The Anatomy of Melancholy

In Burton. In the discussion of spirits, even the sharpest learned minds are said to fail before the mysteries. The next passage reports disagreement about Aristotle and spirits. Elsewhere school divinity supplies examples of inquiry that Burton condemns as perplexing and practically fruitless.

The places. Schoolmen appear among learned thinkers whose understanding is inadequate. (p. 39; DJR-028-23.) Peripatetics enter a disputed account of belief in spirits. (p. 39; DJR-028-24.) School divinity names the theology attacked for fruitless questions. (p. 166–167; DJR-055-18.)

In this edition. “Schoolmen” → “scholastics” (DJR-028-23); “Peripateticks” → “Peripatetics” (DJR-028-24); “school divinity” → “scholastic theology” (DJR-055-18). Scholastic identifies the intellectual tradition rather than a school occupation. The account of Aristotelian belief retains its competing authorities.

See also. Divine; Cento; Neoterics.

Science

Source forms: science; sciences; theorick

The word. Science can mean a branch of knowledge or learning, without the modern restriction to experimental or natural science. Theorick is theory, here distinguished from medical practice.

In Burton. Burton’s account of his wide reading refuses confinement to a single science. The complaint about publishing similarly treats sciences as learned disciplines that poor writing debases. His account of medical study then claims theoretical acquaintance while expressly denying an intention to practise.

The places. One science is one branch of learning among many. (p. 3; DJR-002-01.) Noble sciences are learned fields harmed by unskilled writing. (p. 7; DJR-004-08.) Theorick names study of medicine apart from practice. (p. 16; DJR-006-22.)

In this edition. “one science” → “one branch of learning” (DJR-002-01); “noble sciences” → “noble fields of knowledge” (DJR-004-08); “the theorick of physick” → “medical theory” (DJR-006-22). Learning and knowledge retain the breadth of the first two uses. Medical theory preserves the narrower theory/practice contrast without implying a medical qualification.

See also. Cento; Art.

Scruple

Source forms: scrupulous conscience; scrupulous

The word. A scruple is a doubt or hesitation about right conduct. Scrupulous conscience in these passages means excessive, troubling moral doubt, whereas having a scruple can simply mean taking moral obligation seriously.

In Burton. The historical medical account relates a tortured conscience to melancholy constitution. Burton describes sufferers who magnify small offences or accuse themselves without adequate cause. The later accusation of never making conscience of wrongdoing uses the underlying moral concern in a different, ordinary sense.

The places. Scrupulous conscience is linked to melancholy constitution. (p. 695; DJR-164-09.) The sufferer magnifies offences and distrusts mercy. (p. 699; DJR-164-48.) Making conscience means considering conduct as morally binding. (p. 711; DJR-167-18.)

In this edition. “Conscientia scrupulosa” → “A scrupulous conscience” (DJR-164-09); “This scrupulous conscience” → “this scrupulous conscience” (DJR-164-48); “mad’st any conscience” → “had any scruple” (DJR-167-18). Scrupulous is retained with explanation of its distressing excess. Scruple in the final example translates a different source expression and does not itself imply an illness.

See also. Despair; Conscience; Curiosity.

Secure

Source forms: securely; secure; security