-match4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,man of ,wealth or artistic nature4 ,by a high club1 a ,man of ,energy withal2 by a low club1 one of ,prudence4 ,by a ,spade1 a man of some defect of ,temperament1 or of a ,chronic ,malady or ,blemish1 ominous to him and others4 ,the ,queen4 ,as ,master-,card1 is referred to specially1 an amiable1 affectionate ,woman1 rather one sentimental than of intellect4 ,influenced by like suit1 if an ,ace1 she is admired of ,many2 if a ,king1 she is wedded1 betrothed1 or beloved by one in especial4 ,by a ,knave of like suit1 she is beloved by a ,male ,relative in especial1 not of her own near family4 ,by other cards of like suit1 degrees of regard4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,woman gifted1 and esteemed much in ,modish ,life4 ,by a ,club1 though not learned she appreciates knowledge in others4 ,by a spade1 she is not of firm health2 or not of wholly firm ,virtue4 ,the ,knave4 ,as ,master-,card--the ,querist's closest ,friend2 yet likely held such because of feeling rather than judgment4 ,influenced by an ,ace of like suit1 there is no ,inequality in the affection4 ,by a ,king of like suit1 ,resemblance to the ,querist in physique or mind or disposition4 ,by a ,queen of like suit1 one with distinctively feminine traits4 ,by another card of like suit1 a popular man with his fellows4 ,by a diamond1 of wealth or social ,position2 but if by a ,nine of ,diamonds1 not enduring in such ,happy ,fortune4 ,by a ,club1 a ,friend of judgment and good at advice4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,friend of not too sound health3 or apt of offence4 ,ten4 ,as ,master-,card1 a general reference to ,matrimony1 as being ever the card-matrimonial4 ,influenced by like suit1 a ,high-,marriage and that auspicious3 by a low heart1 a ,marriage not one's first or first-wished4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,marriage with money in it4 ,by a ,club1 a ,marriage of reason or of circumstances4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,interrupted or more or less ,disastrous ,match4 ,nine4 ,as ,master-,card3 a ,card of ,good ,augury for what we wish for ,another4 ,influenced by its like suit1 an unexpected ,meeting1 with a person much affected or desired4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,pleasure in store4 ,by a ,club1 a ,wish partly fulfilled1 rather than wholly4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,wish fulfilled but followed by some detrimental ,event4 ,eight4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,love-,interest4 ,as influenced by like suit1 an ,interest of much ,romance4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,lost ,article recovered4 ,by a ,club1 the ,victory in a difference or argument as to some plan or act4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,caprice to warm the heart2 or a new ,article of dress or household stuff4 ,seven4 ,as ,master-,card3 the ,card of ,trust and ,confidence approved of4 ,influenced by like suit1 honest ,love1 or ,family regard4 ,by a ,diamond1 wise ,trust in a commercial or social step4 ,by a ,club1 in a ,secret4 ,by a ,confidence misplaced in a person or event4 ,six4 ,as ,master-,card3 ,a strong ,inclination1 a ,desire1 or ,action is well rewarded4 ,influenced by like suit1 it concerns another even more than ourselves1 or as much4 ,by a ,diamond1 a step of social or artistic or pecuniary vantage2 save if the diamond be the nine1 which leaves the result in ,doubt of full success4 ,by a ,club1 a ,matter of ,judgment and practical bearing1 seen and discussed of others2 or a ,remark1 or a ,letter of more consequence than would appear4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,inclination or desire1 not wholly honorable3 or of brief realization4 ,five4 ,as ,master-,card1 an amusing and diverting ,affair heard of1 or entered into4 ,influenced by its like suit1 a ,feeling not hitherto returned is met at last4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,success in some-thing particularly wished4 ,by a ,club1 a keen and shrewd ,chance at a remark to be well caught4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,ache1 ,pain1 or ,breaking4 ,four4 ,as ,master-,card1 is figured the existence of an obstinate ,sentiment toward one1 or an ,opinion not of our own building up4 ,influenced by the like suit1 it is troublesome1 causing thought1 new to one1 or burdensome4 ,by a ,diamond1 it is known to others1 or