The Anatomy of Melancholy

Plures crapula, quam gladius, is a true saying, the board consumes more then the sword. Our intemperance it is, that pulls so many several incurable diseases upon our heads, that hastens old age, perverts our temperature, & brings upon us sudden death. And last of all, that which crucifies us most, is our own folly, madnesse, (quos Iupiter perdit, dementat; by substraction of his assisting grace God permits it) weaknesse, want of government, our facility and pronenesse in yeelding to severall lusts, in giving way to every passion and perturbation of the minde: by which meanes we metamorphize our selves, and degenerate into beasts.

All which that Prince of Poets observed of Agamemnon, that when he was well pleased, and could moderate his passion, he was—os oculosque Jovi par: like Jupiter in feature, Mars in valour, Pallas in wisdom, another God; but when he became angry, he was a Lyon, a Tiger, a Dogge, &c. there appeared no signe or likenesse of Jupiter in him;

so we, as long as we are ruled by reason, correct our inordinate appetite, and conforme our selves to Gods word, are as so many living Saints: but if we give reines to Lust, Anger, Ambition, Pride, and follow our own wayes, we degenerate into beasts, transforme our selves, overthrow our constitutions, provoke God to anger, and heap upon us this of Melancholy, and all kinds of incurable diseases, as a just and deserved punishment of our sinnes.