The Anatomy of Melancholy

Yet, I say, they will complain, murmur and lament, and cannot be persuaded that they are not troubled by an evil spirit—a belief frequent among the common people in Germany, says Rodericus. Those most severely affected, for he distinguishes three degrees of this disease in women, are in despair, convinced that they have been cursed or bewitched; and in the extremity of their derangement, weary of life, some attempt to kill themselves. Some think they see visions and converse with spirits and devils, or that they will surely be damned. They fear treachery, imminent danger and the like; they will not speak or answer any question, but are almost distracted, mad or insensible for the time, in fits. This continues according to the severity of their condition, as the internal humour is intensified or diminished, or as it is aggravated by external objects and disturbances, solitude, idleness and the like.

Many other maladies befall young women from that single cause specified above: many dreadful diseases. I will not so much as mention their names. Melancholy alone is the subject of my present discussion, from which I will not depart. The various treatments for this infirmity—diet, which must be very sparing, bloodletting, medicines, internal and external remedies—are set out at length and in great variety by Rodericus à Castro, Sennertus and Mercatus, for anyone who wishes to make use of them as occasion requires.

But the best and surest remedy of all is to see them suitably settled and married to good husbands in due time: “hence those tears.” That is the primary cause, and this the ready cure: to satisfy their desires. I do not write this to defend any wanton, idle flirt, any lustful or frivolous women, who are often too forward, unruly and ready to throw themselves away on the next man who comes along, without care, deliberation, caution or judgment.

If religion, sound discipline, decent upbringing, wholesome exhortation, fair promises, reputation and the loss of a good name cannot restrain and deter such women—things that must have great influence on chaste and sober unmarried women—labour and exercise, a strict diet, severity and threats may be more appropriately used, and can themselves moderate and redirect an ill-disposed temperament.

For you will seldom see a hired servant or poor maid, even an older one, who is kept hard at work and bodily labour, or a rough country girl, troubled in this way. Rather, it is unmarried women of noble birth, delicate gentlewomen, those who are solitary and idle, live at ease without activity or employment, and eat well in great houses and convivial company; perhaps ill-disposed by nature and unwilling to resist, discontented in other ways, weak in judgment, strong in body and subject to passions. “Older unmarried women,” says Mercatus, “barren women and widows are generally melancholic.” These, for the most part, are the people affected and prone to this disease.