Volume 1
The anatomy of melancholy / edited by Rev. A.R. Shilleto.
- Burton, Robert
- Date:
- Reprint 1896 (3 vol set)
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The anatomy of melancholy / edited by Rev. A.R. Shilleto. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)
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![THE ARGUMENT OF THE FRONTISPIECE. TEN distinct Squares here seen apart Are join'd in one by Cutter's art. 1 Old Democritus under a tree, Sits on a stone with book on knee ; About him hang there many features, Of Cats, Dogs, and such like creatures, Of which he makes Anatomy, The seat of Black Choler to see. Over his head appears the sky, And Saturn Lord of Melancholy. 2 To th' left a landscape of Jealousy Presents itself tmto thine eye. A Kingfisher, a Swan, an Hern, Two fighting-Cocks you may discern; Two roaring Bulls each other hie To assault concerning Venery. Symbols are these ; I say no more, Conceive the rest by that's afore. 3 The next <?/ Solitariness A Portraiture doth well express, By sleeping Dog, Cat: Buck and Doe, Hares, Conies in the desert go : Bats, Oivls the shady bowers over, In melancholy darknesse hover. Mark well: ift be not as't should be, Blame the bad Cutter, and not me. 4 /' th' under Column there doth stand Inamorato with folded hand ; Down hangs his head, terse and polite, Some ditty sure he doth indite. His lute and books about him lie, As symptoms of his vanity. Jf this do not enough disclose, To paint him, take thyself by th' nose. 5 Hypochondriacus leans on his arm, Wind in his side doth him much harm, And troubles him fill sore, God knows, Much pain he hath and many woes. About him pots and glasses lie, Newly brought from's Apothecary. This Saturn's aspects signify, You see them portray'd in the sky. 6 Beneath them kneeling on his knee, A Superstitious 7nan you see: He fasts, prays, on his Idolfixt, Tormented hope and fear betwixt: For hell perhaps he takes more pain, TJian thou dost heaven itself to gain. A las poor Soul, I pity thee, What stars incline thee so to be ? 7 But see the Madman rage down right With furious looks, a ghastly sight. Naked in chains bound doth he ly, A nd roars amain, he knows not why 9 Observe him ; for as in a glass, Thine angry portraiture it was. His picture keep still i?i thy presence ; Twixt him and thee, there's no difference. 8 9 Borage and Hellebore fill two scenes. Sovereign plants to purge the veins Of Melancholy, and cheer the heart, Of those black fumes which make it smart; To clear the Brain of misty fogs, Which dull our senses, and Soul clogs. The best medicine that e'er God made For this malady, if well assaid. io Now last of all to fill a place, Presented is the Author's face ; A nd in that habit which he wears, His Image to the world appears. His mind no art can well express, That by his writings you may guess. It was not pride, nor yet vain glory, {Though others do it commonly) Made him do this: if you must know, The Printer would needs have it so. Then do notfrown or scoff at it, Deride not, nor detract a whit. For surely as thou dost by him, He will do the same again.1 Then look upont, behold and see, As thou lik'st it, so it likes thee. A tid I for it will stand in view, Thine to command, Reader, A dieu ! [! Probably this line should be He'll do to thee the same again. For it halts both in sense and rhythm.]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21270818_001_0042.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
