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← ExitThe Anatomy of Melancholy

Reading language

Contextual Lexicon

See also. Imagination; Shame.

Aqua vitae

Source forms: Aquavitæ; strong waters; water of life

The word. Aqua vitae, literally water of life, denotes distilled alcoholic spirit. Strong waters belongs to the same vocabulary.

In Burton. A fearful sufferer carries aqua vitae or strong waters against anticipated fainting or illness. In a later medicinal formula, water of life is the liquid mixed with other ingredients for a plaster. These contexts distinguish something carried for an anticipated need from a preparation used externally; neither calls for the ordinary sense of water.

The places. A sufferer carries aqua vitae through fear of fainting. (p. 181–182; DJR-058-33.) Distilled spirit appears as an ingredient of a historical plaster. (p. 396; DJR-105-47.)

In this edition. “Aquavitæ” → “aqua vitae” (DJR-058-33); “strong waters” → “strong spirits” (DJR-058-33); “water of life” → “distilled spirit” (DJR-105-47). The name is retained in one passage and explained in the other; both refer to distilled spirit.

See also. Aurum potabile; Cordial; Pleasure.

Art

Source forms: Art

The word. Art can mean deliberate skill or enhancement, an organized discipline, or a skilled method of proceeding. It is not confined to painting, poetry or other fine arts.

In Burton. In the discussion of beauty, art is set against nature as a power of deliberate enhancement. Lovers’ diverse symptoms then exceed what any art can encompass, where the word concerns a body of organized knowledge. Near the close, art joins industry among the means of directing a distressed person’s thoughts. Each setting emphasizes a different relation between skill and its object.

The places. Beauty is considered in relation to art and nature. (p. 469; DJR-120-22.) No organized discipline can encompass all lovers’ symptoms. (p. 509; DJR-127-36.) Skill and effort are invoked in the management of distress. (p. 722; DJR-169-28.)

In this edition. “arti an naturæ” → “art or to nature” (DJR-120-22); “no Art” → “no discipline” (DJR-127-36); “art, and industry” → “skill and effort” (DJR-169-28). “Art,” “discipline” and “skill” retain the distinct contextual uses rather than forcing a uniform equivalent.

See also. Science; Experimental; Herbal; Emblem; Exhibition; Curiosity.

Artificial

Source forms: artificial; artificial Malady; artificiall Wildernesses

The word. Artificial can mean acquired or brought about by circumstances, and can also describe something deliberately made. It need not mean false or feigned.

In Burton. Burton distinguishes melancholy arising through circumstances from the naturally melancholy character assigned to certain creatures. He later contrasts an artificial malady with the natural disposition associated with age. In the account of recreation, artificial wildernesses are garden features deliberately planted to appear wild. The shared contrast with nature changes its practical meaning from illness to landscape.

The places. Melancholy produced by circumstances is distinguished from natural character. (p. 46; DJR-012-38.) Acquired disease is contrasted with natural melancholy. (p. 33; DJR-027-26.) Planted wildernesses belong to pleasurable garden walks. (p. 269; DJR-078-34.)

In this edition. “artificial” → “brought about by circumstances” (DJR-012-38); “artificial Malady” → “acquired disease” (DJR-027-26); “artificiall Wildernesses” → “planted wildernesses” (DJR-078-34). The rendering follows the distinction at issue: acquired in the medical account, deliberately planted in the garden.

See also. Cause; Adventitious.

Astrological aspects

Source forms: partile conjunction

The word. An astrological aspect is an angular relationship between heavenly bodies or chart points. Conjunction, opposition and quartile name particular relations; a partile conjunction is treated as exact by degree.

In Burton. Burton describes Mars in partile conjunction with his ascendant in his self-portrait. In the account of love, mutual aspects of the Moon and Venus figure among remote causes. Elsewhere conjunctions, oppositions and quartiles form part of the threatening celestial order. The examples show the vocabulary operating in personal description, causal theory and admonition.

The places. Mars and the ascendant are placed in partile conjunction. (p. 3; DJR-002-03.) The Moon and Venus are described as mutually aspected. (p. 447; DJR-116-02.) Oppositions and quartiles are included among hostile aspects. (p. 4; DJR-021-28.)

In this edition. “partile conjunction” → “exact conjunction” (DJR-002-03); “mutually aspected” → “in mutual aspect” (DJR-116-02); “Oppositions, Quartiles” → “oppositions, quartiles” (DJR-021-28). The technical names remain where they organize the source account. “Aspect” here does not merely mean outward appearance.

See also. Astrology.

