industrie of art For here the natural Apelles painteth as well within as without and Phydias is no lesse curious in polishing the entralles and partes withholden from the viewe then in garnishing the outward apparance and shew of his frame and which is yet more here the crafts man entreth him selfe into all the parts of the worke and neuer would relinquish the same Although we place the spirit and body in the third kind of instruments yet is there great oddes betwixt these two For the spirit answereth at full all the organicall actions of the soule hath in it no distinction of members the body is of more particular vses compounded of sundry parts ech of them framed of peculiar duties as the mind and spirit employeth them The spirit is quicke nimble and of maruelous celeritie of motion the body slow dull and giuen to rest of it selfe the spirit the verie hand of the soule the body bodily members like flailes sawes or axes in the hand of him that vseth them For as we see God hath geuen vs reason for all particular faculties and hand for all instruments of pleasure of necessitie of offence of defence that thereby although man be borne without couering without teeth without hoofe or horne only with tender nailes and those neither in fashion nor temper fit for fight yet he clotheth him selfe both against the tempest warme against force of weapon with coate of steele and maketh vnto him selfe weapons of warre no tush no horne no hoofe no snout of elephant in force comparable thereunto so the spirits of our bodies and this hand of our souls though it be but one yet handleth it all the instruments of our body and it being light subtile and yeelding yet forceth it the heauiest grossest hardest parts of our bodies chewing with the teeth and striking with the fist bearing downe with the thrust of shoulder the resistance of that which standeth firme and containing alone the force of all the members seeth with the eye heareth with the eares vnderstandeth organically with the braine distributeth life with the hart and nourishment with the liuer and whatsoeuer other bodely action is practised This hand is applied to the grosse instrument and the effect brought to passe yet not absolutely of it selfe but by impulsiō of the mind which is placed the only agent absolute and soueraigne not onely in respect of commaunding but also offacultie execution This place then beareth the spirits among the instruments and as the soule is one and indued with one only facultie so the spirit is also one and embraceth that one faculty and distributeth it among the corporall members as euerie one according to his diuerse temper or frame or both ioyntly together is meete this way or that way to be employed yet so that by degrees and diuerse dispensations it is communicated from the principall and chiefe partes with the rest As first life and vitall spirit from the hart to the rest by arteries nourishment and growth from the liuer by vaines sense and motion from the brayne by nerues not confusedly and by equall portions administred to all alike but by such geometrical proportion as iustice requireth and is necessary for the office of euerie part Thus you see what nature the spirit is of and to what vse it serueth in our nature and of what sort of instrument it is to be accompted The corporall part and mébers because their seruices be many are distinct into diuersitie of shapes and tempers to answer all turnes wherof some be more generall and beare as it were office ouer the rest as the heart is most generall and extendeth it selfe to all the parts with this prerogatiue aboue the liuer that a part may liue for a time and not be nourished nether yet cā any part be nourished without life This rule it exerciseth by the ministery of his arteries extended in branches throughout the bodie and scattering the spirit of life throughout Next the hart in vse and office towardes other members the liuer obtaineth the second place by whose vertue through the operation of the soule and that spirituall hand nourishment and preparation of aliment is perfourmed in all the parts vpon whom attendeth the stomach the rest of the entralls vnder the midriffe The third place is allotted to the braine which by his sense and motion guideth and directeth the partes maintained with life and nourishment his sense is of two sorts and so his motion both inward outward The inward sense thinketh imagineth and remembreth and is practised with that peculiar temper and frame which the braine hath proper as also his internall motion not much vnlike the panting of the hart The outward sense and motion of sinewes is deriued from it into all parts that require sense or mouing The other parts subiect to these three principall and their ministers serue their owne turnes only and are of priuate condition except the soule command a voluntarie or mixed action as to walke to go c. or to take breath giue passage of stoole or vrine CHAP. XIII How the soule by one simple facultie performeth so many and diuerse actions THvs haue you these partes and organicall vses distinct and if it seeme yet difficult vnto you to conceaue how one simple faculty can discharge such multiplicitie of actions way with me a litle by a comparison of similitude the truth of this point accordingly accept it We see it euident in automaticall instrumentes as clockes watches and larums howe one right and straight motion through the aptnesse of the first wheele not only causeth circular motion in the same but in diuerse others also and not only so but distinct in pace and time of motion some wheeles passing swifter then other some by diuerse rases nowe to these deuises some other instrument added as hammer and bell not only another right motion springeth therof as the stroke of the hammer but sound also oft repeated and deliuered it at certaine times by equall pauses and that either larume or houres according as the partes of the clocke are framed To these if yet moreouer a directorie hand be added this first and simple and right motion by weight or straine shall seeme not only to be author of deliberate sound to counterfet voyce but also to point with the finger as much as it hath declared by sound Besides these we see yet a third motion with reciprocation in the ballāce of the clocke So many actions diuerse in kinde rise from one simple first motion by reason of variety of ioynts in one engine If to these you adde what wit can deuise you may finde all the motion of heauen with his planets counterfetted in a small modill with distinction of time season as in the course of the heauenly bodies And this appeareth in such sorte as carie their motion within them selues In water workes I haue seene a mill driuen with the winde which hath both serued for grist
cōdition nothing that proceedeth from God in such special manner as the soule did can be subiect vnto Againe we see this spirit maintained and nourished by the vse of earthly creatures and is either plentifull or scanteth as it hath want or abundance of such corporall nourishment Now to drawe the originall ofspring of the spirite of man from God were in a maner to drawe from him the spirit of all other things wherewith that of man is releeued which can not be accompted to flowe from that breathing of God both seeing the Scripture pronounceth it as peculiar to the soule of man and otherwise should they be not inferiour in that respect to the soules of men which by nature are set vnder his feete and in all respects are farre inferiour vnto him that I mentiō not too nigh approching the maiestie of God which without impaire thereof admitteth not so nigh the accesse of the nature of inferiour creatures honoring mankind therwith only of all his visible workes Thus then as I take it both the spirite had his first beginning and is of such nature as I haue declared and serueth for these vses I know commonly there are accompted three spirits animall vitall and naturall but these are in deede rather distinctiōs of diuerse offices of one spirit then diuersity of nature For as well might they make as many as there be seuerall parts and offices in the bodie which were both false superfluous Next ensueth the nature of the bodie and his seuerall instruments with their vses which my purpose is here so farre to touch as it concerneth the vnderstanding of that ensueth of my discourse leauing the large handling thereof to that most excellent hymne of Galen Touching the vse of the parts the bodie being of substance grosse earthy resembleth the matter whereof it was made and is distinct into diuerse members and diuerse parts for seuerall vses required partly of nature and partly of the humane societie of life whereupon the braine is the chiefe instrument of sense and motion which it deriueth by the spirit before mentioned into all the partes of the bodie as also of thoughtes and cogitations perfourmed by common sense and fantasie and storing vp as it were that which it hath conceaued in the chest of memorie all which the braine it selfe with farther communication exerciseth alone The hart is the seate of life and of affections and perturbations of loue or hate like or dislike of such thinges as fall within compasse of sense either outward or inward in effect or imagination onely The liuer the instrument of nourishment groweth is serued of the stomach by appetite of meats and drinkes and of other parts with lust of propagation as the hart by arteries conueigheth life to all partes of the bodie so the liuer by vaines distributeth her faculties