The Anatomy of Melancholy

Name: The Anatomy of Melancholy
Author: Robert Burton

1651 English with a close modern English rendering

Explore the Lexicon

The Anatomy of MelancholyMember 7 Against Rejection, Abuse, Injuries, Contempt, Disgrace, Insults…

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

1651 English Page · Branch 603 of 1495

Member 7 Against Rejection, Abuse, Injuries, Contempt, Disgrace, Insults…

Book Mode

1651 English

360

Do not prostitute thy soul for gain. Make not a fool of thy self to make others merry. Marry not an old Crony or a fool for mony. Be not over sollicitous or curious. Seek that which may be found. Seem not greater then thou art. Take thy pleasure soberly. Ocymum ne terito.

Live merrily as thou canst. Take heed by other mens examples. Go as thou wouldst be met, sit as thou wouldst be found, yield to the time, follow the stream. Wilt thou live free from fears and cares? Live innocently, keep thy self upright, thou needest no other keeper, &c. Look for more in Isocrates, Seneca, Plutarch, Epictetus, &c. and for defect, consult with cheese-trenchers and painted cloths.

7388.BurtonPrinted page 360, y: “Dum fata sinunt vivite læti, Seneca.” While the Fates permit, live joyfully. Seneca.

7389.BurtonPrinted page 360, z: “Id apprime in vita utile, ex aliis observare sibi quod ex usu siet. Ter.” This is especially useful in life: to learn from others what may be of use to oneself. Terence.

7390.BurtonPrinted page 360, a: “Dum furor in cursu currenti cede furori. Cretizandum cum Crete. Temporibus servi, nec contra flamina flato.” While rage runs its course, yield to its onward rush. With a Cretan one must play the Cretan. Accommodate yourself to the times, and do not blow against the winds. Crete is the form printed.

7391.BurtonPrinted page 360, b: “Nulla certior custodia innocentiâ: inexpugnabile munimentum munimento non egere.” No protection is surer than innocence: to need no defence is an impregnable defence.

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Member 7 Against Rejection, Abuse, Injuries, Contempt, Disgrace, Insults…

p. 603

“Do not sell your soul for profit. Do not make a fool of yourself to amuse others. Do not marry an old crone or a fool for money. Do not be excessively anxious or inquisitive. Seek what can be found. Do not seem greater than you are. Take your pleasure in moderation. Do not crush the basil.”

“Live as cheerfully as you can. Take warning from other people’s examples. Go about as you would wish to be encountered; sit as you would wish to be found. Yield to the times; follow the current. Would you live free of fears and cares? Live innocently and keep yourself upright: you need no other guardian.” Look for more in Isocrates, Seneca, Plutarch, Epictetus and the rest; and if these fail you, consult cheese-plates and painted cloth hangings.

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.