Madame du Barry's

Madame du Barry was an 18th century French Countess, the great-granddaughter of Louis XV. She was born in Versaille on February 15, 1710. She was widely recognised as a excellent and accurate cartomancer, a person who revealed people's destiny through the use of ordinary playing cards.

This is Madame du Barry's unique method of cartomancy - a simple method which uses rhymes to signify each card. To use Madame's method, take a new pack of playing cards, or at least one which has no tell-tale marks on the reverse sides, and spread them downwards upon the table. Before a person draws a card, s/he is asked to close their eyes, place their right hand on their heart, and say, Honi soit qui mal y pense. The card is then drawn with the left hand, and its meaning read from the verses below.

Ace	Since that this ace is now your lot, You will wed one that's fierce and hot; But if a woman does draw it, She will wed one with wealth and wit.
Two	Hast thou not drawn the number two? Thy spouse shall be both just and true. But if a woman this now have, Beware a sly and crafty knave!
Three	You that have drawn the number three Great honour will your fortune be; But if a female draw the same, She must beware of fickle shame.
Four	The man that draws the number four Shall quite forsake his native shore; But if the same a woman finds, Both hand and heart in love she joins.
Five	He that draweth the number five, Where he was born he best will thrive; But if it's drawn by womankind, Good luck abroad they sure will find.
Six	He that can catch the number six Will have cunning and crafty tricks; But if a woman draw the same, 'Twil show that she is free from blame.
Seven	Since that the seven does appear, Crosses thou hast great cause to fear; Women, whene'er the same they draw, Shall not fear crosses more than straw.
Eight	Hast thou then drawn the number eight? Thou sure wilt be a rascal great; Females that chance the same to take, They never will the truth forsake.
Nine	Hast thou turn'd up the merry nine? Then guineas will thy pocket line; She that doth draw ut to her hand Will die for love or leave the land.
Ten	O brave! the ten, 'tis very well! There's none in love shall thee excel. Only the maid who draws the ten May wed, but nobody knows when.
King	This noble king of diamonds shows Thou long shalt live where pleasure flows; But when a woman draws the king, Sad, melancholy songs she'll sing.
Queen	Now is the queen of diamonds fair, She shows thou shalt some office share; Oh woman! if it fall to you, Friends you will have not a few.
Knave	Is now the knave of diamonds come? Be sure beware the martial drum; Yet if a woman draw the knave, She shall much better fortune have.

Ace	He that draws the ace of hearts Shall surely be a man of parts; And she that draws it, I profess, Will have the gift of idleness.
Two	He who can draw the deuce shall be Endowed with generosity; But when a woman draws the card, It doth betide her druel hard.
Three	The man who gets hold of the trey Always bound, always obey; A woman that shall draw this sort Will sure drink brandy by the quart.
Four	He that draws this four shall make A faithful love for conscience' sake; But if it's drawn by womankind, They will prove false, and that you'll find.
Five	Not that this five of hearts declares Thou shalt well manage great affairs; But if it's drawn by fair women, They sure will love all sorts of men.
Six	The six of hearts surely fortells Thou shalt be where great honour dwells; If it falls on the other side It then betokens scorn and pride.
Seven	Now this old seven, I'll maintain, Shows that thou hast not loved in vain; Thou shalt obtain the golden prize, But, with the maids, 'tis otherwise.
Eight	Having drawn the number eight, Shows thou'rt servile, born to wait; But if a woman draws the same, She'll mount upon the wings of fame.
Nine	By this long nine be well assured The lovesick pains must be endured; But the maid that draws this nine Soon in wedlock hands shall join.
Ten	This ten it is a lucky cast, For it doth show the worst is past; But if the maids the same shall have, Love will their tender hearts enslave.
King	By this card surely 'twill appear Thou shalt live long in happy cheer; And if a woman draws this card, She shall likewise be high preferred.
Queen	Now by this card it is well known Thou shalt enjoy still all thine own; But women, if they draw the same, Shall sure enjoy a happy name.
Knave	He that doth draw the knave of hearts Betokens he hath knavish parts; But if a woman draws the knave, Of no man shall she be the slave.