to euery member thereby the body enioying nourishment increase serued with naturall appetite whereby ech part satisfieth it selfe with that which therto is most agreable And these actions are bodily performed of the soule by employing that excellent and catholicke instrument of spirit to the mechanicall workes of the grosse and earthy partes of our bodies Thus then the whole nature of man being compounded of two extremities the soule and the bodie and of the meane of spirits the soule receaueth no other annoyance by the bodie then the craftes man by his instrument with no impeach or impaire of cunning but an hinderance of exercising the excellent partes of his skill either when the instrument is altogether vnapt and serueth for no vse or in part only fit wherby actions and effects are wrought much inferiour to the faculty of the worker as the instrument is of more particular vse so is the soule the lesse impeached and as more generall so yet more hindered both from varietie and perfection of actiō as the hart more then the liuer and the liuer more then the braine the stomach more then the rest of the entrailles and all publicke parts more then priuate of which sort the spirit being disordered either in temper or lessened in quātitie or entermixed with straunge vapours and spirits most of all worketh annoyance and disgraceth the worke and crosseth the soules absolute intention as shall more particularly appeare in the processe of my discourse which that it may yeeld vnto you full aunswer of such doubts as may arise vnto you and make question of the truth of this point I will my self set downe such obiections as may encounter the credit thereof and aunswer them I hope to your satisfying CHAP. XI Obiections against the former sentence touching the maner how the soule is affected of the bodie with answer thereto THE obiections which seeme to enforce vpō the body farther power ouer the soule then to withstand the organicall actions are such as are taken from the dispositiō of our bodies both in health and in sicknesse In health we see how the minde altereth in apparance not onely in action but also in facultie both in that some faculties spring vp which before were not and those through occasions of chaunge of the body either more perfect then otherwise they haue bene or would be This appeareth in age and in diuerse order of diet and custome of sensuall sensible things First touching age and yeares we see in childhoode howe childish the minde beareth it selfe in facultie incomparable to that which afterward it sheweth as the vnderstanding dull the wit of blunter conceipt memorie slipperie and iudgement scarse appeareth The body growing vp and attaining at length the height of his increase all these giftes more and more growe vp therewith and euen as the bodie get maturitie and strength which is the perfection in their kind Againe the bodie passing the point of his vigor and virilitie of age turneth all the wits and sage counsels into more then childish doring by which alterations and chaunges in apparance the mind both suffereth detriment and againe receaueth greater ability of facultie Neither is this only brought to passe through processe of years but also it may seeme that certaine faculties which before were not at a season of age put forth and aduaunce them selues which before gaue no countenaunce of shewe and except we shall make nature keepe idle holy day in them were not at all as the facultie of propagation of all naturall sorts one of the chiefest which if we say it slept as it were in the mind or waited a day it should seeme verie ridiculous that nature should be furnished so many yeares with a facultie which it should put in practise so long after especially considering how particular faculties attend onely vpon single and particular vses and haue no-other employing If it were not before then either should the mind be imperfect at the first wanting some part of the furniture or else should it seeme to rise of the temper of the bodie either of which attribute more vnto the bodie then of right
the melācholy is ingenerate or gotten by error of diet hath continued longer or short time Of deedes and such as are actions of the brayne either of sense and motions dull both in outward senses and conceite Of memory reasonable good if fancies deface it not firme in opinion and hardly remoued wher it is resolued doubtfull before and long in deliberation suspicious painefull in studie and circumspect giuen to fearefull and terrible dreames in affection sad full of feare hardly moued to anger but keeping it long and not easie to be reconciled enuious and ielous apt to take occasions in the worse part and out of measure passionate whereto it is moued Frō these two dispositions of brayne and heart arise solitarines morning weeping if it be of sanguine adust melancholie laughter sighing sobbing lamentation countenance demisse and hanging downe blushing and bashfull of pace slow silent negligent refusing the light and frequency of men delighted more in solitarines obscurity These are actiōs which lie in our powers to doe and are called animall Of naturall actions their appetite is of greater then their concoction digestion slow and excretion not so ready pulse rare and slow And thus faireth it with melancholy persons in those deedes which are actions Other deedes are certayne workes and effectes of their naturall actions such are nutritiue iuice or excrement Their nutritiue iuice as blood and the secondary humours that rise there from are thick and grosse their blood blacke and nothing fresh Their melancholicke excrement very much if the splene do his part if it faile either by imbecillity of attraction or any hinderance of obstruction then is it more plentifull in the vaynes and greately altereth the complexion if it discharge not itselfe of the superfluitie of that it hath drawen frō the blood then swelleth it and groweth it into obstructions causeth shortnes of breathing especially after meate and an vnnaturall boyling of heate with wyndines vnder the left side and plenty of humidity in the stomach which aboundeth in spitting by hindering the first concoction in the stomach and noysome vapours causing palpitation of the heart The excrement of stoole is hard blacke and seeldome vrine pale and verie low coloured nor much in quantitie These are the chiefe accidentes which fall vnto melācholicke persons of them I will deliuer vnto you the particular causes so farre as belongeth vnto the charge of this melancholicke discourse CHAP. XXI How melancholy altereth the quallities of the body THE bodies of melancholike persons if they be naturally giuen to that humor or otherwyse it hath preuailed in time vpon them are colder and dryer then others or if they be such by error of diet thē in times past they thēselues haue bene partly through contagion of that humor which with his cold altereth the complexion and partly by the nourishment taken from the masse of blood because all the partes are maintayned and releeued with cold and dry aliment the rest of the blood being cooled by that grosse and earthy parte Sometimes it faireth with them otherwise to be intemperately hote through obstruction which may gather heat in the splene and so accidentally breed an hoate distemper Againe if the melancholie be of the adust kinde which pertaketh of heate and becommeth eger and fell then are they also distēpered in heate or at the least not molested with cold and howsoeuer it faire with them in hoate or cold alwayes they keepe drie in substance of their bodies both the naturall and the adust a-melancholy agreeing therewith An humidity they haue of Rewme and spitting from the stomach whose concoction is hindred and natural heate cooled sometimes by the splenes disorder which lieth nigh thereunto and may with more plenty then need requireth of that soure iuice which serueth to stirre vp appetite dull that heat of the stomach wherewith the concoction is made perfect and excrementes become few but this is a moistnes excrementitious and accidentall in that parte and peraduenture like in the brayne by consent of the stomach the substance of the rest keeping drie through the nature of the nourishment which in time maketh the complexion of like qualitie They are not so well flesht nor in such good plight as either they haue ben or as some other complexion by reason all the natural actions that should serue that vse are become weaker as it were smothered with this soote of melancholie neither is the melancholie blood cold and drie a fitte matter to raise vp fatt or plenty of flesh for to both these are requisite a moderatiō of complexiō in the first qualities and a matter of moderate temper which may entertaine both flesh and fat Thirdly the poores of the body being not so free for distribution of blood by reason of their grosse nourishment and nature of the humor with which his coldnes and sowernes for such is the taste of melancholie closeth vp the poores or straightneth the passages of it selfe also slow of mouing the bodie can not be filled with that corpulency which falleth to other cōplexions To the nourishment and good plight of the body these three are necessiarie cōplexion temperat matter moderat and passage free which all falling contrary in melancholick persons hindereth them of that good liking fullnes of body which otherwise they might enioy For if the complexiō be too hote then wasteth it and therein riseth the cholerick skreetnes if it be too cold then raiseth it not sufficiency of