The eyes. The eyes are connected with the symbolism of the letter Samech. There are varieties of colour and of form. A man whose eyes are evenly set is straightforward and free from guile.
In the substances which go to compose the visible discernible eye are contained four colours. There is the white of the ball, which is common to all sorts of eyes. Enclosed within this white is the darker hue of the iris-thus white and dark are united. Included in this dark there is yet another shade, a bluish tinge; and the inmost circle of colour is black, this being the pupil. ‘A man whose eyes are evenly set is straightforward and free from guile. A person with such eyes is always merry and full of jokes. He has good intentions, but seldom carries them out because of his fickleness. His mind is chiefly occupied with worldly things, but he has the capacity for spiritual matters if he should turn his thoughts towards them; therefore he should be encouraged in this directicn.
His eyebrows are long, slanting downward. In the midst of these several colours of the eye are sundry fine red veins, which are called the “small letters” of the eyes, because, when the colours shine, their light causes the letters to be revealed in those veins to the initiated, these veins being formed in the shape of the letter Samech when it contains the letter He’.
If the black is not noticeable in his eyes he will have strong desires, but not for evil, though he will not resist evil when it approaches. He can be trusted when he speaks of matters within his own knowledge, but not otherwise. He can keep a secret so long as it is a secret, but once it has leaked out he tells everything, since he does nothing perfectly. The colours of such an eye and the type to which its possessor conforms are contained in the mystery of the letter He‘ when contained in the letters Zain and Samech.
He whose eyes are of a yellowish-blue colour has madness in his veins; he therefore suffers from megalomania and is grandiloquent in his manner and speech. In discussion he is easily defeated. He is not worthy to be instructed in the mystical meanings of the Torah, as he does not accept them meekly but becomes puffed up with his knowledge. This type belongs to the mystery of the letter He’, which is included in the letter Zain only, being far removed from the letter Samech on account of his conceit. When such a man speaks, many wrinkles appear on his forehead.
One whose eyes are pale with a certain admixture of a greenish hue is of an irascible disposition, but is also often kind-hearted enough. When angered, however, he becomes cruel. He cannot be entrusted with a secret. He belongs to the sign of the letter He when it is included in the letter Samech.
The man whose eyes are white and blue, with only a spot of black in them, can be trusted with secrets and makes good use of them. If he makes a good beginning in anything he goes on prospering. His enemies cannot prevail against him, they can do him no evil, and eventually they are entirely subdued by him. He is under the sign of the letter Kaph when it is included in the letter Samech.
בְּרָזָא דְּעַיְינִין, בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ס', בְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא דְּסַחֲרָא לְבַר, וּכְמָה דְּיָתְבָא עֵינָא, דְּיָתְבָא עַל שְׁלִימוּ, דְּלָא שְׁקִיעַ, הַאי לָאו רַמָּאָה הִיא, וְרָחִיק מֵרַמָּאוּתָא, דְּלָא אִית בֵּיהּ כְּלָל.
The eyes. The eyes are connected with the symbolism of the letter Samech. There are varieties of colour and of form. A man whose eyes are evenly set is straightforward and free from guile.
גַּוְונֵי דְּעַיְינִין אִינּוּן ד'. חִוָּורוּ לְבַר, דְּסַחֲרָא עֵינָא, כְּגַוְונָא דְּכָל בַּר נָשׁ. לְגוֹ מִנֵּיהּ אוּכָמָא דְּסַחֲרָא, וְאִתְכְּלִיל חִוָּורוּ וְאוּכָמוּ כַּחֲדָא. לְגוֹ מִנֵּיהּ יְרוֹקָא. וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּאוּכָמָא. לְגוֹ מִנֵּיהּ הַהוּא בַּת עֵינָא, נְקוּדָא אוּכָמָא. דָּא אִיהוּ בַּר נָשׁ דְּחַיִיךְ תָּדִיר, וְחַדֵּי בְּחֵדוּ. וְחָשִׁיב מַחֲשָׁבִין לְטָב, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּלִימוּ אִינּוּן מַחֲשָׁבִין, בְּגִין דְּסָלִיק לוֹן מִיַּד מֵרְעוּתֵיהּ. אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּמִילֵּי דְּעָלְמָא. וְכַד אִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּמִילֵּי דִּשְׁמַיָּא, אַצְלַח. הַאי אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתַּתְקְפָא בֵּיהּ לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא יִצְלַח בָּהּ.
