The Anatomy of Melancholy

Name: The Anatomy of Melancholy
Author: Robert Burton

1651 English with a close modern English rendering

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The Anatomy of MelancholyMember 2 Bodily Deformity, Sickness, Low Birth, and Particular Discontents

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Facing Pages · Branch 552 of 1495

Member 2 Bodily Deformity, Sickness, Low Birth, and Particular Discontents

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1651 English

319

And I am so far forth of Sesellius his mind, that they ought to be preferred (if capable) before others, As being nobly born, ingenuously brought up, and from their infancy trained to all manner of civility. For learning and vertue in a Noble-man is more eminent, and as a Jewel set in gold, is more precious, and much to be respected, such a man deserves better then others, and is as great an honour to his family as his Noble family to him.

In a word, many Noblemen are an ornament to their order: many poor mens sons are singularly well endowed, most eminent, and well deserving for their worth, wisdome, learning, vertue, valour, integrity; excellent members & pillers of a Common-wealth. And therefore to conclude that which first I intended, to be base by birth, meanly born, is no such disparagement. Et sic demonstratur, quod erat demonstrandum.

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Member 2 Bodily Deformity, Sickness, Low Birth, and Particular Discontents

p. 552

And I agree with Sesellius this far: if they are capable, they ought to be preferred to others, as people nobly born, liberally brought up, and trained from infancy in every form of civil conduct. For learning and virtue stand out more in a nobleman and, like a jewel set in gold, are more precious and worthy of regard. Such a man deserves more than others and does his family as much honour as his noble family does him.

In a word, many noblemen adorn their order; many poor men’s sons are exceptionally gifted, outstanding, and deserving through their merit, wisdom, learning, virtue, courage, and integrity: excellent members and pillars of a commonwealth. And therefore, to conclude what I first set out to show, being of low birth, humbly born, is no such disgrace. And thus what was to be demonstrated has been demonstrated.

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.