Ace	Thou that dost draw the ace of spades Shall be sore flouted by the maids; And when it is a damsel's lot, Both love and honour go to pot.
Two	Always this deuce betokens strife, And with a scolding, wicked wife; But if a woman's lot it be, honour, great love, and dignity.
Three	Thou that art happy in this trey Shalt surely wed a lady gay; Whilst maids who now the same shall take, Join marriage with a poor town rake.
Four	Now this same four betokens you Shall lead a dissipated crew; Maids that do draw the same shall meet With certain joys always complete.
Five	The five of spades gives you to know That you must through some troubles go; But if a woman, it foretells Her virtue others' far excels.
Six	The six foretells whene'er you wed You'll find your expectations fled; But if a maid the number own She'll wed a man of high renown.
Seven	Now as the seven comes to hand, It does entitle you to land; But maids with this shall wed with those That have no money, friends or clothes.
Eight	This eight of spades foretells you shall Wed a young maid fair, straight and tall; If to a maid the same shall come, She weds the brother of Tom Thumb.
Nine	Now by this nine thou art foretold, Thou shalt wed one deaf, lame and old. Females, when they draw this odd chance, Shall of themselves to wealth advance.
Ten	'Tis seen by this long ten of spades That thou shalt follow many trades, And thrive by none. But women, they By this chance shall not work but play.
King	By this brave king observe and note, On golden streams you e'er shall float; But women, by the self-same lot, Shall long enjoy what they have got.
Queen	Here is the queen of spades, likewise Thou soon shalt unto riches rise; A woman by the same shall have What her own heart doth sorely crave.
Knave	This is a knave, pray have a care That you fall not into despair; Women, who the same shall choose, Shall prove great flats, but that's no news!

Ace	He that doth draw the ace of clubs, From his wife gets a thousand snubs; But if maids do it obtain, It means that they shall rule and reign.
Two	Note that this deuce doth signify That thou a loyalist shall die; The damsels that the same shall take Never will their good friends forsake.
Three	You that by chance this trey have drawn Shall on a worthless woman fawn. A maiden that shall draw this trey Shall be the lass that ne'er says nay.
Four	Now by this four we plainly see Four children shall be born to thee; And she that draws the same shall wed Two wealthy husbands, both well bred.
Five	Now by this five 'tis clear to see Thy wife will but a slattern be. This same five drawn by virgins, they Shall all wed husbands kind and gay.
Six	By this six thou'rt wed, we know, To one that over thee will crow; Maids that can draw the same shall be Blest with good husbands, kind and free.
Seven	Thou that hast now the seven drawn Shall put thy Sunday clothes in pawn; Maids that draw the same shall wear Jewels rich without compare.
Eight	By this club eight, tho' Whig or Tory, Thy life will prove a tragic story; Ye maids that draw the same, are born To hold both fools and fops in scorn.
Nine	By this brave nine, upon my life, You soon shall wed a wealthy wife; She that shall draw the same shall have One that is both fool and knave.
Ten	Now for this number, half a score, Shows that thou wilt be wretched poor; Maids that can draw this number still Shall have great joy and wealth at will.
King	Here comes the king of clubs, and shows Thou hast some friends as well as foes; Maids that do draw this court card shall Have very few, or none at all.
Queen	If the queen of clubs thou hast, Thou shalt be with great honour graced. And women, if the same they find, Will have things after their own mind.
Knave	See how the surly knave appears! Pray take care of both your ears! Women, whene'er the same they see, Will be what oft they used to be.

This page is Copyright Lilitu Babalon, 1999
I'll give you permission to reproduce anything on my page if you ask, provided it is mine.
However, if I find you plagiarising, well.....