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SUBSECT. 5. Alteratives and Cordials, corroborating, resolving the reliques, and mending the Temperament.
Because this Humor is so maligne of it self, and so hard to be removed, the reliques are to be cleansed, by alteratives, cordials and such means; the temper is to be altered and amended, with such things as fortifie and strengthen the heart and brain, which are commonly both affected in this malady, and do mutually affect one another: which are still to be given every other day, or some few dayes inserted after a purge, or like Physick, as occasion serves, and are of such force, that many times they help alone, and as Arnoldus holds in his Aphorismes, are to be preferred before all other medicines, in what kind soever.
Amongst this number of Cordials and Alteratives, I do not find a more present remedy, then a cup of wine or strong drink, if it be soberly and opportunely used. It makes a man bold, hardy, couragious, whetteth the wit, if moderately taken, and as Plutarch saith, Symp. 7. quæst. 12. it makes those which are otherwise dull, to exhale & evaporate like frankincense, or quicken (Xenophon adds) as oyl doth fire.
A famous Cordial Matthiolus in Dioscoridem calls it, an excellent nutriment to refresh the body, it makes a good colour, a flourishing age, helps concoction, fortifies the stomack, takes away obstructions, provokes urine, drives out excrements, procures sleep, cleers the blood, expels wind and cold poysons, attenuates, concocts, dissipates all thick vapours, and fuliginous humours. And that which is all in all to my purpose, it takes away feare and sorrow.
It glads the heart of man, Psal. 104. 15. hilaritatis dulce seminarium. Helenas boule, the sole nectar of the Gods, or that true Nepenthes in Homer, which puts away care and grief, as Oribasius 5. Collect. cap. 7. and some others will, was naught else but a cup of good wine.
It makes the mind of the King and of the fatherless both one, of the bond and freeman, poor and rich, it turneth all his thoughts to joy and mirth, makes him remember no sorrow or debt, but enricheth his heart, and makes him speak by talents, Esdras 3. 19, 20, 21. It gives life it self, spirits, wit, &c.
For which cause the Ancients called Bacchus, Liber pater à liberando, and sacrificed to Bacchus and Pallas still upon an altar. Wine measurably drunk, and in time, brings gladness and chearfulness of mind, it cheareth God and men, Judges 9. 12. lætitiæ Bacchus dator, it makes an old wife dance, and such as are in misery, to forget evil, and be merry.
Bacchus & afflictis requiem mortalibus affert, Crura licet duro compede vincta forent.
Wine makes a troubled soul to rest, Though feet with fetters be opprest.
Demetrius in Plutarch, when he fell into Seleucus hands, and was prisoner in Syria, spent his time with dice and drink that he might so ease his discontented mind, and avoid those continual cogitations of his present condition wherewith he was tormented.
Therefore Solomon, Prov. 31. 6. bids wine be given to him that is ready to perish, and to him that hath grief of heart, let him drink that he forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Sollicitis animis onus eximit, it easeth a burdened soule, nothing speedier, nothing better: which the Prophet Zachary perceived, when he said, that in the time of Messias, they of Ephraim should be glad, and their heart should rejoyce as through wine.
All which makes me very well approve of that pretty description of a feast in Bartholomeus Anglicus, when grace was said, their hands washed, and the Guests sufficiently exhilarated, with good discourse, sweet musick, dainty fare, exhilarationis gratia, pocula iterum atque iterum offeruntur, as a Corollary to conclude the feast, and continue their mirth, a grace cup came in to cheer their hearts, and they drank healths to one another again and again.
Which as I. Fredericus Matenesius Crit. Christ. lib. 2. cap. 5, 6, & 7. was an old custome in all ages in every Commonwealth, so as they be not enforced, bibere per violentiam, but as in that royal feast of Assuerus which lasted 180 dayes, without compulsion they drank by order in golden vessels, when and what they would themselves.
This of drink is a most easie and parable remedy, a common, a cheap, still ready against fear, sorrow, and such troublesome thoughts, that molest the mind; as brimstone with fire, the spirits on a suddain are enlightned by it. No better Physick (saith Rhasis) for a melancholy man: and he that can keep company, and carouse, needs no other medicines, ’tis enough.
His country man Avicenna 31. doct. 2. cap. 8. proceeds farther yet, and will have him that is troubled in minde, or melancholy, not to drink only, but now and then to be drunk: excellent good Physick it is for this and many other diseases. Magninus Reg. san. part. 3. c. 31. will have them to be so once a month at least, & gives his reasons for it, because it scoures the body by vomit, urine, sweat, of all manner of superfluities, and keeps it clean.
Of the same mind is Seneca the Philosopher in his book de tranquil. lib. 1. c. 15. nonnunquam ut in aliis morbis ad ebrietatem usq; veniendum, Curas deprimit, tristitia medetur, It is good sometimes to be drunk, it helps sorrow, depresseth cares, and so concludes his Tract with a cup of wine: Habes, Serene charissime, quæ ad tranquillitatem animæ pertinent.