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 2. Concerning the Patient.

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Modern English Page · Branch 437 of 1495

Subsection 2. Concerning the Patient.

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1651 English

229–230

Consil. 230. for an Italian Abbot, he makes it one of the greatest reasons, why this disease is so incurable, because the parties are so restless, and impatient, and will therefore have him that intends to be eased, to take physick, not for a moneth, a year, but to apply himself to their prescriptions all the dayes of his life.

Last of all, it is required that the patient be not too bold to practice upon himself, without an approved physicians consent, or to try conclusions, if he read a receipt in a book; for so, many grosly mistake, and do themselves more harme then good. That which is conducing to one man, in one case, the same time is opposite to another.

An Asse and a Mule were laden over a brook, the one with salt, the other with wool: the Mules packe was wet by chance, the salt melted, his burden the lighter, and he thereby much eased: He told the Asse, who thinking to speed as well, wet his packe likewise at the next water, but it was much the heavier, he quite tired. So one thing may be good and bad to severall parties, upon divers occasions.

Many things (saith Penottus) are written in our books, which seem to the Reader to be excellent remedies, but they that make use of them, are often deceived, and take for Physick poyson. I remember in Valeriola’s observations, a story of one John Baptist a Neopolitan, that finding by chance a pamphlet in Italian, written in praise of Hellebor, would needs adventure on himself, and tooke one dram for one scruple, and had not he been sent for, the poor fellow had poysoned himself.

From whence he concludes out of Damascenus 2. & 3. Aphoris. that without exquisite knowledge, to work out of books is most dangerous: how unsavorie a thing it is to beleeve Writers, and take upon trust, as this patient perceived by his own perill. I could recite such another example of mine own knowledge, of a friend of mine, that finding a receipt in Brassivola, would needs take Hellebor in substance, and try it on his own person; but had not some of his familiars come to visit him by chance, he had by his indiscretion hazarded himself: many such I have observed.

These are those ordinary cautions, which I should think fit to be noted, and he that shall keep them, as Montanus saith, shall surely be much eased, if not throughly cured.

5100.BurtonPrinted page 229, k: “Ægritudine amittunt patientiam, & inde morbi incurabiles.” “They lose patience through illness, and consequently the diseases are incurable.”

5101.BurtonPrinted page 229, l: “Non ad mensem aut annum, sed oportet toto vitæ curriculo curationi operam dare.” “One must attend to treatment not for a month or a year, but throughout the entire course of life.”

5102.BurtonPrinted page 230, *: “Camerarius emb.55. cent.2.” The 1595 Centuria altera has a fox in emblem 55. Emblem 74, leaf 82 recto–verso, instead tells how Thales replaces a mule’s salt with wool and sponges, defeating its habit of soaking its load to lighten it; Camerarius cites Plutarch. Burton tells of an ass imitating a salt-laden mule. The printed locator and Burton’s distinct version are retained; his immediate edition remains unidentified.

5103.BurtonPrinted page 230, m: “Præfat. de nar. med. In libellis quæ vulgo versantur apud literatos, incautiores multa legunt, à quibus decipiuntur, eximia illis, sed portentosum hauriunt venenum.” Preface, de nar. med., as printed. “In the little books that circulate among educated people, the less cautious read many things that deceive them: excellent things, as they suppose, but they drink a monstrous poison.” The abbreviated title remains unresolved.

5105.BurtonPrinted page 230, n: “Operari ex libris, absque cognitione & solerti ingenio, periculosum est. Unde monemur, quam insipidum scriptis authoribus credere, quod hic suo didicit periculo.” “To practise from books without knowledge and a discerning mind is dangerous. Hence we are warned how foolish it is to trust authors’ writings, as this man learned at his own peril.”

5107.BurtonPrinted page 230, o: “Consil.23. hæc omnia si quo ordine decet egerit, vel curabitur, vel certe minus afficetur.” Consultation 23: “If he does all these things in their proper order, he will either be cured or certainly suffer less.”

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Subsection 2. Concerning the Patient.

p. 437

In consultation 230, for an Italian abbot, he makes the patients' restlessness and impatience one of the chief reasons why this disease is so incurable. He therefore insists that anyone who hopes for relief should take medicine, not merely for a month or a year, but follow the physicians' prescriptions throughout his life.

Last of all, the patient must not be too bold in treating himself without a reputable physician's consent, or in making experiments because he has read a recipe in a book. In this way many make serious mistakes and do themselves more harm than good. What benefits one person in one case may at the same time harm another.

An ass and a mule were carrying loads across a brook, one of salt and the other of wool. The mule's pack happened to get wet; the salt dissolved, making his load lighter and giving him great relief. He told the ass, who, expecting the same good fortune, also wet his pack at the next stream. But it became much heavier, and he was completely exhausted. In this way the same thing may help one person and harm another, under different circumstances.

“Many things,” says Penottus, “are written in our books that seem excellent remedies to the reader, but those who use them are often deceived and take poison for medicine.” I remember a story in Valeriola's observations about a Neapolitan named John Baptist. He happened to find an Italian pamphlet praising hellebore and insisted on trying it on himself, taking one dram instead of one scruple. Had Valeriola not been sent for, the poor fellow would have poisoned himself.

From this he concludes, citing the second and third aphorisms of Damascenus, that it is extremely dangerous to practise from books without exact knowledge. How unwise it is to believe writers and take their statements on trust, as this patient learned at his own peril. I could tell another such story from my own knowledge: a friend of mine found a recipe in Brassivola and insisted on taking hellebore itself and trying it on his own person. Had some of his close friends not happened to visit him, his indiscretion would have put him in danger. I have observed many such cases.

These are the usual precautions that I think deserve attention. Anyone who observes them, as Montanus says, will certainly gain considerable relief, if not a complete cure.

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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