The Anatomy of Melancholy

In this edition. “reason another” → “reason another” (DJR-026-47); “perverts judgment” → “perverts judgement” (DJR-040-05). Reason is retained; the second selected passage develops the conflict through judgement without repeating the headword. The modern text follows this moral argument without treating it as a comprehensive explanation of illness.

See also. Faculty; Judgment; Wit; Synderesis; Conscience; Will and nill.

Receipt

Source forms: receipts

The word. A receipt is a prescription or medicinal recipe. The selected plural names customary formulas relied upon by practitioners, not acknowledgments of payment.

In Burton. Burton reproaches prescribers and patients for placing profit or remedies above trust in God. Receipts and medicines belong to the practical means whose proper place he is debating in a religious argument about treatment.

The places. Ordinary receipts are the practitioner’s customary prescriptions. (p. 223; DJR-068-19.)

In this edition. “ordinary receipts” → “customary prescriptions” (DJR-068-19). Prescriptions clarifies the medical sense; customary explains ordinary. The complaint concerns reliance and motivation, rather than a claim that every recipe is ineffective.

See also. Physick; Apothecaries measures; Confection; Decoction; Electuaries; Oxymel.

Recreate

Source forms: recreate

The word. To recreate can mean restore or refresh someone’s strength and spirits, as well as provide recreation. The restorative sense remains active in this final counsel.

In Burton. Burton joins wholesome recreation to deliberate guidance of thought and assistance from friends. Refresh and recreate describes what these activities should do for a distressed person; it is more than a recommendation to fill time with amusement.

The places. Recreation is intended to refresh and restore the distressed soul. (p. 722; DJR-169-28.)

In this edition. “refresh and recreate his distressed soul” → “refresh and restore his distressed soul” (DJR-169-28). Restore brings out the verb’s purpose, while recreation remains the name of the activity. Skill, effort and friends’ help preserve the means surrounding it.

See also. Mirth; Solitude; Tables.

Rectification

Source forms: rectified; rectification

The word. Rectification is correction, improvement or regulation according to the subject. In these passages it covers treatment of jealousy, regulation of sexual activity and improvement of air.

In Burton. Jealousy deserves rectification because Burton treats it as a branch of love melancholy. The source index compresses a regimen topic into Venus rectified. In the discussion of air, rectification includes choosing a place and changing the air through human arrangements.

The places. Jealousy requires treatment comparable to that of passionate love. (p. 591; DJR-144-07.) The source index names the regulation of sexual activity. (unnumbered Table and closing notice; DJR-172-236.) Improvement of air forms part of the proposed cure. (p. 259; DJR-076-20.)

In this edition. “to be rectified alike” → “similar treatment” (DJR-144-07); “Venus rectified” → “Sexual activity properly regulated” (DJR-172-236); “the rectification of Aire” → “improving the air” (DJR-076-20). The equivalents follow the object being corrected. Venus is explained as sexual activity; rectified in that heading does not mean editorial correction or necessarily moral amendment.

See also. Non naturals.

Religion and superstition

Source forms: Religion; superstition