nourishment of meates drinckes whatsoeuer we vse for sustentatiō of life but leaueth it crude and maketh mo superfluities If it be drie then drinketh it vp vnto the solide partes that which should baste and line the body with hauing not to spare If moist then in stead of firme substāce the body is ouercharged with a counterfette kinde of fatte and hydropical fogge which beareth shewe of good habite If the matter be hoat or drie it soone vanisheth or hath not that store of nourishing iuice to yeeld matter of flesh and fatte besides the firme nourishment If moyst then swelleth it the body and as water enlargeth a sponge so doth moist nourishment soake into the bodie and beareth it out as fast substance doth naturally fill raised from temperate nourishmēt If cold then both hath it small portion of naturall iuice and flow to be passed from parte to parte it is not easily receiued into euery member where of corpulencie doth rise The passages being either narrow of themselues or hindered by stopping distribution is likewise letted very requisite to the maintenance of good liking and moderate habite of the body which being ouerlarge giue entertainement and place to grossenes whether it be sound or in apparance Now these three falling out cold drie thick and hard of passage in melancholick persons procure that leane and spare bodie of the melancholicke except it be by former custome of diet or naturally otherwise which the force of melancholy hath not yet so farre altered Of
whole course of reason is made perfect First that which the greekes cal Sinteresis the ground whereupon the practise of reason consisteth aunswering the proposition in a sillogisme the conscience applying the assumption and of them both the third a certaine trueth concluded these partes the soule doth without instrument of body and neuer faileth therein so farre as the naturall principles lead or outward obiectes be sincerely taken truely reported to the minds consideration From the practises of these ingenerate infallible groūds rise all the knowledge of outward thinges and humane sciences and as a rule being but one ruleth equally gold timber and stone and the ballance peaseth all kinde of waighty things alike so these applied to practises of life wordly busines haue ingendred prudence and circumspection in the conuersation of men and maner of behauiour the morall vertues In the perfection of voluntary actions diuerse artes and sciences and aboue all disposeth it selfe to the worship and adoration of God in some one sort or other the right manner whereof depending vpon his expresse oracles and operation of his spirite aboue nature the want wherof hath caused so many rites and sundry superstitiōs as are and haue bene accompted religion in the world the humaine sense being neither able to deliuer misteries of such diuine quality vnto the minde and those groundes and rules being feebled and crooked in that kinde by the degenerate state of our first parentes So then that wherein children seeme to fayle through age in reason is not that the faculty is vnripe or to seeke but because the exercise thereof through necessity of life is employed in such thinges as sense not being before acquainted with maketh offer therof to the mindes iudgement confused and deliuereth one thing for another or the same not sincerely so the fault is in organicall action and not in ingenerate faculty which organe hath not yet the full disposition of all his partes or mistaketh for want of experience that which it reporteth according to which the minde pronounceth directed by her ingenerate science which both are manifest in tender yeares whose braines are so soked and drowned with naturall moisture that in them the animall instrumentes are most feeble especially such as require vse of the braine it selfe the moistest part of all the body the other actions which stand of a passiue disposition as outward sense being litle or nothing thereby hindered This appeareth plainly in those things which children do distinctly cōprehend which their ingenerate science essentiall to the minde doth clearely and perfectly conceiue and iudge as the auncient as a child knowing the heate of fire will as readely iudge of the perrill as the wisest Senatour of the inroad of a borderer or the politick captaine of the vnequall encoūter with his enimy by place occasion of time or what opportunity so euer hauing felt the heat thereof will as presently iudge the sentence false affirmeth it could as the sharpest witted philosopher the most captious argumēt subtilest Sorites of Stilpo Moreouer we dayly see in children a Preludium as it were draught of the grauest actions that in earnest do afterward fall out in our life only the thing altered wherin the minde is occupied For they will both counterfet the wise counseller the valiant captaine the Maiesty of a prince duety of homage and subiection and giue signification for the most part of that hope in their youth as a modill wherof age afterward maketh full proofe which as it appeareth in all so most notably in the worthy Cyrus of whose education Zenophon writeth Now it also appeareth in children as their organicall partes are tempered more quickely to apprehend euē those childish matters wherewith they busie thēselues or they therewith more or lesse acquainted which both concurred in Cyrus his body being as it should seeme of excellent temper and himselfe sonne of a King at those dayes the great maister of the world as for his education it was nothing else but an acquainting of his minde with those excellent partes of a prince which afterward being at full hability of instrument he put in practise as his gouernment required This called Plato a remembrance only and calling to minde againe of those thinges which the soule by being plunged in this gulfe of the body had forgotten which I so farre otherwise count of as neither do I hold that the soule had euer before any knowledge of these outward thinges and such whereof the senses be motions neither being separated from this corporall society shall haue any knowledge or remembrance of hereafter at least in this maner but only is conuersant in those exercises which require no bodely organ till the resurrection when ioyned to the body againe as after a sleepe it recondeth with fresh memory what it hath done good or euill with conscience excusing or accusing because they rise of sense and sensible obiectes and haue no farther vse then in humane society which such actions do vphold neither carieth it away more then it brought as whereto nothing can be added That then which generally I aunswered touching organical practises peculiar to body and spirite the same doe I apply particularly to the obiection from age and such discretion as it bringeth with it euen that all such are actions depending vpon instrument wherunto the faule whatsoeuer is to be ascribed and not vnto any faculty of the minde which neuer suffereth increase nor decrease or any other kinde of alteration or else vnto want of experience exercise of those things which greater yeares medle with wherein the senses both externall and internall by vse being perfect like as a true looking glasse representeth the countenance to the eye in all pointes as nature hath framed it so offer they the relation true distinct from sensible thinges whereof the minde deliuereth resolution and sentence willeth good thinges and refuseth the contrarie whatsoeuer it seemeth to do otherwise through the inordinate instrumēts the seates of vnruly appetite and disorderly affection far different from that which the minde it selfe willeth entirely free from all perturbation That which I haue answered concerning the animall actions fitteth also the obiection of propagation for such partes haue not as yet their naturall disposition thereunto neither doth the animall partes make such discretion in male and female whereof that appetite ariseth although the sight and countenance and person of eche party be all one neither is any faculty idle at any time the instruments only of sense and motion take refreshing by rest especially so many yeares which must needes ensue if it were a faculty distinct and not rather according to the aptnes of instrument a peculiar exercise only For nature employeth all to the vttermost and giueth neuer ouer except it be more chearefully and strongly to lay hand to the worke againe which to propagation needeth not no vse hauing bene thereof at all before If you say it riseth of an
