The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “bumbast titles” → “inflated titles” (DJR-041-17); “bumbast themselves” → “pad themselves out” (DJR-048-23); “talk big fustian” → “spout grandiose nonsense” (DJR-088-33). Inflated and pad themselves out preserve the image behind bombast. Grandiose nonsense conveys the contempt directed at pretentious speech.

See also. Cento; Antick.

Generation and corruption

Source forms: generation; corruption

The word. Generation and corruption mean coming into being and passing away. Corruption can also mean bodily decay. Neither use is primarily about moral dishonesty.

In Burton. The astronomical question asks whether the heavens undergo change or whether apparent novelties are previously created bodies that recur at set times. In the discussion of regimen, corruption concerns the body’s decay and the claim that moderation could prevent it. The word’s subject determines the kind of change at issue.

The places. Generation and corruption challenge the supposed changelessness of the heavens. (p. 252; DJR-075-01.) Corruption names bodily decay in the discussion of regimen. (p. 291; DJR-083-20.)

In this edition. “Whether there be generation and corruption” → “Whether things come into being and pass away in the heavens” (DJR-075-01); “all corruption” → “all bodily decay” (DJR-083-20). The astronomical rendering states the technical pair in ordinary English. Bodily decay supplies the local sense in the regimen passage.

See also. Matter.

Generous

Source forms: generous; generosity; generous wines

The word. Generous can mean noble in birth, disposition or spirit. Generosity can accordingly mean greatness of spirit, while generous wine is excellent or full-bodied. Willingness to give is not the common meaning of these examples.

In Burton. Noble spirits suffer intensely from disgrace and adversity. In the account of extraordinary endurance, generosity is reconsidered as frenzy or insensibility, and Burton intervenes to distinguish madness or desperation from melancholy. The death catalogue uses generous courage as attributed praise. Fine wines belong to another context altogether, the display of luxury.

The places. Generous minds suffer from public disgrace. (p. 99 [supplied]; DJR-040-29.) Generous spirits withdraw under adversity. (p. 160; DJR-053-47.) Generosity is reconsidered in an account of endurance. (p. 192; DJR-060-26.) Generous courage appears in reported praise of voluntary deaths. (p. 216; DJR-066-07.) Generous describes wine in a scene of luxury. (p. 270; DJR-079-05.)

In this edition. “Generous minds” → “Noble minds” (DJR-040-29); “generous spirits” → “noble spirits” (DJR-053-47); “this generosity” → “this nobility of spirit” (DJR-060-26); “generous courage” → “noble courage” (DJR-066-07); “generous wines” → “fine wines” (DJR-079-05). Noble and nobility preserve the social and moral register. Fine gives the different evaluative sense for wine.

See also. Honest; Absolute.

Geniture

Source forms: geniture; casting a nativity; genitures; Genethliacal; Lords of the geniture; nativity; cast a Nativity

The word. Geniture can name a birth or its astrological figure. A nativity in these passages is a birth horoscope; genethliacal describes judgments based on births. Lords of the geniture are the planets thought to rule that figure.

In Burton. Burton uses natal astrology in his self-portrait and among supposed predispositions to melancholy. He can also ridicule genethliacal studies and, elsewhere, allow casting a nativity as an absorbing exercise. The vocabulary recurs across personal description, causal theory, satire and qualified recreation, with different argumentative purposes.