Page:Batman upon Bartolome.djvu/124
The Iawes be made and compoſed of diuers hard bones, bound and knitte togethers with diuers ſinews & ſtrings. And that is needefull for the centinuall mouing, and for neede to open and cloſe, as ſayth Conſt. And they be as it were two milſtones, that continually to bruſe and grinde the meate, moue themſelues thereto: and ſo they ſerue all the body of meate. The iawes be clypped about and heled with fleſhly perceils and ſinnewie: which are called Gingiue, and that is the more to ſtrength the putting and ſetting of the téeth in the depth of the iawes, and for to ſerue the ſinewes of the teeth of foode, and to ſlake ye coldneſſe of the teeth. And Iſidore ſaith, they haue that name Gingiue, a gignendis dentibus, of gendring of teeth. For the teeth be bred and nouriſhed in them, and yet they be made to faſten the téeth, and are alſo needfull to heale the teeth, for if ye téeth wer bare they ſhould be lothſome and not faire. Alſo they be beclypped about with ye ſkins of the lips, & that doth kind, for they ſhuld not only help ye teeth and the chéeks within, but alſo to defend them from outward griefes: and ſo it hapneth that the gummes be corrupt[1] in beaſts, ſometime by retchleſneſſe, & ſome time they be infect and corrupt by rooted humours, and then they bréede diuers griefes and diſeaſes, as ſtench, falling out or wagging of the teeth.
¶Of the Lips. Cap. 17.
ISidore ſaith, that Labia the Lyps,[2] haue that name of Lambendo, to lycke. The ouer lyp is called Labium in Latine, and the neather is named Labrum. Conſtantine ſayth, that the lyps be néedefull, for they defende to hele and couer the téeth. And they be alſo ſinewy, and be mate of diuers ſtrings, that ſo they maye be more able to ſeele and to moue. For to the forming of the voyce they open and cloſe themſelues: For if they be cut off, eyther let by ſtopping, by ſhrinking, or elſe by riuelyng, wordes maye not bee perfectlye pronounced.
Alſo the lyppes are ſofte and fleſhie: and that is néedfull to temper the hardneſſe of the téeth. For the teeth and the ſinewes of them which be cold of kinde, ſhould bée too much grieued with ayre that is colde, if they were not defended by the couering of the lyppes. Alſo the vtter parts of the lippes be ruddye, and that happeneth, as Conſtantine ſayeth, through ſubtiltie of the ſkinne of the lyppes, which caſilye receiue ſome deale a ruddye qualytie of a ſanguine heate, and therefore the ruddineſſe of the lyps, is a token of cleane & pure complection, without medling of troubled bloud, and of the inner vertue: as contrary wiſe, wanneſſe of lyppes is token of defaulte of vertue and kindly heate. Alſo the lyppes be thinne in ſubſtaunce, to be the more plyaunt to mouing, and the more able to put in, and for to cut the ayre, that when it is drawen ſodaynly, it griue not with chilneſſe, the inner parts. And therefore the lippes put themſelues agaynſt the colde ayre, and pureth and cleanſeth it, that it maye the more ſweéetelye and profitablye bée drawen inwarde. All this ſayeth Conſtantine.
Ariſtotle liber 12. about the ende, ſheweth lyke properties, where he ſaith, That mans lyppes be ſofte and fleſhie, and may be ſeuered and departed for preſeruation & keping of the téeth, & for to be equall to pronounce a word. And therefore the lyppes haue double vſe & ſeruice, as the tongue, that is made to taaſt moyſture and to ſpeake, as Ariſtotle expreſſely ſayth, and therefore it néedeth that the lyppes be moyſt. For if the creation of the lyppes were not of ſuch diſpoſition, the tongue might not reach to the lippes to ſpeake, and to pronounce many manner of letters. For ſome letters be pronounced by ſmiting of the tongue, and ſome by cloſing of the lips. And therfore making of the lyps is needefull, that the working of kinde ſhould be beſt. And therefore mans fleſh is verye ſofte, for man is of good féelyng and taaſte, more than other beaſtes. All this telleth Ariſtotle Libro. 12.
Then conſider thou, that the lyps be