guessed4 ,by a ,club1 it is apt to lead to acts officious or of manoeuvre4 ,by a ,spade1 it is a ,sentiment based on error and lack of full insight2 or it will be abruptly weakened4 ,three4 ,an ,act of ,charity and ,generosity1 by or toward the ,querist1 if read as ,master-,card4 ,influenced by like suit1 ,action in a matter of very confidential sort4 ,by a ,diamond1 it is in part a ,matter of ,money or ,office or from a ,superiour--and may be associated with an investment1 a society1 an entertainment4 ,by a ,club1 it figures a ,visit1 or ,visitor4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,change of ,opinion in some near matter is enjoined1 or the ,loss of a good will2 or a ,surprise not welcome wholly4 ,two4 ,as ,master-,card1 favorable ,news1 or a ,letter acceptable4 ,if influenced by its like suit1 the ,person from whom it comes1 or also referred to in it1 is much valued1 or a near ,relative4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,present1 a ,visit1 a ,meeting of service1 a ,letter1 respectively4 ,by a ,club1 a yes in a matter open4 ,by a ,spade1 it concerns ,another more than the ,querist2 or else will not be altogether correct in statement4 ,,of ,,diamonds ,the ,ace4 ,as ,master-,card1 a tangible and material ,success in some ,matter of ,society1 ,money1 ,art1 or ,office4 ,influenced by a ,king of like suit1 a ,loss recovered4 ,by any other card of like suit1 ,information and certainty of an ,affair of purchase1 bargain or sale1 much to advantage4 ,by a ,heart1 a wise ,marriage1 the settlement of a ,difference1 an open matter closed to satisfaction4 ,by a ,club1 a prudent ,choice4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,cost or expense1 perhaps a loss1 before a satisfactory and favorable ,event1 or in course of it4 ,the ,king4 ,as ,master-,card1 is figured a brilliant1 honorable and successful ,man1 of standing and perhaps of marked taste in art1 belles-lettres and the like2 and gifted in them4 ,influenced by its like suit1 a ,man with much original in him1 shrewd in money or gift4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,male ,character of kindly and humane traits2 or one sensitive and easily moved in his mood4 ,by a ,club1 a ,man in professional life1 and of good mental balance4 ,by a ,spade such a life is threatened or broken1 or not free from ,self-seeking at others' expense4 ,the ,queen4 ,as ,master-,card is indicated the existence of a brilliant1 gifted ,woman2 fond of social life and modish things1 of dress or expensive and rare matters2 perhaps of ,talent in art or literature4 ,influenced by like suit1 one of brilliancy rather than feeling or self-sacrifice4 ,by a ,heart1 if high1 of affection more than is thought2 if low1 beautiful4 ,by a ,club1 a ,woman executive2 of some audacity2 restless or self-depending3 admiring intellect of solid kind tho' maybe lacking it4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,woman not devoted to benefiting others2 and threatened by misfortune2 or with a hidden ,grievance4 ,the ,knave4 ,as ,master-,card1 is figured as within the ,querist's life1 a ,relative1 likely so made by birth or marriage2 and ever disposed to use the tie for personal advantage4 ,influenced by like suit1 the ,relative is not remote1 and marriage or love is so utilized by him1 now2 especially by weakness of judgment1 or by over-affection on another's part4 ,by a ,heart1 a shrewd ,business ,success4 ,by a ,club1 a sudden ,discovery as to a person4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,deferment of the ,querist's prosperity in a matter4 ,ten4 ,also1 as ,master-,card2 a brilliant1 entertaining1 but too trifling and irresponsible ,man3 or a vain and amoratious man if a knave of beads influence it1 often is figured4 ,nine4 ,as ,master-,card1 a valuable ,possession4 ,influenced by like suit1 is concerned one intrinsically of value1 as jewels1 money or plate1 a house or estate4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,secret3 a ,marriage4 ,by a ,club1 the aforesaid or another ,possession will be 7or has been7 won by special exertions of the ,querist's abilities1 or so to be kept4 ,by a ,spade1 it is endangered4 ,eight4 ,this is the ,unlucky ,red ,card if figuring as ,master-,card2 meaning a personal ,event of importance going awry2 a ,subtraction that must be admitted to others4 ,but if influenced by like suit1 it is a favorable card and indicates a pleasing ,journey1 or ,meeting4 ,by a ,heart1 an ,enemy or evil opinion altered