The Anatomy of Melancholy

The places. Excessive solitude is introduced as a companion of idleness. (p. 87; DJR-038-01.)

In this edition. “Cozen German to Idleness” → “First cousin to idleness” (DJR-038-01); “too much solitariness” → “too much being alone” (DJR-038-01). The wording preserves both the family metaphor and the qualification excessive. The distinction between imposed and voluntary solitude follows explicitly.

See also. Solitude.

Imagination

Source forms: phantasie; læsa imaginatio

The word. Imagination or phantasie is a mental faculty that forms or handles representations. Læsa imaginatio means impaired imagination. Corrupt imagination in the medical discussion describes a disordered faculty, not simply immoral subject matter.

In Burton. The faculty is classified with common sense and memory among the internal senses. It is then made a means by which passions disturb the heart and bodily spirits. Erotic melancholy, unwanted religious thoughts and frightening appearances supply different contexts for its activity. In the last case, Burton allows an internal bodily origin for things experienced as external.

The places. Imagination is one of the internal senses. (p. 22; DJR-025-04.) Impaired imagination is said to misinform the heart. (p. 92; DJR-039-03.) Erotic melancholy is located in the brain through impaired imagination. (p. 446; DJR-115-60.) Blasphemous thoughts are suggested to the imagination. (p. 711–712; DJR-167-27.) A disturbed brain can present frightening shapes. (p. 720; DJR-169-01.)

In this edition. “Phantasie” → “imagination” (DJR-025-04); “læsa Imaginatio” → “impaired imagination” (DJR-039-03); “corrupt imagination” → “an impaired imagination” (DJR-115-60); “our phantasies” → “our imaginations” (DJR-167-27); “crased phantasie” → “disordered imagination” (DJR-169-01). Imagination unites the varying spellings and forms. Impaired or disordered clarifies the medical force without erasing the separate moral and religious claims made elsewhere.

See also. Conceit; Species in perception; Simulacra; Cerebral chambers; Apprehension; Maternal impressions.

Impertinent

Source forms: impertinent

The word. Impertinent means irrelevant or not belonging to the matter under discussion. The criticism here concerns whether a digression fits the book, rather than whether it is impolite.

In Burton. Burton justifies a digression on imagination because of its role in melancholy. He also defends digressions as refreshment for a weary reader, comparing them with sauce that revives a poor appetite.

The places. Burton answers the charge that digressions are frivolous and impertinent. (p. 93; DJR-039-06.)

In this edition. “frivolous and impertinent” → “frivolous and irrelevant” (DJR-039-06). Irrelevant states the objection directly. Burton’s answer preserves both the digression’s relevance to the illness and its restorative pleasure.

See also. Equivocation; Confer and conference.

Impostume

Source forms: impostume

The word. An impostume is an abscess. Burton uses the bodily image figuratively for accumulated matter in his head that presses to be discharged through writing.

In Burton. His account of beginning the book joins a burdened heart, a pregnant head and an abscess. Writing becomes an evacuation that promises relief. The succession of images explains his need to write without constituting a literal medical case history.

The places. Writing is represented as the discharge of an impostume. (p. 5; DJR-003-07.)

In this edition. “a kind of impostume in my head” → “a kind of abscess in my head” (DJR-003-07). Abscess supplies the recognizable bodily term, preserving its place beside pregnancy and evacuation in the account of authorship.

See also. Chirurgery.

Impotent

Source forms: impotent