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Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Parallel Edition

Robert Burton

The Anatomy of Melancholy

1651 English with a close modern English rendering

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Modern English Page · Branch 946 of 1495

Prevention Before or After Marriage: Plato’s Community of Wives; Marrying A…

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1651 English

632

One other soveraign remedy I could repeat, an especial Antidote against Iealousie, an excellent cure, but I am not now disposed to tell it, not that like a covetous Emperick I conceal it for any gain, but some other reasons, I am not willing to publish it; if you be very desireous to know it, when I meet you next, I will peradventure tell you what it is in your ear. This is the best councel I can give; which he that hath need of, as occasion serves may apply unto himself. In the mean time,

——dii talem terris avertite pestem,

as the proverb is, from Heresie, Iealousie, and Frensie, good Lord deliver us.

632

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Prevention Before or After Marriage: Plato’s Community of Wives; Marrying A…

p. 946

I could mention one other sovereign remedy, a special antidote against jealousy, an excellent cure; but I am not now inclined to disclose it. It is not that I conceal it for profit, like a greedy quack: for other reasons I am unwilling to publish it. If you are very eager to know, perhaps, when we next meet, I will whisper it in your ear. This is the best advice I can give; whoever needs it may apply it to himself as occasion arises. Meanwhile,

Gods, turn such a plague away from the earth!

As the proverb says: from heresy, jealousy and frenzy, good Lord deliver us.

946

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.