in your favor4 ,by a ,club a ,proposal of tempting kind4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,plan that in success is doubtful and partial1 or troublesome to another4 ,seven4 ,a card of good omen if a ,master-,card1 in the ,practical ,affairs of life1 business1 society1 or art1 or one of them4 ,influenced by a like suit1 in a ,commercial thing2 a ,meeting wished2 an influence desired4 ,by a ,heart1 a wealthy and superior1 or happy ,marriage4 ,by a ,club1 a ,communication of importance or good4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,indiscretion that were better not committed by your fault2 or a ,negligence4 ,six4 ,as ,master-,card1 the card of special ,report1 ,conversation about one1 or of ,action by another2 in a degree affecting one's outward affairs4 ,by a ,heart1 from a near ,friend4 ,by a ,club1 where you esteem or respect4 ,by a high spade1 with error or even untruth in it1 mayhap not intended1 but a pity4 ,by a low spade1 it is somewhat written4 ,seven4 ,as ,master-,card1 a commercial or social ,step1 a ,purchase of importance2 by the ,querist4 ,influenced by like suit1 attractive and unexpected4 ,by a ,heart1 in regard to making a new ,acquaintance1 or bringing a ,change of feeling toward some one4 ,by a ,club1 a ,matter of ,necessity2 or an affair dealing with a lawyer1 doctor1 clergyman1 or servant3 or a ,step of wisdom as well as attraction4 ,by a ,spade1 if high1 a ,loan of money3 if low1 a small ,borrowing4 ,five4 ,a good omen2 as a ,master-,card1 meaning a ,gift to the ,querist4 ,influenced by like suit1 is figured a personal ,ornament or convenience4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,gift is to be made4 ,by ,club1 it comes with formality and after debate1 and considering for some time1 or for special circumstances4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,disappointment to another dear to you1 is figured4 ,four4 ,as ,master-,card1 an ,honor or ,favour or ,compliment or bit of ,luck4 ,influenced by like suit1 in society1 or art4 ,by a ,heart1 long desired2 and perhaps more pleasing than wise or useful4 ,by a ,club1 due to one's own judgment and persistency4 ,by a high spade1 entailing trouble or cost4 ,by a low spade1 at the cost of another's misfortune2 or not wholly our desert rather than another's2 or brief4 ,three4 ,as ,master-,card1 a sudden ,surprise in an event4 ,influenced by like suit1 agreeable1 and social or pecuniary or in the arts4 ,by a ,heart1 ,surprise1 agreeable1 yet not to one's interest or particular profit4 ,by a ,club1 a social ,responsibility4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,death or a ,misfortune to another likely enters into it4 ,two4 ,a gift or fortunate ,purchase1 if a ,master-,card4 ,influenced by the like suit1 an ,engagement or ,burden happily broken or dismissed2 a ,good ,riddance1 a ,disgrace or ,plague ended4 ,by a ,heart1 an ,offer--in love1 friendship1 trade1 travel1 profession1 or pleasure4 ,by a ,club1 a ,letter or ,interview of consequence4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,service that one is glad of1 or a ,gift2 but bringing obligation with it1 sooner or later4 ,,of ,,clubs ,the ,ace4 ,as ,master-,card1 is figured an ,event of material weight1 involving use of judgment1 will1 shrewdness1 or decision4 ,influenced by the like suit1 high or low1 its effect is the more for our own making4 ,by a ,heart1 is seen a ,matter in which our ,sentiments are specially enlisted1 perhaps in contest with judgment or tastes or duty4 ,by a ,diamond1 the affair is in society1 artistic life1 money1 or responsibility to others as well4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,mischance or ,disappointment is part of it2 often faithfully hid1 or to be hid4 ,the ,king4 ,as ,master-,card1 our relationship to a strong mental or moral ,influence of the male sex1 respected and deferred to2 or sure so to be4 ,influenced by its like suit1 it is a cultivated and professional one1 or involuntary4 ,by a high heart1 it arises in a near relative or one for whom a special affection is felt4 ,by a low heart1 it is either secret or remote2 or it may be that it is religious1 in part4 ,by a ,diamond1 our outward life must have concern in it4 ,by a ,spade1 the influence is of doubtful or worse healthfulness or profit to us4 ,the ,queen4 ,as ,master-,card1 a marked female ,influence on the ,querist1 in the way of respect1 judgment1 advice1 or authority3 not necessarily as to a relative4 ,influenced