it into like felowship of displeasure euen but for that it pleaseth not like as in a troubled sea a great vessell is more easily stirred with smal strength then in the calme hauen or quiet streame so our spirites and organicall instruments of passion the parte tossed with stormy weather of internall discontentment is with litle occasion disquieted yea with the shaking of a rush that hath no show of calming those domesticall stormes that arise more troublesome and boisterous to our nature then all the blustering windes in the Ocean sea For when our passion is once vp by such occasion the commō sense is also caried therewith and distinction of outward thinges hindered at the least if not taken away all things being wayed by that which nature findeth offēce at within euen as the tast altered in feauers by cholerick vapours maketh sweete thinges seeme bitter and vnpleasaunt which of themselues are most delectable to the tast and would greatly satisfie the same partie the bitter relish through that taint of choller once taken away And in this sort in my opinion ariseth the disorderly vnruly passion of choller both increased where some occasion is offered and procured by inward disposition of the bodie and spirit when there is no pretence or shewe of cause This is seene as plainly in mirth and ioye which riseth as well vpon inward harmonie of spirit humour and complexion as vpon glad tidings or externall benefite whereof we take reioycing A bodie of sanguine complexion as commonly we call it although complexion be another thing then condition of humors the spirits being in their iust temper in respect of qualitie and of such plenty as nature requireth not mixed or defiled by any straunge spirit or vapor the humours in quantity qualitie rated in geometricall and iust proportion the substance also of the bodie and all the members so qualified by mixture of elementes as all conspire together in due proportion breedeth an indifferencie to all passions Nowe if bloud abound and keepe his sincerity and the body receaue by it and the spirits rising from the same a comfort in the sensible partes without doubt then as anger without cause externall rose vpō inward displeasure so this spirit these humours and this temper may moue an inward ioy wherof no externall obiect may be accompted as iust occasion This is the cause that maketh some men prone to ioy and laughter at such thinges as other men are not drawne with into any passion and maketh them picke out and seeke for causes of laughter not onely to moue others to the like but to expresse their mery passiō which riseth by the iudgement of our senses imparted to the hart not regarding whether the cause be inward or outward that moueth which taketh comfort thereat as though the obiect were externall This especially commeth to passe if the bloud be such about the hart as his purenesse sincerenesse with sweetnesse that carieth moderation of temper doth so comfort and mollifie it that it easily aptly enlargeth it self thē such bloud or such vapor that hath this tickling qualitie causeth a delight conceiued in the braine and communicated with the hart procureth a comfortable gratulation and inward ioy of that whereof nature taketh pleasure For as we haue sights tastes smelles noyses pleasant obiectes without vs and on the contrary part as manie odious and hatefull which do force our senses so haue we also all these internall pleasaunt or vnpleasaunt as we haue of sensuall obiects internall so in like manner pleasure displeasure is communicated frō within of the braine to the heart of such things as we are not able directly to referre to this or that qualitie as we see it fareth with tasts oftentimes such mixtures may be in sauces that something may please vs we cannot expresse what raysed of the compositiō This chiefly falleth to our bodies when that which giueth this occasion carieth force of gentle and light spirits as wine and strong drinke and all aromaticall spices which haue a power to comfort the braine and hart and affect all our bodie throughout with celeritie and quicknesse before their spirits be spent in the passage then the braine giueth merie report the hart glad for it selfe and all the fellow members as it were daunceth for ioy and good liking which it receaueth of such internall prouocations Thē as we see wine giue occasion of mirth by his excellent spirit wherewith our spirit is delighted and greatly increased if it be drunke with moderation so such as are of merie dispositions enioy a naturall wine in their bodies especially harts braines which causeth them to laugh at the wagging of a feather and without iust matter of laughter without modest regard of circūstance to beare them selues light ridiculous this my friende M. I take to be the cause of merrie greekes who seeke rather to discharge them selues of the iocond affection stirred vp by their humour then require true outward occasion of solace and recreation Nowe as before I haue sayd that choler procureth anger not as cause but as occasion so likewise bloud thus tempered and replenished with these aromaticall and merie spirits giueth occasion only of this pleasantnesse and is no cause thereof the hart making iust claime to these affections as the only instrument vnder the soule chiefe author of these vnruly companions which instrument is so disposed that obeying the mind and those naturall rules whereby all things are esteemed good or bad true or false to be done or not to be done no otherwise then by a ciuill subiection ruled by counsell no constraint it repugneth oft times all the strong cōclusions whatsoeuer reason can make to the contrary Thus you vnderstād how a man may be angrie and merie without externall obiect or outward cause now let vs consider howe sadnesse and feare the points which most belong to this discourse and your present state may also arise without occasion of outward terror either presently molesting or fearing vs by likelihood or possibility of future danger As the nature of choler is subtile hote bitter and of a fretting and biting qualitie both it selfe and the vapors that passe from it and bloud temperate sweet and full of cheerefull and comfortable spirits answerable to those we haue ingenerate especially if they become aromaticall as I may terme them and of a fragrant nature by naturall temper or by meanes of diet so melancholie of qualitie grosse dull and of fewe comfortable spirits and plentifully replenished with such as darken all the clernesse of those sanguineous and ingrosse their subtilnesse defile their purenesse with the fogge of that slime and fennie substance and shut vp the hart as it were in a dungeon of obscurity causeth manie fearefull fancies by abusing the braine with vglie illusions locketh vp the gates of the hart whereout the spirits should breake forth vpon iust occasion to the comfort of all the family of their
fellowe members whereby we are in heauinesse sit comfortlesse feare distrust doubt dispaire and lament when no cause requireth it but rather a behauiour beseeminge a heart vppon iust cause and sound reason most comfortable and chearfull This doth melancholie work not otherwise then the former humours giuing occasion and false matter of these passions and not by any disposition as of instrument thereunto Of all the other humours melancholie is fullest of varietie of passion both according to the diuersitie of place where it setleth as brayne splene mesaraicke vaines hart womb and stomach as also through the diuerse kindes as naturall vnnaturall naturall either of the splene or of the vaines faultie only by excesse of quantitie or thicknesse of substance vnnaturall by corruption and that either of bloud adust choler or melancholie naturall by excessiue distemper of heate turned in comparison of the naturall into a sharpe lye by force of adustion These diuerse sorts hauing diuerse matter cause mo straunge symptomes of fancie and affection to melancholike persons then their humour to such as are sanguine cholericke or flegmaticke which fleume of all the rest serueth least to stir vp any affection but breeding rather a kind of stupiditie and an impassionate hart then easily moued to embrace or refuse to sorowe or ioye anger or contentednesse except it be a salte fleume thē approcheth it to the natur of choler in like sort therof riseth anger frowardnes CHAP. XVII How melancholy procureth feare sadnes dispaire and such other passions NOw let vs consider what passions they are that melancholy driueth vs vnto and the reason how it doth so diuersly distract those that are oppressed therewith The perturbations of melancholy are for the most parte sadde and fearefull and such as rise of them as distrust doubt diffidence or dispaire sometimes furious and sometimes merry in apparaunce through a kinde of Sardoniā and false laughter as the humour is disposed that procureth these diuersities Those which are sad and pensiue rise of that melancholick humour which is the grossest part of the blood whether it be iuice or excrement not passing the naturall temper in heat whereof it partaketh and is called cold in comparison onely This for the most part is setled in the spleane and with his vapours anoyeth the harte and passing vp to the brayne counterfetteth terible obiectes to the fantasie and polluting both the substance and spirits of the brayne causeth it without externall occasiō to forge monstrous fictions and terrible to the conceite which the iudgement taking as they are presented by the disordered instrument deliuer ouer to the hart which hath no iudgement of discretion in it self but giuing credite to the mistaken report of the braine breaketh out into that inordinate passion against reason This commeth to passe because the instrument of discretion is depraued by these melancholick spirites and a darknes cloudes of melancholievapours rising from that pudle of the splene obscure the clearenes which our spirites are endued with and is requisite to the due discretion of outward obiectes This at the first is not so extreame neither doth it shew so apparauntly as in processe of time when the substance of the brayne hath plentifully drunke of that spleneticke fogge whereby his nature is become of the same quality and the pure and bright spirites so defiled and eclipsed that their indifferency alike to all sensible thinges is now drawen to a partiality and inclination as by melancholy they are inforced For where that naturall and internall light is darkened their fansies arise vayne false and voide of ground euen as in the externall