The Anatomy of Melancholy

The word. Distillation here is a downward flow of rheum or catarrhal fluid. Rheum names a bodily discharge, especially mucus. These passages concern the historical account of bodily fluids rather than the preparation of a distilled medicine.

In Burton. Burton compares neglected emotional disturbances with a recurring discharge that becomes a wasting disease of the lungs. The comparison explains how a passing disturbance can harden into an established condition. In the later description of melancholic patients, rheum is one symptom among sleepiness, spitting and a particular complexion.

The places. Repeated discharge supplies an analogy for repeated emotional disturbance. (p. 12–13; DJR-023-15.) Rheum appears in a description of melancholic patients. (p. 191; DJR-060-17.)

In this edition. “one Distillation” → “a single catarrhal discharge” (DJR-023-15); “rheume” → “rheum” (DJR-060-17). Catarrhal discharge makes the first sense explicit. Rheum remains in the later passage and is explained in its local note and here.

See also. Concoction.

Distraction

Source forms: distracted

The word. Distraction can mean mental disturbance or derangement. Distracted in this passage means distraught, with a force stronger than momentary inattention.

In Burton. The first-person verse approaches madness by a hair’s breadth. Burton prints Latin lines and then an English version whose final word, distracted, describes the speaker’s present distress. Preserving both versions allows their related but not identical wording to remain visible.

The places. The Latin verse describes proximity to madness. (p. 543; DJR-133-51.) The accompanying English verse ends with distracted. (p. 543; DJR-133-52.)

In this edition. “now distracted” → “already distraught” (DJR-133-52). Distraught conveys the disturbance without turning the line into a statement about poor concentration. The neighbouring references to madness retain their force.

See also. Madness.

Divination

Source forms: metoposcopy; cheiromancy; Πυρομαντεία; ὑδρομαντεία; chiromancy

The word. Divination interprets signs to obtain otherwise hidden knowledge. The selected terms distinguish methods: metoposcopy reads the forehead, chiromancy or cheiromancy the hand, pyromancy fire, and hydromancy water.

In Burton. The synopsis and section heading group bodily signs with astrology. Elsewhere, Burton associates divination by fire and water with reported spirit worship. That association is part of his account; the word for a divinatory practice does not itself mean worship.

The places. The synopsis groups bodily signs with the stars. (p. 98; DJR-020-25.) Divination by fire appears in the survey of spirits. (p. 46; DJR-029-50.) Divination by water is associated with sacrifice. (p. 47; DJR-030-14.) The section heading retains the specialist names. (p. 57; DJR-032-01.)

In this edition. “Metoposcopy” → “reading the forehead” (DJR-020-25); “Cheiromancy” → “palmistry” (DJR-020-25); “Πυρομαντεία” → “divination by fire” (DJR-029-50); “ὑδρομαντεία” → “hydromancy” (DJR-030-14); “Metoposcopy, Chiromancy” → “metoposcopy and chiromancy” (DJR-032-01). Plain explanations in the synopsis accompany retained technical names in the heading. The two presentations refer to the same practices.

See also. Astrology.

Divine

Source forms: Divine; divine Seneca; divines

The word. As a noun, a divine is a theologian or member of the clergy. As an adjective, divine can express elevated praise. The grammatical distinction matters when Burton applies the word to himself and to Seneca.

In Burton. Burton identifies theology as his profession while describing his appetite for many subjects. His lament for poorly supported divines concerns the clergy. Calling Seneca divine, however, praises a classical writer; it does not assign Seneca a Christian clerical profession.