The Anatomy of Melancholy

Thaddæus Haggesius in his Metoposcopia, hath certain Aphorisms derived from Saturnes lines in the fore-head, by which he collects a melancholy disposition; and Baptista Porta makes observations from those other parts of the body, as if a spot be over the spleen; or in the nailes, if it appear black, it signifieth much care, grief, contention, and Melancholy;

The reason he refers to the humors, and gives instance in himself, that for seven years space he had such black spots in his nailes, and all that while was in perpetual Law-sutes, controversies for his inheritance, fear, loss of honor, banishment, grief, care, &c. and when his miseries ended, the black spots vanished. Cardan in his book de libris propriis, tels such a story of his own person, that a little before his sons death, he had a black spot, which appeared in one of his nailes; and dilated it self as he came nearer to his end.

But I am overtedious in these toyes, which howsoever, in some mens too severe censures, they may be held absurd and ridiculous, I am the bolder to insert, as not borrowed from circumforanean Rogues and Gipsies, but out of the writings of worthy Philosophers, and Physitians, yet living some of them, and religious Professors in famous Universities, who are able to patronize that which they have said, and vindicate themselves from all cavillers and ignorant persons.