by the like suit1 a person of coldish and grave disposition4 ,by a high heart1 of strong impulses and disinterested2 by a low heart1 troublesome1 often importunate and officious4 ,by a ,diamond1 not married2 and of wealth or social esteem2 talented4 ,by a ,spade1 not altogether open or disinterested2 divorced or disappointed2 according to the nature of the ,card4 ,the ,knave4 ,as a ,master-,card1 ,relationship with a well-meaning1 but over-rash and hasty or sanguine ,man2 not necessarily but likely quite youthful1 and selfish in inclination1 or too easily influenced by others of greater art3 an ,associate1 partner1 friend1 or ,employee in some matter of worth4 ,not to be relied on as one would gladly do4 ,influenced by his like suit1 ,circumstances assist him or make of less or more account his weakness or strength4 ,by a ,heart1 he is inclined to be led by tastes and passions and by skilled flattery1 or to overtrust4 ,by a ,diamond1 he is in love with externals1 fond of dress1 or notice1 or pleasure2 ambitious4 ,by a ,spade1 he meets with ,losses to himself and the ,querist1 or he makes some particular ,error or ,false ,step4 ,ten4 ,as ,master-,card1 ,success in a matter long pursued4 ,influenced by its suit1 one of troublesome ,conflict of conduct or advices4 ,by a ,heart1 in an affair of love2 or calling for courage2 or for another1 as well as oneself4 ,by a ,diamond1 an ,opinion or ,prejudice overcome in others1 through our persistency1 or argument4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,inheritance2 or a ,matter needing much watchfulness and care1 when known4 ,nine4 ,as ,master-,card1 the need of much ,decision in our own judgments in an affair of importance2 a need of disregarding counsels of ,others4 ,influenced by the like suit1 several persons or circumstances ,oppose1 perhaps slyly4 ,by a ,heart1 there is a wounding of tenderer feelings or relationship in it4 ,by a ,diamond1 the affair is of ,estate1 ,position1 ,money1 ,comfort1 or ,purchase4 ,by a ,spade1 beware lest so is assumed no greater ,responsibility than can be easily carried2 or acknowledged4 ,eight4 ,an absent ,friend reflects on you in a particular matter4 ,this as ,master-,card4 ,influenced by like suit1 a ,conviction or responsibility of much weight laid on one4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,choice of a wife1 or precious article4 ,by a ,heart1 ,cause of ,concern for a friend4 ,by a ,spade1 you shall give ,counsel not followed1 and spend ,thought thrown aside4 ,seven4 ,as ,master-,card1 a troublesome ,situation dissolved4 ,influenced by like suit1 a ,secret imparted of interest and length4 ,by a ,heart1 undo something very newly done4 ,by a ,diamond1 beware of an ,indiscretion or ,error4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,neglect or piece of forgetfulness will be of cost to mend or replace3 perhaps1 if a high spade1 not to be mended at all4 ,six4 ,as ,master-,card1 cancel at once an ,agreement1 a ,purpose1 or wholly change a ,decision4 ,influenced by the like suit1 a card of fortunate aspect4 ,by a ,heart1 the call to assist ,another1 near to one4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,hazard1 successful4 ,by a ,spade1 a sudden ,opposition4 ,five4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,guest1 a ,visit1 a ,letter1 each needing exercising of prudence or self-restraint2 but acceptable4 ,influenced by the like suit1 a ,proposal urged4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,wound or ,bruise4 ,by a ,diamond1 a strong ,temptation1 or a ,journey4 ,by a ,spade1 an ,argument or ,dispute on a matter4 ,four4 ,an important ,request of the ,querist1 if read as ,master-,card4 ,if influenced by like suit1 one not overmuch to your wish4 ,by a ,heart1 you ,sacrifice somewhat to grant it4 ,by a ,diamond1 it involves anon a ,change4 ,by a ,spade1 the cost will not be valued for its worth4 ,three4 ,as ,master-,card1 a sad or serious ,duty or ,care4 ,as influenced by its like suit1 a ,choice of two things2 both desired much1 but one to be dismissed4 ,by a ,diamond1 ,luck1 or a forthcoming ,pleasure4 ,by a handsome ,man or ,woman to be met and attracted toward one4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,matter to make one angry1 or heart-sick4 ,two4 ,a card of doubtful omen when a ,master1 figuring a grave ,confidence1 of interest to learn1 but burdensome rather than easily to be passed by4 ,by its like suit1 some ,news4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,sentiment