DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Parallel Edition

Robert Burton

The Anatomy of Melancholy

1651 English with a close modern English rendering

Explore the Lexicon
The Anatomy of MelancholySource Record

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Introduction · Branch 1205 of 1495

Source Record

Book Mode

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Source Record

p. 1205

Scan 274; printed 170; sequence 174; image block56-source-274.png.

Scan 275; printed 171; sequence 175; image block56-source-275.png.

Scan 276; printed 172; sequence 176; image block56-source-276.png.

Scan 277; printed 173; sequence 177; image block56-source-277.png.

Scan 278; printed 174; sequence 178; image block56-source-278.png.

Opening words: Unkinde, unnatural friends, evil neighbors, bad servants, debts and debates, &c.

Closing words: according to Laurentius, as coming from a more inevitable cause.

Passages DJR-057-01 to DJR-057-51

Source page labels: 174–178 (sequence178–182). Scan pages: 278, 279, 280, 281, 282.

Scan 278; printed 174; sequence 178; image block56-source-278.png.

Scan 279; printed 175; sequence 179; image block57-source-279.png.

Scan 280; printed 176; sequence 180; image block57-source-280.png.

Scan 281; printed 177; sequence 181; image block57-source-281.png.

Scan 282; printed 178; sequence 182; image block57-source-282.png.

Opening words: SUBSECT. 2. Distemperature of particular Parts, causes.

Closing words: if sick and poor, moderate thy self. I have said.

Passages DJR-058-01 to DJR-058-51

Source page labels: 178–183 (sequence182–187). Scan pages: 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287.

Scan 282; printed 178; sequence 182; image block57-source-282.png.

Scan 283; printed 179; sequence 183; image block57-source-283.png.

Scan 284; printed 180; sequence 184; image block57-source-284.png.

Scan 285; printed 181; sequence 185; image block58-source-285.png.

Scan 286; printed 182; sequence 186; image block58-source-286.png.

Scan 287; printed 183; sequence 187; image block58-source-287.png.

Opening words: SECT. 3. MEMB. 1. SUBSECT. 1. Symptomes, or signs of Melancholy in the Body.

Closing words: this fear ever molesteth, and so long as melancholy lasteth, cannot be avoided.

Passages DJR-059-01 to DJR-059-53

Source page labels: 183–188 and 190 (sequence187–193). Scan pages: 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293.

Scan 287; printed 183; sequence 187; image block58-source-287.png.

Scan 288; printed 184; sequence 188; image block58-source-288.png.

Scan 289; printed 185; sequence 189; image block59-source-289.png.

Scan 290; printed 186; sequence 190; image block59-source-290.png.

Scan 291; printed 187; sequence 191; image block59-source-291.png.

Scan 292; printed 188; sequence 192; image block59-source-292.png.

Scan 293; printed 190; sequence 193; image block59-source-293.png.

Opening words: Sorrow is the other Character, and inseparable companion

Closing words: to bring them into some order; and so descend to particulars.

Passages DJR-060-01 to DJR-060-37

Source page labels: 190 twice then 191–194 (sequence193–198). Scan pages: 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298.

Scan 293; printed 190 [first occurrence]; sequence 193; image block59-source-293.png.

Scan 294; printed 190 [second occurrence]; sequence 194; image block60-source-294.png.

Scan 295; printed 191; sequence 195; image block60-source-295.png.

Scan 296; printed 192; sequence 196; image block60-source-296.png.

Scan 297; printed 193; sequence 197; image block60-source-297.png.

Scan 298; printed 194; sequence 198; image block60-source-298.png.

Opening words: SUBSECT. 3. Particular Symptomes from the influence of Stars, parts of the body, & humors.

Closing words: Sed abunde fabularum audivimus.

Passages DJR-061-01 to DJR-061-30

Source page labels: 194–198 (sequence198–202). Scan pages: 298, 299, 300, 301, 302.

Scan 298; printed 194; sequence 198; image block60-source-298.png.

Scan 299; printed 195; sequence 199; image block60-source-299.png.

Scan 300; printed 196; sequence 200; image block60-source-300.png.

Scan 301; printed 197; sequence 201; image block61-source-301.png.

Scan 302; printed 198; sequence 202; image block61-source-302.png.

Opening words: SUBSECT. 4. Symptomes from Education, custome, continuance of time, our condition, mixt with other diseases, by fits, inclination, &c.

Closing words: to be more circumspect and wary in the midst of these dangers.

Passages DJR-062-01 to DJR-062-32

Source page labels: 198–202 (sequence202–206). Scan pages: 302, 303, 304, 305, 306.

Scan 302; printed 198; sequence 202; image block61-source-302.png.

Scan 303; printed 199; sequence 203; image block61-source-303.png.

Scan 304; printed 200; sequence 204; image block62-source-304.png.

Scan 305; printed 201; sequence 205; image block62-source-305.png.

Scan 306; printed 202; sequence 206; image block62-source-306.png.

1205

About This Reading Edition

Robert Burton’s Anatomy ranges across medicine, philosophy, poetry, religion, and everyday life in its inquiry into melancholy. This complete parallel edition pairs the 1651 English text with a close modern English rendering, preserving the three Partitions, Democritus Junior’s address to the reader, verse, and the historical index.

Historical Text and Translation

The historical text follows the sixth edition, printed at Oxford for Henry Cripps in 1651, using the McGill University Library copy. The supplied edition documents missing printed pages 98–99 supplied from another 1651 copy at the Bavarian State Library. Historical folio labels and their irregularities remain visible; web reader numbers identify reflowed passages and do not claim to reproduce PDF pagination.

About Diotimos Editions

Diotimos Editions prepared the close modern English rendering and editorial matter. All 8,755 original and modern passage pairs remain aligned, with verse breaks, italics, continuations, and linked annotations preserved. Burton’s 6,781 historical notes retain their attribution; 6,895 editorial notes remain distinct. The introduction, Note on the Text, contextual lexicon, indexes, source documentation, and bibliography are included. The engraved frontispiece remains available in the original downloads.

Rights

Burton’s historical text is in the public domain. The modern English rendering, introduction, notes, and editorial matter are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and appear with the site owner’s permission. The complete supplied PDF, EPUB, Word, and Markdown files remain available unchanged. The PDF and Word edition preserve the original parallel page layout.