In the substances which go to compose the visible discernible eye are contained four colours. There is the white of the ball, which is common to all sorts of eyes. Enclosed within this white is the darker hue of the iris-thus white and dark are united. Included in this dark there is yet another shade, a bluish tinge; and the inmost circle of colour is black, this being the pupil. ‘A man whose eyes are evenly set is straightforward and free from guile. A person with such eyes is always merry and full of jokes. He has good intentions, but seldom carries them out because of his fickleness. His mind is chiefly occupied with worldly things, but he has the capacity for spiritual matters if he should turn his thoughts towards them; therefore he should be encouraged in this directicn.
גְּבִינִי עֵינוֹי רַבְרְבִין, וְכַסְיָין לְתַתָּא. בְּאִינּוּן גַּוְונִין דְּעֵינָא אִית רְשִׁימִין סוּמָקִין דְּקִיקִין בְּאַרְכָּא. אִינּוּן רְשִׁימִין אִקְרוּן אַתְוָון זְעִירִין דְּעֵינָא. בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן גַּוְונִין דְּעֵינָא. אִי נְהִרִין בִּנְהִירוּ, הַהוּא נְהִירוּ סָלִיק אַתְוָון לְאִתְחֲזָאָה, לְאִינוּן מָארִי דְּמִדִּין. בְּאִינּוּן רְשִׁימִין אַחֲרָנִין דְּקִיקִין, וְהַאי אִיהוּ בְּאָת ס', וּכְלִילָא בְּאָת ה'.
His eyebrows are long, slanting downward. In the midst of these several colours of the eye are sundry fine red veins, which are called the “small letters” of the eyes, because, when the colours shine, their light causes the letters to be revealed in those veins to the initiated, these veins being formed in the shape of the letter Samech when it contains the letter He’.
עַיְינִין יְרוֹקִין דְּסַחֲרִין (נ"א דמסחרא) בְּחִוָּורוּ, וּמִתְעָרְבִין אִינּוּן יְרוֹקִין, בְּהַהוּא חִוָּורוּ. רַחֲמָנָא אִיהוּ, וְאִיהוּ חָשִׁיב תָּדִיר לְתוֹעַלְתֵּיה, וְלָא חָשִׁיב לְנִזְקָא דְּאַחֲרָנִין כְּלוּם.
A man who has blue eyes set in white will be of a kindly disposition, but at the same time selfish.
גַּוְונָא אוּכָמָא לָא אִתְחָזֵי בֵּיהּ. חָמִיד אִיהוּ וְלָא מִסִּטְרָא בִּישָׁא. וְאִי סַלְּקָא בִּידֵיהּ מִסִּטְרָא בִּישָׁא, לָא יֵתוּב מִנֵּיהּ. מְהֵימָנָא אִיהוּ בְּמָה דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעא. וּבַמֶּה דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא לָאו מְהֵימָנָא אִיהוּ. מָארֵיהּ דְּרָזִין אִיהוּ, בְּמִלָּה דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא, עַד דְּיִשְׁמַע לְהַהוּא רָזָא בְּאֲתָר אַחֲרָא. כֵּיוָן דִּשְׁמַע לֵיהּ גַּלֵּי כֹּלָּא. וְלָאו עִמֵּיהּ רָזָא כְּלָל, דְּכָל מִלּוֹי לָאו אִינּוּן בִּשְׁלִימוּ. גַּוְונֵי עֵינוֹי סָחֲרָן בְּחִוָּורוּ וּבִירוֹקָא. דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ה', וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּאָת ז', וּבְאָת ס'.
