The Anatomy of Melancholy

of which as there be divers sorts, and peculiar to severall callings, ages, sexes, conditions, so there be proper for severall seasons, and those of distinct natures, to fit that variety of humors which is amongst them, that if one will not, another may: some in Summer, some in Winter, some gentle, some more violent, some for the mind alone, some for the body and mind:

(as to some it is both business, and a pleasant recreation to oversee workmen of all sorts, Husbandry, Catle, Horse, &c. To build, plot, project, to make models, cast up accompts, &c.) some without, some within doors: new, old, &c. as the season serveth, and as men are inclined.

It is reported of Philippus Bonus, that good Duke of Burgundy (by Lodovicus Vives, in Epist. and Pont. Heuter in his history) that the said Duke, at the marriage of Elionara, sister to the king of Portugal at Burges in Flanders, which was solemnized in the deep of winter, when as by reason of unseasonable weather he could neither hawk nor hunt, and was now tyred with cards, dice, &c. and such other domesticall sports, or to see Ladies dance, with some of his courtiers, he would in the evening walk disguised all about the Town.

It so fortuned, as he was walking late one night, he found a country-fellow dead drunk, snoring on a Bulk; he caused his followers to bring him to his Palace, and there stripping him of his old cloaths, and attiring him after the Court fashion, when he waked, he and they were all ready to attend upon his excellency, perswading him he was some great Duke.

The poor fellow admiring how he came there, was served in state all the day long, after supper he saw them dance, heard musick, and the rest of those Court-like pleasures: but late at night, when he was well tipled, and again fast asleep, they put on his old robes, and so conveighed him to the place where they first found him.

Now the fellow had not made them so good sport the day before, as he did when he returned to himself; all the jest was, to see how he looked upon it. In conclusion, after some little admiration, the poor man told his friends he had seen a vision, constantly believed it, would not otherwise be perswaded, and so the jest ended.

Antiochus Epiphanes would often disguise himself, steal from his Court, and go into Merchants, Goldsmiths, and other tradesmens shops, sit and talk with them, and sometimes ride, or walk alone, and fall aboord with any Tinker, Clowne, Serving man, Carrier, or whomsoever he met first. Sometimes he did ex insperato give a poor fellow money, to see how he would look, or on set purpose, lose his purse as he went, to watch who found it, and withall how he would be affected, and with such objects he was much delighted.

Many such tricks are ordinarily put in practice by great men, to exhilarate themselves and others, all which are harmless jests, and have their good uses.

But amongst those exercises, or recreations of the minde within doors, there is none so generall, so aptly to be applyed to all sorts of men, so fit and proper to expell Idleness and Melancholy, as that of Study: Studia senectutem oblectant, adolescentiam alunt, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium & solatium præbent, domi delectant, &c. finde the rest in Tully pro Archia Poëta.