The Anatomy of Melancholy

The places. Ligation names the suspension of sensory activity in sleep. (p. 24; DJR-025-22.) Ligatures occur among proposed magical remedies. (p. 216; DJR-067-36.)

In this edition. “This ligation of senses” → “This suspension of the senses” (DJR-025-22); “Ligatures” → “magical bindings” (DJR-067-36). Suspension clarifies the state of the senses; magical bindings identifies the second catalogue’s intended objects. Neither wording replaces Burton’s question with an endorsement.

See also. Fascination.

Lights

Source forms: lights

The word. Lights means lungs. The word in this anatomical account names the organ, not sources of illumination.

In Burton. Burton makes the lungs the instrument of voice and breathing, comparing them to an orator speaking for the heart. His account of cooling the heart then connects air, windpipe and the vessel called the venosal artery within historical physiology.

The places. Lights names the lungs in the account of voice and respiration. (p. 19; DJR-024-16.)

In this edition. “which wanteth these lights” → “lacking lungs” (DJR-024-16). Lungs removes an obsolete anatomical term while preserving the surrounding claims about the organ’s functions.

See also. Organical parts.

Living and preferment

Source forms: preferment; preferments; prebend

The word. Preferment means advancement to an appointment or remunerated position, often in the Church. A living is an endowed church office and its income; a prebend is an endowed cathedral position or its income.

In Burton. Burton’s scholar completes costly studies but cannot obtain advancement. Shy people may refuse appointments offered to them, while the tale of a vacant prebend exposes competition and patronage. The complaint about parsonages and vicarages presents a further purchase after the expense of education.

The places. The qualified scholar remains unable to obtain preferment. (p. 131; DJR-047-11.) Shyness causes appointments to be refused. (p. 188; DJR-059-39.) A lucrative prebend becomes the object of competition. (p. 351; DJR-096-17.) Church appointments involve financial and spiritual risks. (p. 135; DJR-048-03.)

In this edition. “fit for preferment” → “ready for advancement” (DJR-047-11); “honours, offices and preferments” → “honours, offices and promotions” (DJR-059-39); “a fat Prebend” → “a lucrative prebend” (DJR-096-17); “spiritual preferments” → “church appointments” (DJR-048-03). Advancement, promotions and appointments describe the opportunities at issue. Lucrative makes the economic force of fat explicit, while prebend remains the particular office.

See also. Church patronage.

Lodestone and adamant

Source forms: lodestone; adamant; adamantinum

The word. A lodestone is a naturally magnetized stone. Adamant can likewise mean a magnet, but adamantine can instead evoke extreme hardness and an unbreakable bond. The context determines whether attraction or firmness is intended.

In Burton. Industry is the lodestone drawing commerce to the Low Countries. The beloved’s beauty similarly attracts and holds the lover like a magnet drawing iron. In the argument for marriage, however, the adamantine bond of love is described through its strength rather than its attractive power.

The places. Industry draws commerce like a lodestone. (p. 53–54; DJR-014-17.) Beauty attracts the lover like a magnet drawing iron. (p. 462; DJR-119-04.) The bond of conjugal love is called adamantine. (p. 586; DJR-143-23.)

In this edition. “their chiefest Lodestone” → “the chief magnet” (DJR-014-17); “as an adamant doth iron” → “like a magnet drawing iron” (DJR-119-04); “Vinculum Conjugalis charitatis adamantinum” → “The bond of conjugal love is unbreakable” (DJR-143-23). Magnet makes the two images of attraction clear. Unbreakable preserves the different force of the marriage maxim.