[2476]Baptista Portia confines fear and sorrow to
them that are cold; but lovers, Sibyls, enthusiasts,
he wholly excludes. So that I think I may truly
conclude, they are not always sad and fearful, but
usually so: and that [2477]without a cause, timent
de non timendis, (Gordonius,) quaeque momenti
non sunt, “although not all alike”
(saith Altomarus), [2478]"yet all likely fear,”
[2479]"some with an extraordinary and a mighty fear,”
Areteus. [2480]"Many fear death, and yet in a contrary
humour, make away themselves,” Galen, lib.
3. de loc. affec. cap. 7. Some are afraid that
heaven will fall on their heads: some they are
damned, or shall be. [2481]"They are troubled with
scruples of consciences, distrusting God’s mercies,
think they shall go certainly to hell, the devil will
have them, and make great lamentation,” Jason
Pratensis. Fear of devils, death, that they shall
be so sick, of some such or such disease, ready to
tremble at every object, they shall die themselves
forthwith, or that some of their dear friends or near
allies are certainly dead; imminent danger, loss,
disgrace still torment others, &c.; that they are all
glass, and therefore will suffer no man to come near
them: that they are all cork, as light as feathers;
others as heavy as lead; some are afraid their heads
will fall off their shoulders, that they have frogs
in their bellies, &c. [2482]Montanus consil. 23,
speaks of one “that durst not walk alone from
home, for fear he should swoon or die.”
A second [2483]"fears every man he meets will rob
him, quarrel with him, or kill him.” A third
dares not venture to walk alone, for fear he should
meet the devil, a thief, be sick; fears all old women
as witches, and every black dog or cat he sees he
suspecteth to be a devil, every person comes near him
is maleficiated, every creature, all intend to hurt
him, seek his ruin; another dares not go over a bridge,
come near a pool, rock, steep hill, lie in a chamber
where cross beams are, for fear he be tempted to hang,
drown, or precipitate himself. If he be in a
silent auditory, as at a sermon, he is afraid he shall
speak aloud at unawares, something indecent, unfit
to be said. If he be locked in a close room,
he is afraid of being stifled for want of air, and
still carries biscuit, aquavitae, or some strong waters
about him, for fear of deliquiums, or being sick;
or if he be in a throng, middle of a church, multitude,
where he may not well get out, though he sit at ease,
he is so misaffected. He will freely promise,
undertake any business beforehand, but when it comes
to be performed, he dare not adventure, but fears
an infinite number of dangers, disasters, &c.
Some are [2484] “afraid to be burned, or that
the [2485]ground will sink under them, or [2486]swallow
them quick, or that the king will call them in question
for some fact they never did (Rhasis cont.)
and that they shall surely be executed.”
The terror of such a death troubles them, and they