The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
But surely it much impeacheth this iterated transexion of Hares, if that
be true which _Cardan_ and other Physicians affirm, that Transmutation
of sex is only so in opinion; and that these transfeminated persons were
really men at first; although succeeding years produced the manifesto or
evidence of their virilities. Which although intended and formed, was
not at first excluded: and that the examples hereof have undergone no
real or new transexion, but were Androgynally born, and under some kind
of _Hermaphrodites_. For though _Galen_ do favour the opinion, that the
distinctive parts of sexes are only different in Position, that is,
inversion or protrusion; yet will this hardly be made out from the
Anatomy of those parts. The testicles being so seated in the female,
that they admit not of protrusion; and the neck of the matrix wanting
those parts which are discoverable in the organ of virility.
The second and most received acception, is, that Hares are male and
female by conjunction of both sexes; and such as are found in mankind,
Poetically called Hermaphrodites; supposed to be formed from the
equality, or _non victorie_ of either seed; carrying about them the
parts of Man and Woman; although with great variety in perfection, site
and ability; not only as _Aristotle_ conceived, with a constant
impotency in one; but as later observers affirm, sometimes with ability
of either venery. And therefore the providence of some Laws have thought
good, that at the years of maturity they should elect one sex, and the
errors in the other should suffer a severer punishment. Whereby
endeavouring to prevent incontinency, they unawares enjoyned perpetual
chastity; for being executive in both parts, and confined unto one, they
restrained a natural power, and ordained a partial virginity. _Plato_
and some of the Rabbins proceeded higher; who conceived the first Man an
Hermaphrodite; and _Marcus Leo_ the learned _Jew_, in some sense hath
allowed it; affirming that _Adam_ in one suppositum without division,
contained both Male and Female. And therefore whereas it is said in the
text, That God created man in his own Image, in the Image of God created
he him, male and female created he them: applying the singular and
plural unto _Adam_, it might denote, that in one substance, and in
himself he included both sexes, which was after divided, and the female
called Woman. The opinion of _Aristotle_ extendeth farther, from whose
assertion all men should be Hermaphrodites; for affirming that Women do
not spermatize, and confer a place or receptacle rather then essential
principles of generation, he deductively includes both sexes in mankind;
for from the father proceed not only males and females, but from him
also must Hermaphroditical and masculo-feminine generations be derived,
and a commixtion of both sexes arise from the seed of one. But the
Schoolmen have dealt with that sex more hardly then any other; who
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account