Lust counsels one thing, reason another, there is a new reluctancy in
men. [1022]Odi, nec possum, cupiens non esse, quod odi. We cannot
resist, but as Phaedra confessed to her nurse, [1023]quae loqueris,
vera sunt, sed furor suggerit sequi pejora: she said well and true, she
did acknowledge it, but headstrong passion and fury made her to do that
which was opposite. So David knew the filthiness of his fact, what a
loathsome, foul, crying sin adultery was, yet notwithstanding he would
commit murder, and take away another man's wife, enforced against
reason, religion, to follow his appetite.
Those natural and vegetal powers are not commanded by will at all; for
who can add one cubit to his stature? These other may, but are not: and
thence come all those headstrong passions, violent perturbations of the
mind; and many times vicious habits, customs, feral diseases; because
we give so much way to our appetite, and follow our inclination, like
so many beasts. The principal habits are two in number, virtue and
vice, whose peculiar definitions, descriptions, differences, and kinds,
are handled at large in the ethics, and are, indeed, the subject of
moral philosophy.
MEMB. III.
SUBSECT. I.—_Definition of Melancholy, Name, Difference_.
Having thus briefly anatomised the body and soul of man, as a
preparative to the rest; I may now freely proceed to treat of my
intended object, to most men's capacity; and after many ambages,
perspicuously define what this melancholy is, show his name and
differences. The name is imposed from the matter, and disease
denominated from the material cause: as Bruel observes, Μελανχολία
quasi Μελαιναχόλη, from black choler. And whether it be a cause or an
effect, a disease or symptom, let Donatus Altomarus and Salvianus
decide; I will not contend about it. It hath several descriptions,
notations, and definitions. [1024]Fracastorius, in his second book of
intellect, calls those melancholy, whom abundance of that same depraved
humour of black choler hath so misaffected, that they become mad
thence, and dote in most things, or in all, belonging to election,
will, or other manifest operations of the understanding. [1025]
Melanelius out of Galen, Ruffus, Aetius, describe it to be a bad and
peevish disease, which makes men degenerate into beasts: Galen, a
privation or infection of the middle cell of the head, &c. defining it
from the part affected, which [1026]Hercules de Saxonia approves, lib.
1. cap. 16. calling it a depravation of the principal function:
Fuschius, lib. 1. cap. 23. Arnoldus Breviar. lib. 1. cap. 18.
Guianerius, and others: By reason of black choler, Paulus adds.
Halyabbas simply calls it a commotion of the mind. Aretaeus, [1027]a
perpetual anguish of the soul, fastened on one thing, without an ague;
which definition of his, Mercurialis de affect. cap. lib. 1. cap. 10.
taxeth: but Aelianus Montaltus defends, lib. de morb. cap. 1. de Melan.
for sufficient and good. The common sort define it to be a kind of
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