sensible darkenes a false illusion will appeare vnto our imagination which the light being brought in is discerned to be an abuse of fancie now the internall darknes affecting more nigh by our nature then the outward is cause of greater feares and more molesteth vs with terror then that which taketh from vs the sight of sensible thinges especially arising not of absence of light only but by a presence of a substantiall obscurity which is possessed with an actuall power of operation this taking hold of the brayne by processe of time giueth it an habite of depraued conceite whereby it fancieth not according to truth but as the nature of that humour leadeth it altogether gastely and fearefull This causeth not only phantasticall apparitions wrought hy apprehēsion only of common sense but fantasie an other parte of internall sense compoundeth and forgeth disguised shapes which giue great terror vnto the heart and cause it with the liuely spirit to hide it selfe as well as it can by contraction in all partes from those counterfet goblins which the brayne dispossessed of right discerning fayneth vnto the heart Neither only is common sense and fantasie thus ouertaken with delusion but memory also receiueth a wound therewith which disableth it both to keepe in memory and to record those thinges whereof it tooke some custody before this passion and after therewith are defaced For as the common sense and fantasie which doe offer vnto the memory to lay vp deliuer but fables in stead of true report and those tragicall that dismay all the sensible frame of our bodies so eyther is the memory wholly distract by importunity of those doubtes and feares that it neglecteth the custody of other store or else it recordeth and apprehendeth only such as by this importunity is thrust therupon nothing but darkenes perill doubt frightes and whatsoeuer the harte of man most doth abhor And these the senses do so melancholikely deliuer to the mindes consideration which iudging of such thinges as they offered not hauing farther to do in the deeper examination that it applyeth those certayne ingenerate pointes of reason and wisedome to a deceitfull case though it be alwayes in the generall and if particularities be deliuered vp a right in them also most certaine and assured For those thinges which are sensible and are as it were the counterfettes of ourward creatures the reporte of them is committed by Gods ordinaunce to the instruments of the brayne furnished with his spirite which if it be as the thinges are in nature so doth the minde iudge and determine no farther submitting it selfe to examine the credite of these senses which the instrumentes being faultles and certaine other considerations required necessary agreeable vnto their integrity neuer faile in their busines but are the very first groundes of all this corporall action of life and wisedome that the minde for the most parte here outwardly practiseth If they be contrary so also doth the minde iudge and pursueth or shuneth for these sensible matters reposing trust in the corporall ministers whose misereport no more ought to discredite the minde or draw it into an accessary crime of error then the iudiciall sentence is to be blamed which pronounceth vpon the oth and credite of a iurie impanelled of such as are reported men of honesty credite and discretion though their verdict be not peraduenture
according as the cause committed to them doth require The memory being thus fraight with perills past and embracing only through the braynes disorder that which is of discomforte causeth the fantasie out of such recordes to forge new matters of sadnes and feare whereof no occasion was at any time before nor like to be giuen hereafter to these fansies the hart answering with like melancholicke affection turneth all hope into feare assurance into distrust and dispaire ioye into discomforte and as the melancholie nature or bodie any waie corrupt defileth the pure and holesome nourishment conuerteth it into the same kinde of impuritie and as the fire of all kinde of matter giueth increase of heate whether it be wood stone metal or liquor so the body thus possessed with the vnchearefull and discomfortable darknes of melācholie obscureth the Sonne and Moone and all the comfortable planetts of our natures in such sort that if they appeare they appeare all darke and more then halfe eclipsed of this mist of blackenes rising from that hidious lake and in all thinges comfortable either curiously pryeth out and snatcheth at whatsoeuer of mislike may be drawen to the nourishment of it selfe or else neglecteth altogether that which is of other qualitie then foode and pasture of those monsters which nature neuer bred nor perfect since conceiued nor memorie vncorrupt would euer allow entertainement but are hatched out of this muddie humour by an vnnaturall temper bastard spirite to the disorder of the whole regiment of humane nature both in iudgement and affection Thus the hart a while being acquainted with nothing else but domestical terror feareth euery thing and the brayne simpathetically partaking with the hartes feare maketh doubt distrusteth suspecteth without cause alwayes standing in awe of grieuaunce wher with in time it be commeth so tender that the least touch as it were ones naile in an vlcer giueth discouragement thereto rubbing it vpon the gale exulcerate with sorow and feare neither only doubleth it sorrow vpon smal occasion but taketh it where none is offered euen as the Cholerick man feedeth his passiō with ridiculous causes of displeasure For first the generall being in al natures actions before the particular the heart by the braine solicited to passiō vsed to grief feare taketh the accustomed way of flight and auoydance abhorring fearing those thinges which of themselues are most amiable and gratefull at the first not being a duised whereto to apply the passion euen as one condemned to death with vndoubted expectation of execution fearing euerie knock at the prison doore hath horrour though the messenger of pardon with knock require to be admitted let in and euery messenger where daunger is feared though he come with cherefull countenance giueth cause of distrust when there may be assurance euen so the heart ouercome with inward heauines and skared with inward feares faireth as though whatsoeuer cause of affection and perturbation were minister of present griefe or messenger of future daunger by mistaking only and withdraweth it selfe and shroudeth it as secrete and closse as nature will suffer from that which if custome had not bent it another way vppon aduisement now banished through swiftnes and vehemēcy of passion it would haue with ioyful cheare embraced For euē as we se in outward sense the ey or the eare long and vehemently affected with colour or sound or the nose with strong sent retaine the verie colour sound and sent in the instrumentes though the thing be remoued that yeelded such qualities so the internall senses molested continually with this fearefull obiect of internall darknes esteemeth euery thing of that nature the true qualitie thereof being obscure by that which hath taken possession of thē before The brayne thus affected and the heart answering his passion thereafter driueth vs into those extremities of heauy moode which assaile and dispossesse of right vse of reason those who are melancholickly disposed much more if the heart be as melancholickly bent as the brayne then diuerse times doth it preuent the fancie with feare and as a man transported with passiō is vtterly bereft of aduisemēt causeth the senses both outward inward preposterously to conceiue as the heart vainely feareth This melancholy as the parts are diuerse actions vary so doth it as it is seated or passeth this or that way breed diuersity of passion as in the heart a trembling in the stomach a greedy appetite in the brayne false illusions and in the other partes as they are disposed so deprauing their actions it causeth much variety of effects which are not in the nature of the humor but as it disturbeth the actiue instrumentes no more then darknes causeth some to stūble other some to go out of their way wander other some to bringe to passe such purposes as light would bewray hinder alas they be disposed occupied which take thē to their busines in the dark not through any such effectuall operatiō of darkenes which is naught else but meere absence of light Neither doth so many straunge sortes of accidentes follow melācholie through diuersity of parts only but as the custome of life hath bene before the fancie heart some way vehemently occupied there through this humour all the faculties afore named are carried the same way as it were with the streame of a tide driuen with a boysterous wind which causeth that melancholicke men are not all of one nature passionate this way the one taking his dolorous passion from his loue another from his wealth the other frō his pleasures whereof his melancholie beareth him in hand the present losse or imminent daunger of that wherein affection in former times had surest footing on the other part which before a man most abhorred that nowe that humor vrgeth with most vehemencie Againe as it is mixed with other humours either keeping mediocrity or abounding so likewise breaketh it forth into such diuersities manie times into plaine contrarieties of conceit and perturbation Thus you vnderstand howe feares and sorowes rise without cause from naturall melancholie whether it be iuyce or excrement not through chiefe action as from worke of facultie but by abuse of instrument through occasion If the spleneticke excrement surcharge the bodie not being purged by helpe of the splene then are these perturbations farre more outragious and harde to be mitigated by counsell or perswasion and more do they enforce vs the partes being altered with corporall humour then with spirituall vapour and so are the passions longer in continuance and more extreeme in vehemencie For as the flame carrieth not such force of burning as the cole neither contayneth the heate so longe euen so the partes affected with the humour which carrieth both grossenesse of substance with continuall supplie of that dimme vapour settleth a more fixed passion of feare and heauinesse then that which riseth from the vapour onely partly of the owne accorde more easily vanishing and partly with