If the black is not noticeable in his eyes he will have strong desires, but not for evil, though he will not resist evil when it approaches. He can be trusted when he speaks of matters within his own knowledge, but not otherwise. He can keep a secret so long as it is a secret, but once it has leaked out he tells everything, since he does nothing perfectly. The colours of such an eye and the type to which its possessor conforms are contained in the mystery of the letter He‘ when contained in the letters Zain and Samech.
עַיְינִין צְהִיבִין יְרוֹקִין, שִׁגְעוֹנָא אִית בֵּיהּ. וּבְגִין שִׁגְעוֹנֵיהּ אִיהוּ פּוּם מְמַלֵּל רַבְרְבָן, וְעָבִיד גַּרְמֵיהּ כְּבַר נָשׁ רַב, בְּרַבְרְבָנוּ. וּמַאן דְּאִתְתָּקַּף בֵּיהּ, נֶצַח לֵיהּ. לָא אִתְחָזֵי לְרָזִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא לָא שָׁכִיךְ בְּלִבֵּיהּ, בְּאִינּוּן רָזִין. דְּעָבִיד גַּרְמֵיהּ רַב בְּהוּ. דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ה', וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּאָת ז' בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְאִתְרְחַק מֵאָת ס'. וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵד גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּרַבְרְבָנוּ, אִתְרְחַק מִנֵּיהּ מֵאָת ס', וְלָא אִתְקְרִיב בַּהֲדֵיהּ. דָּא כַּד אִיהוּ מַלִּיל, עָבִיד קְמִיטִין סַגִּיאִין בְּמִצְחֵיהּ.
He whose eyes are of a yellowish-blue colour has madness in his veins; he therefore suffers from megalomania and is grandiloquent in his manner and speech. In discussion he is easily defeated. He is not worthy to be instructed in the mystical meanings of the Torah, as he does not accept them meekly but becomes puffed up with his knowledge. This type belongs to the mystery of the letter He’, which is included in the letter Zain only, being far removed from the letter Samech on account of his conceit. When such a man speaks, many wrinkles appear on his forehead.
עַיְינִין חִוָּורִן, דְּסַחֲרָן זְעֵיר בִּירוֹקָא, מָארֵיהּ דְּרוּגְזָא, וְרַחֲמָנָא אִיהוּ לְרוֹב זִמְנִין. וְכַד אִתְמְלֵי רוּגְזָא, לֵית בֵּיהּ רְחִימוּ כְּלָל, וְאִתְהַפָּךְ לְאַכְזָרִיּוּת. לָאו אִיהוּ מָארֵיהּ דְּרָזִין, דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ה', דְּאִתְכְּלִיל בְּאָת ס'.
One whose eyes are pale with a certain admixture of a greenish hue is of an irascible disposition, but is also often kind-hearted enough. When angered, however, he becomes cruel. He cannot be entrusted with a secret. He belongs to the sign of the letter He when it is included in the letter Samech.
עַיְינִין יְרוֹקִין וְחִוָּורִן כַּחֲדָא, וּזְעֵיר מִגָּוֶון אוּכָם בְּהוּ, דָּא אִיהִי מָארֵיהּ דְּרָזִין, וְאַצְלַח בְּהוּ. וְאִי שָׁאַרִי בְּאַצְלָחוּתָא אַצְלַח וְסָלִיק. שַׂנְאוֹי לָא יַכְלִין לֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ שַׁלִּיט עָלַיְיהוּ בְּשׁוּלְטָנוּ, וְאִתְכַּפְיָין קָמֵיהּ. דָּא אִיהוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאָת כ', דְּאִתְכְּלִיל בְּרָזָא דְּאָת ס'. וְעַל דָּא אִיהוּ שַׁלִּיט, אִי שָׁאֲרִי בֵּיהּ. עַד הָכָא רָזִין דְּעַיְינִין לְאִינוּן מָארֵי דְּחָכְמְתָא.
The man whose eyes are white and blue, with only a spot of black in them, can be trusted with secrets and makes good use of them. If he makes a good beginning in anything he goes on prospering. His enemies cannot prevail against him, they can do him no evil, and eventually they are entirely subdued by him. He is under the sign of the letter Kaph when it is included in the letter Samech.