posted on Nov, 2 2006 @ 01:02 PM
Well, we've covered the whole family history on each Ferdinand.
I'm thinking that "Holy Rule" might be linked to a literal "holy Rule."
Maybe the 7 deadly Sins or something along those lines.
When King Ferdinand of Naples used to appear in public, he would put his hand in his pocket from time to time. Those who understood his ways knew that
he was clenching his fist with the thumb stuck out between the first and second fingers, to avert the effect of a glance of the evil eye that someone
in the street might have cast on him. [*43] Perhaps Ferdinand got his formula to overcome the effects of the evil eye from the orthodox Hebrews:
"Whoever is on the point of entering a city and is afraid of the evil eye should stick his right thumb in his left hand and his left thumb in his
right hand and say, 'I am of the seed of Joseph, whom the evil eye may not touch.'" [*44]
Today we know that there is no such thing as an evil eye, except it be the smiting of a youth by the dreamy and seductive eyes of a maid; that envious
thoughts harm no one but the person who envies, as mere envy is wasteful and fruitless; peacock feathers are no more unlucky than the feathers of any
other bird, and all the anger in the world cannot bewitch the object that is hated.