false because it seeth in dreames things past as present for so it doth also future things sometimes which rather may argue that both past and to come are both present vnto the mind of such things as fall into the capacitie of her consideration If anie man thinke it much to aduance the mind so high let him remember from whom it proceeded the maner howe it was created and the most excellent estate thereof before the fall and no doubt it will sufficiently aunswer that difficultie and confirme that which I haue said And thus much for that interruption of my aunswer to the obiection from sicknesse whether the soule hath outward sense and not organicall or no. Now to prosecute the aunswere I say all those which seeme to be faculties altered in sicknesses be only organicall dispositions which the soule vseth as she findeth them As for the outward senses the humidities and superfluities of the eares in some sicknesse being dried vp maketh hearing more quicke then in health so the poores of smelling may be more open and the eye by the same reason receaue quicker sight and the sense of feeling more exact or by reason the spirites are more subtile which thereby with greater case flowe into all partes of the instrument nowe emptied of superfluity Againe in phrenticke persons we see through drinesse of the braine and sinewes what strength they become of that fower men in health are scarse able to hold them though otherwise weake and feeble Nowe the outward passages of senses thus cleared and the spirits more rare and subtile deliuer more exactly to the inwarde the Ideas of such things as require to be admitted which inward senses by like disposition of the braine more exactly discerne the outward qualitie of thinges deliuer more sincere reporte vnto the minde which finding all so cleare giueth sentence pronounceth and debateth more perfectly in respect of that distinction and clearnesse it findeth in those personall representations of thinges which may seeme vnto such as consider not duely whereof it riseth to be an increase of gift in the minde by sickenesse and not greater clearenesse of the obiect This disposition of instrument causeth some children to be more pregnant then other some and in sickenesse manie one to be of better aduisement then in health and if you list inferre it vppon the former groundes I will not denie this to be the cause whie some be idiottes and fooles and other some of quicke spirit and prompt witted Nowe as this clearing of the poores and subtiliation of spirits is cause of these more readie and distinct actions in sicknesse then in health and in youth aboue the tendernesse of yeares so in health the poores replenished with their humours and the spirites recouering their ordinarie grossenesse or mediocritie the actions become of the same condition they were before not by anie alteration of facultie but through instrument diuersly disposed In like manner the aged farre stroken in yeares faile in the execution of externall actions though their mindes should rather be wiser through experience if anie thing be learned by the practise of this life by excrementitious humiditie and rewmaticke superfluities which drowne the instrument and an internal drinesse whereby all wayes to that small reÌ„nant of spirit is stopped through contraction and shrinking of poores the verie cundites of the spirit into all the corporal members neither only do they faile in outward sense and motion but by the internall also suffer like imbecillitie whereuppon their minde framinge conclusions vpon false groundes seeme to faile in that action also not hauing better matter to work on If you say vnto me why is not this helped by that inorganicall sense of the minde and so these in conueniences auoyded you must coÌ„sider the minde neuer exerciseth that but being withdrawen from the corporall socieâ—y these mechanicall actions which in a maner in sleepe extasie it is then it maketh choice of particulars as it listeth it selfe what who where and when neither is it tied to these outward ministers or those Ideas which they take viewe of Moreouer we must remember that during this life sauing vpon certaine occasions extraordinary God hath ordained these actions corporal neither is it necessary that wants of outward senses should be so supplied which before sinne tooke such hold of soule and body were not subiect to these imbecillities but perfectly and sincerely deliuered the condition of sensible things to the mindes consideration which reposing trust in them according to the integrity wherin they first stoode dischargeth her office of vnderstaÌ„ding iudging and willing as this way only it findeth cause And thus much touching the aunswere to the former obiections notwithstanding whose probabilities to the contrary you may perceiue how the body only receiueth these alterations before mentioned euen as instruments of a corporall substance and raised from the earth subiect to earthly and elementary chaunges without touch of soule or disturbing of that immortal nature which proceeded from the breath of God and is of a more noble race neither are you so to vnderstand me as though I accompted the soule in this present state equall with the first creation that were erronious and against the history of maÌ„s fall and of that curse which ensued through disobedience and contrary to that experience which euery one findeth of imbecillity in the most excellent actions of the minde and such as require no organ but my discourse tendeth in this point to exempt it from corporal contagion only which it can not in any sort receiue more then the heauens pollution from the earth being a nature farre more different in comparison then the heauens from this inferiour world which is alotted to our vse of habitation Hauing hitherto declared how perturbations rise of humors although it be not greatly pertinent to the matter in hand of couÌ„sell in this passion yet because my meaning is not only to satisfie your request in that but also to giue you argumeÌ„t of philosophicall discourse to occupie your selfe in this heauy time wherein both melancholie doth all it may to discourage you and Sathan the old enimy taketh aduantage to serue his turne vpoÌ„ your present imbecillity I will add the reason of such accidentes as fall vnto these passions in such probability as my habilitie will affoord both for mine owne exercise and your contentment whom in times past I haue knowen to be delighted with studie of philosophie CHAP. XX. The accidentes which befall melancholicke persons AS all other state of bodie so the melancholick sheweth it self either in the qualities of the body or in the deeds Of the qualities which are first taken froÌ„ the elemeÌ„ts the melaÌ„cholick without adustion is cold and drie of such as are second rising from the first of colour blacke and swart of substance inclyning to hardnes leane and spare of flesh which causeth hollownes of eye and vnchearefulnes of countenance all these more or lesse some or all either as
this coldnes and drynes riseth hardnes whereof the flesh of melancholy persons is except the melancholy rise of some disorder of diet or passions and hath not yet entred so farre vpon the complexion Of colour they be black according to the humour whereof they are nourished and the skinne alwayes receauing the blacke vapors which insensibly do passe from the inward parts taketh die and staine thereof sauing that in the beginning it may come to passe otherwise the body white and bloud blacke nature for a time seruing her selfe of that which is purest and leauing the grossest in the vaines till for want of better in the end it be faine to take of the melancholicke which before it disdained then altereth it the colour and fairenesse is turned into morphe maketh euident the humour which gaue the die hath obscured the former beautie And thus are the qualities of melancholie bodies altered by this grosse earthie and darke humour CHAP. XXII How melancholie altereth those actions which rise out of the braine TOuching actions which rise from the brain melancholie causeth dulnesse of conceit both by reason the substance of the braine in such personnes is more grosse and their spirite not so prompt and subtile as is requisit for readie vnderstandinge Againe almost all the senses standing in a kinde of passiue nature a substance cold and drie and by consequent hard is not so meete thereto which as it serueth well to retaine that which is once ingrauen so like adamant it keepeth in comparison of other tempers that which once it hath receaued whereby as they are vnfit to commit readily to memorie so retaine they that is committed in surer custodie Sometime it