The Plague of Athens, which hapned in the second year of the Peloponnesian Warre: First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latin by Lucretius. Now attempted in English — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The Plague of Athens, which hapned in the second year of the Peloponnesian Warre: First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latin by Lucretius. Now attempted in English
Thomas Hobbes · en
much, or little, was indifferent, being still from ease and power to
sleep as far as ever. As long as the disease was at the height, their
bodies wasted not, but resisted the torment beyond all expectation,
insomuch as the most of them either died of their inward burning in 9
or 7 dayes, whilest they had yet strength, or if they escaped that,
then the disease falling down into their bellies, and causing there
great exulcerations and immoderate looseness, they died many of them
afterwards through weakness: For the disease (which took first the
head) began above, and came down, and passed through the whole body;
and he that overcame the worst of it, was yet marked with the loss of
his extreme parts; for breaking out both at their Privy-members, and
at their Fingers and Toes, many with the loss of these escaped. There
were also some that lost there Eys, & many that presently upon their
recovery were taken with such an oblivion of all things whatsoever,
as they neither knew themselves nor their acquaintance. For this was
a kind of sickness which far surmounted all expression of words, and
both exceeded Humane Nature, in the cruelty wherewith it handled
each one, and appeared also otherwise to be none of those diseases
that are bred amongst us, and that especially by this. For all, both
Birds and Beasts; that use to feed on Humane flesh, though many men
lay abroad unburied, either came not at them, or tasting perished.
An Argument whereof as touching the_ Birds, _is the manifest defect
of such Fowl, which were not then seen, neither about the Carcasses,
or any where else; but by the Dogs, because they are familiar with
Men, this effect was seen much clearer. So that this disease (to
pass over many strange particulars of the accidents that some had
differently from others) was in general such as_ I _have shewn; and
for other usual sicknesses, at that time, no man was troubled with
any. Now they died, some for want of attendance, and some again with
all the care and_ Physick _that could be used. Nor was there any,
to say, certain Medicine, that applied must have helped them; for
if it did good to one, it did harm to another; nor any difference
of_ Body _for strength or weakness that was able to resist it; but
it carried all away what Physick soever was administred. But the
greatest misery of all was, the dejection of Mind, in such as found
themselves beginning to be sick, (for they grew presently desperate,
and gave themselves over without making any resistance) as also their
dying thus like_ Sheep, _infected by mutual visitation: For if men
forbore to visit them for fear, then they died forlorn, whereby many
Families became empty, for want of such as should take care of them.
If they forbore not, then they died themselves, and principally the
honestest men. For out of shame, they would not spare themselves,
but went in unto their friends, especially after it was come to this
pass, that even their Domesticks, wearied with the lamentations of