The Anatomy of Melancholy

The places. Melancholy is personified as an evil genius. (p. 5; DJR-003-08.) Classical spirit names are distinguished from moral character. (p. 39; DJR-028-25.) Genii are described as guardians. (p. 40; DJR-028-31.) Familiar spirits are said to instruct notable people. (p. 52; DJR-031-09.) A miser denies himself enjoyment. (p. 115; DJR-044-06.) Hardship forces people to deny themselves comforts. (p. 157–158; DJR-053-13.) Spirit appears among the philosophical accounts of love. (p. 412; DJR-108-29.)

In this edition. “malus genius” → “evil spirit” (DJR-003-08); “substantiæ separatæ” → “Separate substances” (DJR-028-25); “dæmones” → “daimones” (DJR-028-25); “boni and mali Genii” → “good and evil guardian spirits” (DJR-028-31); “familiarem dæmonem” → “familiar spirit” (DJR-031-09); “starve his Genius” → “starving his own appetite for enjoyment” (DJR-044-06); “starve their Genius” → “deny themselves” (DJR-053-13); “a God or a Divell” → “a god, a spirit” (DJR-108-29). Spirit and guardian spirit preserve distinctions obscured by a uniform devil. The idiomatic renderings of starve one’s genius retain their concern with ordinary enjoyment.

See also. Demonic apparitions; Obsession and possession; Incubus; Bugbear; Ecstasy.

Decoction

Source forms: decoction

The word. A decoction is a preparation made by boiling material in liquid. The name identifies a method of preparation rather than a particular ingredient.

In Burton. Randolotius is said to have drunk a decoction of wormwood after an upsetting incident brought on a hypochondriacal attack while he was copying medical notes. Wormwood names the ingredient; decoction specifies the form in which it was taken.

The places. A decoction of wormwood appears in a reported personal case. (p. 177; DJR-057-43.)

In this edition. “decoction of wormwood” → “decoction of wormwood” (DJR-057-43). The precise preparation term remains, with its meaning supplied here.

See also. Receipt.

Defecate

Source forms: defecate

The word. Defecate can mean to clarify a liquid or remove its dregs. This older sense differs from the usual modern reference to bowel evacuation.

In Burton. In discussing stagnant water and brewing, Burton reports an opinion that boiling defecates it and improves its substance and flavour. His final qualification calls the claim a paradox. The verb concerns clarification in a disputed account of water or beer, not a bodily action.

The places. Boiling is said to clarify water used in brewing. (p. 71; DJR-034-39.)

In this edition. “seething doth defecate it” → “boiling clarifies it” (DJR-034-39). Clarifies supplies the appropriate process; boiling also modernizes seething. The surrounding qualification remains.

See also. Concoction; Excrements.

Demonic apparitions

Source forms: spectrums; Ambulones; puck; spectrum; lay

The word. Spectrum and spectrums name an apparition or apparitions. Ambulones are wanderers; pucks are spirits said to mislead travellers. To lay spirits means to quiet or dismiss them, paired here with raising or summoning them.

In Burton. Burton’s spirit survey lists deceptive sights and describes midnight wanderers on heaths. The solitude passage turns the puck’s circular leading into a simile for enthralling thoughts. Later a spectrum can frighten someone, alongside imitation devils used in jokes. The vocabulary crosses reported supernatural events, figurative description and staged appearances; the entry heading does not settle their reality.

The places. Apparitions occur among sights allegedly produced by spirits. (p. 41; DJR-028-40.) Wandering spirits are called Pucks. (p. 49; DJR-030-34.) A puck’s leading becomes a simile for absorbing thoughts. (p. 88; DJR-038-09.) A sudden apparition is described as a source of terror. (p. 146; DJR-051-08.) Necromancers claim to raise and lay spirits. (p. 49; DJR-030-33.)