not wise though keen4 ,by a ,diamond1 an awkward ,meeting4 ,by a ,spade1 a ,piece of ,news acted on1 and then found untruly reported3 or ,advice seemingly good1 but not so4 ,,of ,,spades 7,the ,suit of ,evil ,omen and of ,unwelcome ,influences47 ,the ,ace4 ,as ,master-,card1 the ,ace figures a special ,misfortune1 ,unhappiness1 or ,hurt to one's life1 by no means avoidable1 and perhaps not discernible at once4 ,influenced by the ,king of its like suit1 sudden3 by the ,queen1 long continuing ere complete2 by the ,knave1 ,fortune through ,persons2 by the ten1 through concurrence of sundry events4 ,by any other spade1 sudden4 ,by a ,heart1 ,ill-,fortune in the ,affection4 ,by the ,diamond1 in the eye of ,others1 in society1 money or art4 ,by a ,club1 to our fear4 ,the ,king4 ,as ,master-,card is figured a particular ,man1 our enemy1 resolute and powerful4 ,influenced by its suit1 it signifies ,news of a ,death3 or of misfortune to others4 ,by a ,heart1 it involves abuse of ,trust or ,affection4 ,by a ,diamond1 is figured a ,man of social station and wealth or talents4 ,by a ,club1 a ,man cautious and reserved1 and hence perhaps unsuspected for his real ,malevolency4 ,the ,queen4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,female ,enemy1 evil wishing or evil-working4 ,influenced by the like suit1 known or soon to be shown as such to you1 and the work4 ,by a ,diamond1 comely and clever or gifted4 ,by a ,club1 intellectual and audacious4 ,by a ,heart1 her enmity arises in jealousy or vanity or in revengefulness or natural malice4 ,the ,knave4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,man having no love for you and inclined to wrong and hurt you2 but happily limited in ,opportunity4 ,influenced by like suit1 often seen of you4 ,by a ,heart1 abusing your ,trust1 smaller or greater4 ,by a ,diamond1 adroit rather than bold4 ,by a ,club1 cruel and slanderous4 ,ten4 ,as a ,master-,card1 an ,event or ,project to your disadvantage and regret4 ,influenced by the like suit1 a ,disgrace4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,quarrel4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,cheat4 ,by a ,club1 a ,hindrance4 ,nine4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,lie1 or an unwelcome ,meeting or ,visit4 ,influenced by like suit1 if a high card a ,lie2 if a low1 a piece of undesired ,news or ,letter4 ,by a ,heart1 a sudden ,alarm or ,anxiety4 ,by a ,club1 a ,broken ,promise3 or a ,secret told4 ,eight4 ,as ,master-,card1 an ,illness4 ,by a high influencing card of the suit1 a long ,illness3 by a lower1 a shorter one4 ,by a ,heart1 an illness to ,another dear to one4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,misfortune in an affair4 ,by a ,club1 an ,accident4 ,seven4 ,as ,master-,card1 a tempting ,proposal that must be declined4 ,by the like suit1 a ,sharp ,quarrel4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,risk not welcome4 ,by a ,club1 a ,disappointment in a person or thing or event4 ,by a ,club1 one arrives just too late for a certain ,pleasure or ,good4 ,six4 ,as ,master-,card1 a ,disappointment4 ,influenced by its own suit1 a ,journey not of pleasure1 or else unpleasant4 ,by a ,diamond1 a fall4 ,by a ,heart1 a mistake of inconvenience4 ,by a ,club1 must be read an unfavorable ,sign4 ,five4 ,as ,master-,card1 an ,expense4 ,influenced by its own suit1 a ,neglect4 ,by a ,heart1 a ,worriment or ,grief4 ,by a ,diamond1 a doubtful ,success4 ,by a ,club1 a ,death heard of4 ,four4 ,an unfavorable ,master-,card1 affecting some near ,concern to the ,querist2 belike it shall end less well than was hoped4 ,influenced by like suit1 a ,separation not welcome4 ,by a ,heart1 a capricious ,change of inclination4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,perplexity4 ,by a ,club1 a ,loss4 ,three4 ,as ,master-,card1 a suddenly changed ,plan1 a ,discomfiture4 ,influenced by its like suit1 a loss4 ,by a ,heart1 a sudden ,failure1 a ,doubt or ,fear4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,breach or ,quarrel4 ,by a ,club1 a sheer ,folly1 not to be warned away by a friend4 ,two4 ,as ,master-,card1 you must say ,,no1 when you would say ,,yes4 ,influenced by its like suit1 a ,displeasure4 ,by a ,heart1 an ,evil ,habit to burden4 ,by a ,club1 a ,strong ,effort of no use4 ,by a ,diamond1 a ,folly1 or a ,mare's ,nest4 -- ,in this evil suit of ,spades there be many other special ,significancies2 but they are not pertinent to this method4 ,,the ,,end