The Anatomy of Melancholy

Name: The Anatomy of Melancholy
Author: Robert Burton

1651 English with a close modern English rendering

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The Anatomy of MelancholySubsection 10. Understanding

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Modern English Page · Branch 164 of 1495

Subsection 10. Understanding

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1651 English

Synteresis, or the purer part of the conscience is an innate habit, and doth signifie a conservation of the knowledge of the law of God and Nature, to know good or evil: And (as our Divines hold) it is rather in the understanding, then in the will. This makes the major proposition in a practicke Syllogisme. The Dictamen rationis is that which doth admonish us to doe good or evil, and is the minor in the Syllogisme. The Conscience is that which approves good or evill, justifying or condemning our actions, and is the conclusion of the Syllogisme:

as in that familiar example of Regulus the Roman, taken prisoner by the Carthaginians, and suffered to goe to Rome, on that condition he should returne againe, or pay so much for his ransome. The Synteresis proposeth the question; his word, oath, promise, is to be religiously kept, although to his enemy, and that by the law of nature. Doe not that to another, which thou wouldest not have done to thy self.

Dictamen applies it to him, and dictates this or the like: Regulus, thou wouldst not another man should falsifie his oath, or break promise with thee: Conscience concludes, therefore Regulus, thou dost well to performe thy promise, and oughtest to keepe thine oath. More of this in Religious Melancholy.

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Subsection 10. Understanding

p. 164

Synderesis, or the purer part of conscience, is an innate habit: the preservation of knowledge of the law of God and nature, enabling us to distinguish good from evil. As our theologians hold, it belongs to the understanding rather than the will. It supplies the major proposition in a practical syllogism. The dictate of reason prompts us to do good or evil and supplies the minor proposition. Conscience judges good or evil, justifying or condemning our actions, and supplies the conclusion.

Take the familiar example of the Roman Regulus, captured by the Carthaginians and allowed to go to Rome on condition that he return or pay a stipulated ransom. Synderesis lays down the principle: his word, oath or promise must be scrupulously kept, even when given to an enemy, as the law of nature requires. Do not do to another what you would not want done to yourself.

The dictate of reason applies this to him and says something like: “Regulus, you would not want another person to falsify his oath or break a promise made to you.” Conscience concludes: “Therefore, Regulus, you do right to fulfil your promise, and you ought to keep your oath.” More on this in Religious Melancholy.

About This Reading Edition

Robert Burton’s Anatomy ranges across medicine, philosophy, poetry, religion, and everyday life in its inquiry into melancholy. This complete parallel edition pairs the 1651 English text with a close modern English rendering, preserving the three Partitions, Democritus Junior’s address to the reader, verse, and the historical index.

Historical Text and Translation

The historical text follows the sixth edition, printed at Oxford for Henry Cripps in 1651, using the McGill University Library copy. The supplied edition documents missing printed pages 98–99 supplied from another 1651 copy at the Bavarian State Library. Historical folio labels and their irregularities remain visible; web reader numbers identify reflowed passages and do not claim to reproduce PDF pagination.

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Diotimos Editions prepared the close modern English rendering and editorial matter. All 8,755 original and modern passage pairs remain aligned, with verse breaks, italics, continuations, and linked annotations preserved. Burton’s 6,781 historical notes retain their attribution; 6,895 editorial notes remain distinct. The introduction, Note on the Text, contextual lexicon, indexes, source documentation, and bibliography are included. The engraved frontispiece remains available in the original downloads.

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