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English Introduction · Branch 1111 of 1495
Contextual Lexicon
The Anatomy of Melancholy: Contextual Lexicon
p. 1111In Burton. Burton’s imagined commonwealth restricts private patronage and provides collective oversight of appointments. His satire later attacks the trade in livings, associates simony with covetousness, and describes a scholar’s fear of a prior lapse affecting an appointment. These terms connect the proposed reform with the abuses and insecurities experienced by scholars seeking a living.
The places. Advowsons are excluded from a proposed appointment scheme. (p. 60–61; DJR-015-41.) Collective patronage replaces private interests. (p. 64; DJR-016-27.) Simony appears among the offspring of covetousness. (p. 114; DJR-043-34.) Trading in church livings is condemned. (p. 138; DJR-048-28.) A previous lapse threatens the right of appointment. (p. 143; DJR-049-38.)
In this edition. “advousons” → “rights of patronage over appointments” (DJR-015-41); “impropriations” → “church revenues appropriated to lay ownership” (DJR-016-27); “Simony” → “simony” (DJR-043-34); “Church-chopping Patrons” → “patrons who trade in church livings” (DJR-048-28); “precedent Lapse” → “prior lapse of the right of appointment” (DJR-049-38). Expanded phrases explain the institutional terms while simony retains its established name.
See also. Living and preferment; Cure; Mortmain; Hospital; Legal evidence; Abdicate.
Chyle
The word. Chyle is the nutritive material produced from food during digestion in the physiological account Burton follows. Chilus is the form used in the cited passage.
In Burton. Burton reports an explanation in which heat and obstruction in the mesenteric veins delay the passage of chyle to the liver or corrupt it into rumbling and wind. The term belongs to a proposed route of digestion and bodily nourishment, here interrupted to explain illness.
The places. Chyle is glossed as the white juice derived from food digested in the stomach. (p. 14; DJR-023-31.) Blocked passage of chyle is named among immediate causes. (p. 176; DJR-057-31.)
In this edition. “Chylus” → “chyle” (DJR-023-31); “Chilus” → “chyle” (DJR-057-31). The modern spelling is retained without replacing the surrounding historical physiology with a modern account.
See also. Concoction.
Clerk
The word. Clerk can mean a learned person or scholar. The plural Clarkes has this sense in Burton’s account of princely hospitality.
In Burton. The surrounding examples concern philosophers and men distinguished by learning. Their arrival at court is compared to going to a Lyceum or university, and they are admitted to the ruler’s table. The context therefore identifies learned guests rather than office workers.
The places. Learned men are welcomed at princes’ courts. (p. 139; DJR-048-40.)
In this edition. “famous Clarkes” → “Famous scholars” (DJR-048-40). Scholars states the relevant social and intellectual role without implying clerical employment.
See also. Neoterics.
Clister
Source forms: clister; clisters; clysters
The word. Clister and clyster are spellings of enema, a preparation administered through the lower bowel. Burton uses both spellings within his discussion of evacuation.
In Burton. A merchant’s supposed delusion is attributed to constipation and treated with a clister. In the regimen discussion, clisters appear among measures used when natural evacuation fails. The pharmaceutical classification later places clysters among remedies administered through the lower parts and distinguishes them from suppositories.
The places. An enema is given in a reported case of constipation. (p. 78; DJR-036-07.) Enemas appear among aids to evacuation. (p. 237; DJR-071-28.) The classification distinguishes enemas from suppositories. (p. 382; DJR-102-46.)
In this edition. “Clister” → “enema” (DJR-036-07); “clisters” → “enemas” (DJR-071-28); “Clysters” → “enemas” (DJR-102-46). One modern term covers the spelling variants. The distinction from suppositories and the source’s strong or weak preparations remain intact.
See also. Purging.
Clown
Socrates
Reading The Anatomy of Melancholy · Contextual Lexicon · Contextual lexicon
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
About Diotimos Editions
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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Burton’s historical text is in the public domain. The modern English rendering, introduction, notes, and editorial matter are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and appear with the site owner’s permission. The complete supplied PDF, EPUB, Word, and Markdown files remain available unchanged. The PDF and Word edition preserve the original parallel page layout.
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- Principal historical witnessMcGill University Library — 1651 edition
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