The Anatomy of Melancholy. Robert Burton
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all (my last refuge), recant all, renounce all I have said, if any man except, and with as much facility excuse, as he can accuse; but I presume of thy good favour, and gracious acceptance (gentle reader). Out of an assured hope and confidence thereof, I will begin.
LECTORI MALE FERIATO.
Tu vero cavesis edico quisquis es, ne temere sugilles Auctorem hujusce operis, aut cavillator irrideas. Imo ne vel ex aliorum censura tacite obloquaris (vis dicam verbo) nequid nasutulus inepte improbes, aut falso fingas. Nam si talis revera sit, qualem prae se fert Junior Democritus, seniori Democrito saltem affinis, aut ejus Genium vel tantillum sapiat; actum de te, censorem aeque ac delatorem [817]aget econtra (petulanti splene cum sit) sufflabit te in jocos, comminuet in sales, addo etiam, et deo risui te sacrificabit.
Iterum moneo, ne quid cavillere, ne dum Democritum Juniorem conviciis infames, aut ignominiose vituperes, de te non male sentientem, tu idem audias ab amico cordato, quod olim vulgus Abderitanum ab [818] Hippocrate, concivem bene meritum et popularem suum Democritum, pro insano habens. Ne tu Democrite sapis, stulti autem et insani Abderitae.
[819] "Abderitanae pectora plebis habes."
Haec te paucis admonitum volo (male feriate Lector) abi.
TO THE READER AT LEISURE.
Whoever you may be, I caution you against rashly defaming the author of this work, or cavilling in jest against him. Nay, do not silently reproach him in consequence of others' censure, nor employ your wit in foolish disapproval, or false accusation. For, should Democritus Junior prove to be what he professes, even a kinsman of his elder namesake, or be ever so little of the same kidney, it is all over with you: he will become both accuser and judge of you in your spleen, will dissipate you in jests, pulverise you into salt, and sacrifice you, I can promise you, to the God of Mirth.
I further advise you, not to asperse, or calumniate, or slander, Democritus Junior, who possibly does not think ill of you, lest you may hear from some discreet friend, the same remark the people of Abdera did from Hippocrates, of their meritorious and popular fellow-citizen, whom they had looked on as a madman; "It is not that you, Democritus, that art wise, but that the people of Abdera are fools and madmen." "You have yourself an Abderitian soul;" and having just given you, gentle reader, these few words of admonition, farewell.
"Heraclite fleas, misero sic convenit aevo,
Nil nisi turpe vides, nil nisi triste vides.
Ride etiam, quantumque lubet, Democrite ride
Non nisi vana vides, non nisi stulta vides.
Is fletu, his risu modo gaudeat, unus utrique
Sit licet usque labor, sit licet usque dolor.
Nunc opes est (nam totus eheu jam desipit orbis)
Mille Heraclitis, milleque Democritis.
Nunc opus est (tanta est insania) transeat omnis
Mundus in Anticyras, gramen in Helleborum."
"Weep, O Heraclitus, it suits the age,
Unless you see nothing base, nothing sad.
Laugh, O Democritus, as much as you please,
Unless you see nothing either vain or foolish.
Let one rejoice in smiles, the other in tears;
Let the same labour or pain be the office of both.
Now (for alas! how foolish the world has become),
A thousand Heraclitus', a thousand Democritus' are required.
Now (so much does madness prevail), all the world must be
Sent to Anticyra, to graze on Hellebore."
THE SYNOPSIS OF THE FIRST PARTITION.
In diseases, consider Sect. 1. Memb. 1.
Their Causes. Subs. 1.
Impulsive;
Sin, concupiscence, &c.
Instrumental;
Intemperance, all second causes, &c.
Or Definition, Member, Division. Subs. 2.
Of the body 300, which are
Epidemical, as Plague, Plica, &c.
Or Particular as Gout, Dropsy, &c.
Or Of the head or mind. Subs. 3. In disposition; as all perturbations, evil affection, &c. Or Habits, as Subs. 4. Dotage Frenzy. Madness. Ecstasy. Lycanthropia. Chorus sancti Viti. Hydrophobia. Possession or obsession of Devils. Melancholy. See [Symbol: Aries].
[Symbol: Aries] Melancholy: in which consider
Its Equivocations, in Disposition, Improper, &c. Subsect. 5.
Memb. 2. To its explication, a digression of anatomy, in which observe parts of Subs. 1. Body hath parts Subs. 2. contained as Humours, 4. Blood, Phlegm, &c. Spirits; vital, natural, animal.
or containing
Similar; spermatical, or flesh, bones, nerves, &c. Subs. 3. Dissimilar; brain, heart, liver, &c. Subs. 4.
Soul and its faculties, as
Vegetal. Subs. 5. Sensible. Subs. 6, 7, 8. Rational. Subsect. 9, 10, 11.
Memb. 3. Its definition, name, difference, Subs. 1. The part and parties affected, affection, &c. Subs. 2. The matter of melancholy, natural, &c. Subs. 3. Species, or kinds [Subs. 4.], which are Proper to parts, as Of the head alone, hypochondriacal, or windy melancholy. Of the whole body. with their several causes, symptoms, prognostics, cures
Or Indefinite; as Love-melancholy, the subject of the third
Partition.
Its Causes in general. Sect. 2. A. Its Symptoms or signs. Sect. 3. B. Its Prognostics or indications. Sect. 4. C. Its Cures; the subject of the second Partition.
A. Sect. 2. Causes of Melancholy are either
General, as Memb. 1.
Supernatural
As from God immediately, or by second causes. Subs. 1.
Or from the devil immediately, with a digression of the nature of
spirits and devils. Subs. 2.
Or mediately, by magicians, witches. Subs. 3.
Or Natural
Primary, as stars, proved by aphorisms, signs from physiognomy, metoposcopy, chiromancy. Subs. 4.
Or Secondary, as
Congenite, inward from
Old age, temperament, Subs. 5. Parents, it being an hereditary disease, Subs. 6.
Or Outward or adventitious, which are
Evident, outward, remote, adventitious, as,
Necessary, see [Symbol: Taurus].
Not necessary, as M. 4. S. 2. Nurses, Subs. 1. Education, Subs. 2. Terrors, affrights, Subs. 3. Scoffs, calumnies, bitter jests, Subs. 4. Loss of liberty, servitude, imprisonment, Subs. 5. Poverty and want, _Subs. 6. A heap of other accidents, death of friends, loss, &c. Subs. 7.
Or