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 MelancholyDemocritus Junior to the Reader

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Facing Pages · Branch 99 of 1495

Democritus Junior to the Reader

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1651 English

He that invents any thing for publike good in any Art or Science, writes a Treatise, or performs any noble exploit, at home or abroad, shall be accordingly enriched, honored, and preferred. I say with Hannibal in Ennius, Hostem qui feriet erit mihi Carthaginensis, let him be of what condition he will, in all offices, actions, he that deserves best shall have best.

Tilianus in Philomus out of a charitable minde no doubt, wisht all his books were gold and silver, jewels and precious stones, to redeem captives, set free prisoners, and relieve all poor distressed souls that wanted means; religiously done, I deny not, but to what purpose? Suppose this were so well done, within a little after, though a man had Cræsus wealth to bestow, there would be as many more.

Wherefore I will suffer no Beggers, Rogues, Vagabonds, or idle persons at all, that cannot give an account of their lives how they maintain themselves: If they be impotent, lame, blinde, and single, they shall be sufficiently maintained in several hospitals, built for that purpose;

if married and infirm, past work, or by inevitable losse, or some such like misfortune cast behind, by distribution of corn, house-rent free, annual pensions or money, they shall be relieved, and highly rewarded for their good service they have formerly done; if able, they shall be enforced to work.

1066.Burtonp. 65, d: “Si quis egregium aut bello aut pace perfecerit. Sesel. l. 1.” Editor: “If anyone has accomplished something outstanding in war or peace.” Seyssel, book 1; exact passage uncollated.

1067.Burtonp. 65, second c in the margin, e in the body: “Ad regendam rempub. soli literati admittuntur, nec ad eam rem gratia magistratum aut regis indigent, omnia explorata cujusq; scientia & virtute pendent. Riccius lib. 1. cap. 5.” Editor: “Only the learned are admitted to govern the commonwealth; for this they do not need the favour of magistrates or king. Everything depends on each person’s tested learning and merit.” Ricci, book 1, chapter 5. The repeated marginal c and the body’s e are recorded rather than silently reconciled.

1068.Burtonp. 65, f: “In defuncti locum eum jussit subrogari, qui inter majores virtute reliquis præiret; non fuit apud mortales ullum excellentius certamen, aut cujus victoria magis esset expetenda, non enim inter celeres, celerrimo, non inter robustos robustissimo, &c.” Editor: “He ordered the dead man’s place to be filled by whoever, among the elders, surpassed the others in virtue. There was no nobler contest among mortals, nor one whose victory was more desirable: for it was not awarded to the swiftest among the swift, or the strongest among the strong, etc.” No source is named in this marginal entry. A close parallel is Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 26.1, on electing the best-qualified elder to fill a vacancy in the senate. Burton’s immediate Latin source is not established.

1070.Burtonp. 65, asterisk: “Nullum videres vel in hac vel in vicinis regionibus pauperem, nullum obæratum, &c.” Editor: “You would see no poor person in this or the neighbouring regions, no one burdened with debt, etc.” The connection with the Tilianus passage is retained; the source remains unresolved.

1072.Burtonp. 65, g: “Nullus mendicus apud Sinas, nemini sano quamvis oculis turbatus sit mendicare permittitur, omnes pro viribus laborare coguntur, cæci molis trusatilibus versandis addicuntur, soli hospitiis gaudent, qui ad labores sunt inepti. Osor. l. 11. de reb. gest. Eman. Heming. de reg. Chin. l. 1. c. 3. Gotard. Arth. Orient. Ind. descr.” Editor: “There are no beggars among the Chinese. No one in health, even if his sight is impaired, is permitted to beg; all are compelled to work according to their strength. Blind people are assigned to turning handmills; only those unfit for work receive institutional lodging.” Osório, Deeds of Manuel, book 11; Hemingius, On China, book 1, chapter 3; Gotardus Arthus, Description of the East Indies. These are Burton’s cited claims, not independently verified facts.

1073.Burtonp. 65, h: “Alex. ab Alex. 3. c. 12.” Editor: Alexander ab Alexandro, book 3, chapter 12; exact passage uncollated.

1074.Burtonp. 65, i: “Sic olim Romæ Isaac. Pontan. de his optimè. Amstol. l. 2. c. 9.” Editor: “So formerly at Rome. Isaac Pontanus treats these matters very well: Amsterdam, book 2, chapter 9.” Exact passage uncollated.

The Anatomy of Melancholy: Democritus Junior to the Reader

p. 99

Anyone who invents something for the public good in any art or science, writes a treatise, or performs a noble exploit at home or abroad shall receive wealth, honour, and advancement accordingly. I say with Hannibal in Ennius: whoever strikes the enemy shall count as a Carthaginian to me. Whatever a person’s rank, in every office and undertaking, the most deserving shall receive the best reward.

Tilianus, in Philomus, wished—out of charity, no doubt—that all his books were gold and silver, jewels and precious stones, so that he could ransom captives, free prisoners, and relieve every poor distressed soul without the means to live. A pious act, I do not deny it; but to what purpose? Suppose this were successfully done: before long, even if a man had Croesus’s wealth to distribute, there would be just as many more in need.

I will therefore allow no beggars, rogues, vagrants, or idle people who cannot account for how they live and support themselves. If they are unable to work, lame, or blind, and unmarried, they shall be adequately supported in institutions built for that purpose;

if they are married and infirm, past work, or brought into hardship by unavoidable loss or similar misfortune, they shall receive grain, rent-free housing, annual pensions, or money, and be generously rewarded for their past good service. Those who can work shall be compelled to do so.

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.