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The word. The active intellect, intellectus agens, is the mind’s active power of understanding. Discoursing means reasoning through successive steps. These terms concern intellectual activity, although Burton can also use them playfully.
In Burton. The anatomy of understanding begins with sensory objects and proceeds through reasoning towards corporeal and spiritual substance. Its classifications include active and passive understanding. Elsewhere, Burton puts the active intellect in craftspeople’s fingertips, making philosophical vocabulary praise practical skill.
The places. The active intellect is humorously lodged in skilled fingers. (p. 55; DJR-014-34.) The activities and divisions of understanding are listed. (p. 28; DJR-026-27.)
In this edition. “intellectus agens” → “active intellect” (DJR-014-34); “by discoursing” → “by reasoning” (DJR-026-27); “Discoursing, Reasoning” → “discursive thought, reasoning” (DJR-026-27); “Agent, and Patient” → “active and passive” (DJR-026-27). The renderings distinguish reasoning from conversation. Active intellect retains the technical term where Burton’s joke depends on placing it in the hands.
Intelligence
The word. An intelligence here is an immaterial being or mover understood to animate or move a celestial body. It does not simply mean cleverness or information.
In Burton. Burton surveys claims that the earth and stars possess souls. Intelligence stands alongside soul and angel in the proposed account of a star’s life or motion. The surrounding catalogue assembles several philosophical traditions rather than setting out a single agreed doctrine.
The places. A star is said to have a soul, angel or intelligence. (p. 252–253; DJR-075-06.)
In this edition. “intelligence to animate or move it” → “intelligence to give it life or motion” (DJR-075-06). The noun remains, while the expanded verbs clarify what this supposed being does. The local note supplies immaterial mover.
See also. Astrology; Essence and quintessence.
Intention and remission
Source forms: intended; remitted; intention; intentive; remiss; intend
The word. Intend can mean strengthen, intensify or direct attention; remit can mean lessen or relax. Intention may mean tension or strain, and intentive describes concentrated attention. These senses do not reduce to planning an action or forgiving an offence.
In Burton. Burton repeatedly describes symptoms and imagination as heightened or diminished. The same vocabulary applies to strengthening hearing and fixing attention on someone’s beauty. In the account of appetite and mental exertion, intention is strain, while intentive operations demand concentration. Remiss illness is comparatively mild.
The places. The severity of impairment varies among people. (p. 8; DJR-022-18.) Imagination is heightened or relaxed. (p. 96; DJR-039-34.) Symptoms intensify or diminish with further disturbance. (p. 202; DJR-062-30.) Tension and concentrated operations burden the soul. (p. 208; DJR-064-11.) Remiss describes a less severe form of illness. (p. 212; DJR-065-06.) An instrument is said to strengthen hearing. (p. 284; DJR-082-05.) The lover is told not to fix special attention on a woman. (p. 550; DJR-135-05.) Symptoms grow stronger or weaker with the illness. (p. 704; DJR-165-46.)
In this edition. “intended or remitted in particular men” → “its severity generally varies from person to person” (DJR-022-18); “intended or remitted” → “heightened or relaxed” (DJR-039-34); “intended or remitted” → “intensified or diminished” (DJR-062-30); “intention proceeds from perturbations” → “tension proceeds from disturbances” (DJR-064-11); “intentive operations” → “operations requiring concentration” (DJR-064-11); “most secure, gentle, and remiss” → “safest, mildest and least severe” (DJR-065-06); “to intend hearing” → “to strengthen hearing” (DJR-082-05); “do not intend her more then the rest” → “pay her no more attention than the rest” (DJR-135-05); “are intended and remitted” → “intensify or lessen” (DJR-165-46). The varied equivalents preserve changes of degree and direction of attention. They avoid reading modern purpose into every occurrence of intention or intend.
See also. Remedy by diversion; Confer and conference; Waking.
Issue
The word. Issue can mean a discharge or an outlet through which it escapes. In historical surgery it is an artificially made sore kept open to discharge. In the religious consolation it means a way out or deliverance.
In Burton. The discussion of bodily retention warns against stopping an accustomed discharge. The surgical synopsis and treatment section describe intentionally maintained openings. The later promise of an issue to temptation uses the broader sense of escape from a trial, with no surgical implication.
The places. Issue names an accustomed bodily discharge. (p. 79; DJR-036-10.) The surgical synopsis lists deliberately made open sores. (scan p. 325; DJR-067-20.) Issues are to be kept open. (p. 383; DJR-103-10.) An issue to temptation is promised. (p. 720; DJR-168-50.)
In this edition. “such an issue” → “such a discharge” (DJR-036-10); “Issues to severall parts, and upon severall occasions” → “Open sores made in different parts for different purposes” (DJR-067-20); “Issues” → “Issues” (DJR-103-10); “give an issue to temptation” → “provide a way out of the trial” (DJR-168-50). Discharge and open sores clarify the bodily senses; the retained surgical term is locally explained. Way out gives the distinct force of the scriptural promise.
See also. Chirurgery; Strangury; Voluntary.
Jealousy
The word. Jealousy is defined here as suspicion that the beloved may love someone else, or a desire to possess that person exclusively. Fear of another person’s participation in the relationship is central to the definition.
In Burton. Burton treats jealousy separately as an irregular offshoot of love melancholy, commonly following marriage as heroic love precedes it. His symptom account piles up images of fire, bitterness and lost peace. Riches and distinguished family connections cannot compensate for the disturbance he describes.
The places. Jealousy is assigned its separate place after love melancholy. (p. 591; DJR-144-07.) The symptoms are described through bitterness and loss of peace. (p. 608; DJR-147-04.) The definition joins suspicion, exclusive desire and fear. (p. 591; DJR-144-09.)
In this edition. “a bastard-branch or kinde of Love Melancholy” → “an illegitimate offshoot or kind of love melancholy” (DJR-144-07); “a pernicious curiosity” → “a destructive inquisitiveness” (DJR-147-04); “Jealousie” → “Jealousy” (DJR-144-09). Jealousy remains the familiar name. Destructive inquisitiveness makes the harmful prying explicit, while the offshoot metaphor preserves the structure of Burton’s classification.
See also. Love; Emulation; Epichairekakia; Fear; Corrosive; Wittal and cuckold.
Jovial and martial
The word. Jovial and martial here mean belonging to Jupiter and Mars. They classify spirits by planetary association, rather than describing cheerful or warlike temperaments.