falleth out that melancholie men are found verie wittie and quickly discerne either because the humour of melancholie with some heate is so made subtile that as from the driest woode riseth the clearest flame and from the lyes of wine is distilled a strong burning aqua vitae in like fort their spirits both from the drinesse of the matter and straining of the grosse substance from which they passe receauing a purenesse are instrumentes of such sharpnesse which is the drie light that Heraclitus approued To this other reasons may be added as exercise of their wittes wherein they be indefatigable which maketh them seeme to haue that of a naturall readinesse which custome of exercise and vse hath found in them Moreouer while their passions be not yet vehemēt whereby they might be ouercaried melancholy breedeth a ielousie of doubt in that they take in deliberation and causeth them to be the more exact curious in pōdering the very moments of things to these reasons may be added the vehemencie of theyr affection once raysed which carieth them with all their faculties therto belonging into the deapth of that they take pleasure to intermeddle in For though the melancholie man be not so easily affected with any other passion as with those of feare sadnesse ielosie yet being once throughly heat with a cōtrarie passion retaineth the feruency thereof farre longer time then anie other complexion and more feruently boyleth therewith by reason his heart and spirite hath more solliditie of substance to entertayne deepely the passion which in a more rare and thinne sooner vanisheth away Thus greedinesse of desire in those thinges which they affect maketh them diligent and painefull warie and circumspect and so in actions of braine and sense not inferiour to the best tempers as also it maketh them stiffe in opinion Their resolution riseth of long deliberation because of doubt and distrust which as it is not easily bred so it is also harde to remoue Such persons are doubtfull suspitious and thereby long in deliberation because those domesticall feares or that internall obscuritie causeth an opinion of daunger in outwarde affaires where there is no cause of doubt their dreames are fearefull partly by reason of their fancie waking is most occupied about feares and terrours which retayneth the impression in sleepe and partly through blacke and darke fumes of melancholie rising vp to the braine whereof the fantasie forgeth obiectes and disturbeth the sleep of melancholy persons These persons are also subiect to that kinde of suffocation in the night which is called the mare wherein with some horrible vision in dreame they are halfe strangled and intercepted of speech through they striue to call This happeneth through grosse melacholicke vapours in them which cause horrible and fearefull apparitions by reason of the nature of that humour and the fancie prone through custome to conceaue on the worse parte and stoppeth theyr winde by occupying the passages of such spirits as rise from the braine and flowe into the nerues which serue certaine muscles of respiration it happeneth chiefly when they lye on their backe and somewhat too low with their heade because both the midriffe a chiefe muscle of respiration is more pressed with the bowelles which lye vnder it the stomach is not so firmely closed whereby vapours more easily haue vent and the whole bulke of the chest in that position of the bodie lying more heauily vppon them requireth greater force of mouing facultie whose spirit receaueth impediment of passages by these thicke and melancholicke fumes and thus are the actions of the braine altered by melancholie CHAP. XXIII Howe affections be altered TOVCHING their affections of feare and sadnesse sufficiently hath bene sayd before sauing whether is first in place and possesseth first the melancholicke heart it may make some question In mine opinion feare is the verie ground and roote of that sorowe which melancholick mē are throwne into For a continuance of feare which is of daunger to come so ouerlayeth the heart that it maketh it as nowe present which is only in expectation and although the daunger feared be absent yet the assurednesse thereof in the opinion of a melancholicke braine is alwayes present which ingendreth a sorow alwayes accompanying their feares They are hardely moued to anger except a biting and fretting choler be mixed with their melancholie or the melancholy be of an adust kind by reason they be ouer passion at another way and haue their partes of grosser sense then easily to be offended and the heart not ready to be moued being of a colder and drier nature or so affected by the humor which being once throughly kindled with that passion retayneth the heate longer and is not easily brought againe into the former temper Enuious they are because of their owne false conceaued want whereby their estate seeminge in their owne fantasie much worse then it is or then the condition of other men maketh them desire that they see other to enioy to better their estate this maketh them couetours of getting though in expence where their humour moueth them with liking or a voydance of perill more then prodigall Ielousie pricketh them because they are not contented with any moderation but thinke all too little for supply of their want especially if it stand in
spoken for the vrine This then is one hinderaunce why the vrine can not be retracted the way being made vp by those skinnes the manner of the entraunce such of that excremēt into the bladder why such stopping can not be in them as falleth out by closing of poores that happeneth to other partes through euacuation for these passages are neither opē because they be full nor closse because they be emptie but are the one for the other at our voluntary pleasures to this is the largenes of the passages to be added which hinder the close sinking of all sides together whith the position of the body downeward direct and thus much for the difference of the retention and excretion and how by reason the partes containing the exerement no calling backe of humors can be as in other parts which haue fluxe and refluxe free Touching the manner of excremēt this difference also is to be holden that vuch humours as are not yet seperated for euacuation follow the course of spirites and ebbe and flow with them being within the regiment of nature which the vrine contained in his naturall vrinall and attending the opening of the passage and destitute of those actiue spirites can not doe and this I take to be the causes why in extreame passions of feare vrine may passe against his wil that notwithstanding can shed no teares by the same extremity The third pointe remaineth for the more easie declaration of this dolefull gesture of what disposition of body they are of who are apt to teares They are almost altogether of a moist rare and tender body especially of brayne and heart which both being of that temper carie the rest of the parts into like disposition this is the cause why children are more apt to weepe then those that are of greater yeares and women more then men the one hauing by youth the body moist rare soft and the other by sex Whereby teares both easily flow and are supplied with plentifull matter if with rarenes of body and humidity the braine aboue the rest exceede that way and the eyes be great vaynes passages there about large thē wāteth ther nothing to the foūtain of tears euē vpō smal occasiō cōtrarily they which haue their bodies drier by nature and more cōpact and the passages and poores close as men in comparison of women children such hardly yeeld forth that signe of sorrow though the occasion may require it Thus you vnderstād what occasion moueth weeping how taken and what state of bodie they be of that easily water their cheekes when sorow and calamitie afflicteth Now let vs consider the matter of teares what it is and whence particularly and properly they flow and manner how The matter is the excrementitious humiditie of the brayne not contained in the vaynes for else would teares not be cleare nor of a waterish colour but resembling the colour of vrine receiue a tincture from the thinnest parte of the blood and so appeare yellow except the straining of the humour might seeme to clarifie them which can not so be For straining although it cast away impuritie it altereth not colour as strayne claret wyne as oftē as you will it keepeth stil the colour Againe the tincture of yellow being of a cholericke whay in the blood which is most thinne would nothing hinder the passage of the teare nor remaine behind in the strainer Then we may resolue vpon this point that teares rise of the brains thinnest most liquide excrement whereof being the moystest part of the whole bodie and twise so much in quantitie as the braine of an oxe it hath great plenty euen more then anie other part both in respect of his temper and largenesse This excrement is voyded ordinarily by the palate the nose and the eyes by certaine passages ordained for vaines arteries and sinues from that carnell which is placed in the sadle of the bone called the wedge which is direct ouer the palate of the mouth this carnell is there placed that the excremēt might not rush suddenly into these parts but gently distill into them The most ordinarie passage of thinne humour is by the pallate and nose the pallate receaueth it directly the nose from the eyes lest they should be molested by continuall fluxe into the eyes it floweth by the passage of the second couple of nerues which