Astrological significators

Source forms: Horoscope; significators; Mercurialists; combust; Hylech; promissors

The word. Significators are astrological indicators of the matter judged. A horoscope can mean the ascendant in context; the hyleg signifies life, and promissors are natal positions or aspects used in predicting events.

In Burton. Burton’s reported rules connect chart positions with melancholy and distinguish the points being directed from positions said to promise events. He also calls people governed by Mercury Mercurialists and records unusual abilities attributed to a combust Moon. These expressions belong to a technical system of interpretation, whose terms must be understood before its claims can be followed.

The places. Horoscope denotes the ascendant in a rule about Mercury. (p. 58; DJR-032-10.) Significators, hyleg and promissors occur in timing an event. (p. 59; DJR-032-16.) The heavens supply indicators of character and disease. (p. 190 [first occurrence]; DJR-060-02.) Mercurialists are people said to be governed by Mercury. (p. 190 [second occurrence]; DJR-060-08.) Combust describes the Moon’s proximity to the Sun in an anecdote. (p. 192; DJR-060-24.)

In this edition. “Horoscope” → “ascendant” (DJR-032-10); “Hylech” → “hyleg” (DJR-032-16); “radical promissors” → “natal promissors” (DJR-032-16); “significators” → “astrological indicators” (DJR-060-02); “Mercurialists” → “Those governed by Mercury” (DJR-060-08); “combust” → “combust” (DJR-060-24). The modern text expands some labels and retains others. Combust means astrologically obscured by proximity to the Sun; it does not describe literal burning.

See also. Astrology.

Astrology

Source forms: judicial astrology; Iatromathematicall

The word. Judicial astrology judges human dispositions and events from celestial configurations. Iatromathematical describes the combination of medicine with astrology.

In Burton. Burton introduces heavenly influences as causes according to astrologers while declining to settle whether stars are causes or signs. In the discussion of treatment, he objects to the certainty of those who prescribe a match between particular healer and patient and regulate gathering and administration astrologically. Reporting astrological categories therefore does not mean that he endorses every use or claim made for them.

The places. Burton postpones the dispute over stars as causes or signs. (p. 57; DJR-032-02.) He criticizes the certainty claimed by some astrological physicians. (p. 227; DJR-069-08.)

In this edition. “judicial Astrology” → “judicial astrology” (DJR-032-02); “Iatromathematicall professors” → “practitioners of astrological medicine” (DJR-069-08). The familiar label remains in the first passage; the specialized compound is explained in the second.

Aurum potabile

Source forms: aurum potabile

13389.Edited source passages: p. 181–182 (DJR-058-33); p. 396 (DJR-105-47). The medicinal use and formula are part of Burton’s historical account. This entry does not endorse their safety or effectiveness.

13390.Edited source passages: p. 469 (DJR-120-22); p. 509 (DJR-127-36); p. 722 (DJR-169-28). Existing edition notes: DJR-120:E19, DJR-127:E30, DJR-169:E28. The note at DJR-120:E19 leaves the exact Heliodorus passage uncollated. Explaining the word art does not change that source status.

13391.Edited source passages: p. 46 (DJR-012-38); p. 33 (DJR-027-26); p. 269 (DJR-078-34). Existing edition notes: DJR-027:E17, DJR-078:E32. DJR-027:E17 explicitly excludes the sense of pretended illness. Its unresolved marginal reference and age-limit source remain separate questions.

13392.Edited source passages: p. 3 (DJR-002-03); p. 447 (DJR-116-02); p. 4 (DJR-021-28). Existing edition notes: DJR-021:E21, DJR-116:E02. DJR-021:E21 explains opposition as 180 degrees and quartile or square as 90 degrees. These are meanings within historical astrology, not evidence that celestial configurations cause the effects claimed.

13393.Edited source passages: p. 58 (DJR-032-10); p. 59 (DJR-032-16); p. 190 [first occurrence] (DJR-060-02); p. 190 [second occurrence] (DJR-060-08); p. 192 (DJR-060-24). Existing edition notes: DJR-032:E11. DJR-032:E11 explains directions, promissors and the subdivisions called terms, with a recorded comparison to Lilly. The reported predictions and extraordinary anecdotes remain historical claims.

13394.Edited source passages: p. 57 (DJR-032-02); p. 227 (DJR-069-08). Existing edition notes: DJR-069:E06. DJR-069:E06 identifies the reported claim from which Burton distances himself. His criticism is local and should not be inflated into a rejection of every astrological explanation in the book.

13395.Edited source passages: p. 120 (DJR-045-05). This occurrence is figurative. It does not establish that the drinkers consumed a particular gold-containing preparation.