serue to moue the eye not entering the substance of them but passing on all sides floweth to the eyes and from thence is receaued of the fleshly carnell in the inner corner of the eye and so passeth into the nose and voydeth out to purge the head thereby and this is the ordinarie course of that humiditie which voyded from the braine into the nose Vpō occasiō of grief or trouble of smoke or wind this thinne liquor floweth frō all partes is receaued of another fleshly carnell vnder the vpper eye lid towards the eares from thence also watereth them and trickleth downe the cheekes So then you perceaue the matter of teares by what streames it voydeth and how it is conueighed it remaineth last of all to lay open vnto you what causeth the fluxe out of the eyes seeing ordinarily it should passe into the nose or through the palate be voyded out at the mouth and how in weeping nature dischargeth her self of this excrement For clearing of which point you must call to remembrance the kinde of passion wherewith nature is charged in matter of griefe or feare which is an enforcement of flight into her owne center not hauing whither else to flee whereby she gathereth in one her spirits and bloud calleth them in partly withdrawing them from that fearefull obiect partly by vniting of forces inableth her selfe to make greater resistance against that which annoyeth These spirites are such as passe from the principall partes of the heart braine and liuer and giue life nourishment sense and motion to the rest of the members of our bodies So then the braine being thus replenished with his flowing spirites is fuller then it was before and of necessitie warmer heat alwayes accompanying spirit with the spirite refloweth also the bloud and humours and that all may become safe nature maketh such contraction of the substaunce of the braine and partes thereabout that as one desirous to hold fast with his hand that which is apt to flowe forth loseth by his hard handlinge and compression which otherwise he might retaine so it expresseth that which by thinnesse is readie to voide and forcing with spirit pressing with contracted substance signifieth by shower of teares what storme tosseth the afflicted hart and ouercasteth the cheerfull countenaunce And this is the manner of the watering of the sorowfull cheekes and visage disfigured with lamentatiō which being by this double meanes inforced issue in more plentie then the passage into the nostrells can readilie discharge the aboundance whereof drencheth the eyes ouerflowing the brimmes of the eye liddes filleth the bosome
they be diuerse all action of internall senses which are ministers and seruants of studie whether it be of learning or of meditation and inuention which later kind farre more toyleth the bodie then the former and therefore farther of is it to be remoued Of internall senses I take phantasie to be the greatest wast of these spirits most apt to thicken the bloud if it be excessiue For that imitateth the inuentiue action of the mind and in a lower degree if it be vehement continuall maketh great wast of those two instruments spirit and heate in the me lancholicke bodie For as the action is such is the spirit and part thereof purer subtiler thinner as the actiō is of more excellency farther remoued from corporall practise and draweth nigher to the cleere and pure actions of the minde If the melancholicke be ouer much contemplatiue it shall then be meete for him to withdrawe his mind to corporall actions of grosser sort that as the mind by speculation after a sort disioyneth it selfe from the bodie so the bodily exercise may reuoke it againe into the former fellowship and exercise of bodily action The outwarde senses because they consist rather in a kinde of passion their vse doth not greatly hinder the thinnesse which we require against melancholie except they be ouer trauelled with watching which hath great force to drinke vp the spirites moisture and so to alter the bodily state into a melancholie disposition tedious to mind and body In their actes it is to be obserued that they be not in anie respect irkesome or odious For if they be such the heart continually where the obiect is presented nowe growne tender thorough the internall passion flieth at the shadow of euerie thing that carrieth the smallest shewe of discontentment and reclaiming his spirites about him selfe leaueth the outwarde partes destitute of conuenient measure and by aboundance about it selfe corrupteth them in time for want of sufficient respiration and breathing which no lesse ingendreth melancholie then the former disorders afore mentioned and as for the fearefull passion it increaseth it directly and keepeth that immoderate feare in vre Of all sensible obiectes the visible except they be pleasaunt and proportionall giue greatest discontentment to the melancholike If besides their horriblenesse of shape or without it they represent anie significant type of tragicall calamitie or mention that wherewith the melancholicke apprehension faigne anie fearefull obiect much more such spectacles are to be shunned of the melancholickes And because darkenesse is as it were a patterne of death it also is as much as may be to be auoyded and all cheerefull sights agreeable to vertue and pietie and to be embraced and sought after which as the other sorte close vp the spirites and geueth the heart assaults of hostilitie may allure them out againe and set free the distressed affection and yeelde comfort to the amazed heart Next to visible thinges the audible obiect most frighteth the melancholicke person especialy besids the vnpleasantnesse if it carieth also signification of terror here as pleasant pictures and liuely colours delight the melancholicke eye and in their measure satisfie the heart so not onely cheerefull musicke in a generalitie but such of that kinde as most reioyceth is to be sounded in the melancholicke eare of which kinde for the most part is such as carieth an odde measure and easie to be discerned except the melancholicke haue skill in musicke and require a deeper harmonie That contrarilie which is solemne and still as dumpes and fancies and sette musicke are hurtfull in this case and serue rather for a disordered rage and intemperate mirth to reclaime within mediocritie then to allowe the spirites to stirre the bloud and to attenuate the humours which is if the harmony be wisely applyed effectuallie wrought by musicke For that which reason worketh by a more euident way that musicke as it were a magicall charme bringeth to passe in the mindes of men which being forseene of wise law giuers in times past they haue made choice of certaine kindes thereof and haue reiected the other as hurtfull to their common wealthes which agreement betwixt concent of musicke and affection of the minde when Aristophenes perceaued he therby was moued to thinke that the mind was nothing else but a kind of harmonie In the other senses the obiectes onely are to be choysed sweete in tast pleasant in smell and soft to be felt that all outward things may allure and giue courage in steed of that cowardly timiditie wrought by the humour Motion doth much more if it be vehement and drawe to the nature of labour and withall continuall For that drieth the bodie excessiuely And although for the present it be hotter through such trauell yet consuming the spirite and moysture which are matter of this heate in the ende it decayeth also as fire without fuell and the lampe without oyle As these actions of bodie and minde being ouer vehement and excessiue bereaue the humour of spirite and waste the naturall heat which being spent whatsoeuer else is of the body is more grosse and earthie becommeth a lake of melancholie euen so if altogether these actions cease that neither the minde nor bodie bestow themselues in good studies and exercises then on the contrary part this worketh the same that the other excesse doth and euen as water that standeth and is not stirred corrupteth waxeth grosse and thicke and like as the lampe that wanteth aire goeth out though plenty of oyle be ministred euen so without this stirring of spirites humours blood all settle into a grosse residence of melancholie and the whole masse of bloud easily degenerateth vnto that humour and for want of exercise the naturall fire being slakened and the spirite thereby ingrossed that which indued with both with iust measure and equalitie conuenient was before a cheerefull iuyce comfortable to all the parts and a sweete deawe to the earthy substance congealeth into a grossenesse farre vnmeet for that vse and of a quite contrarie disposition CHAP. XXXVIII How melancholicke persons are to order themselues in their affectiont AS in studies exercises of the braine sense voluntary motion great moderation is to be kept of melancholy persons euen so no lesse regarde if not more is to be had of them in restrayning their affectiōs and guiding them with such wise conduct as at no time they breake forth into outrage and shake of the gentle and light yoake which reason imposeth I will not now dispute whether vehement study or disorderly perturbations is more to be taken heed of onely take you no lesse care in the one then in the other except you finde your selfe to haue fallen into excesse and to haue surfeted more of this then of that excesse If you haue so vnequally exceeded and the effect hath preuayled with you that kind wherof you haue most cause to complaine there refraine and employ those giftes of wisedome and vertue wherein in times