fears heaven will fall on his head: a second is
a cock; and such a one, [2585]Guianerius saith he
saw at Padua, that would clap his hands together and
crow. [2586]Another thinks he is a nightingale, and
therefore sings all the night long; another he is
all glass, a pitcher, and will therefore let nobody
come near him, and such a one [2587]Laurentius gives
out upon his credit, that he knew in France.
Christophorus a Vega
cap. 3. lib. 14. Skenkius
and Marcellus Donatus
l. 2. cap. 1. have many
such examples, and one amongst the rest of a baker
in Ferrara that thought he was composed of butter,
and durst not sit in the sun, or come near the fire
for fear of being melted: of another that thought
he was a case of leather, stuffed with wind.
Some laugh, weep; some are mad, some dejected, moped,
in much agony, some by fits, others continuate, &c.
Some have a corrupt ear, they think they hear music,
or some hideous noise as their phantasy conceives,
corrupt eyes, some smelling, some one sense, some another.
[2588]Lewis the Eleventh had a conceit everything
did stink about him, all the odoriferous perfumes
they could get, would not ease him, but still he smelled
a filthy stink. A melancholy French poet in [2589]Laurentius,
being sick of a fever, and troubled with waking, by
his physicians was appointed to use
unguentum populeum
to anoint his temples; but he so distasted the smell
of it, that for many years after, all that came near
him he imagined to scent of it, and would let no man
talk with him but aloof off, or wear any new clothes,
because he thought still they smelled of it; in all
other things wise and discreet, he would talk sensibly,
save only in this. A gentleman in Limousin, saith
Anthony Verdeur, was persuaded he had but one leg,
affrighted by a wild boar, that by chance struck him
on the leg; he could not be satisfied his leg was
sound (in all other things well) until two Franciscans
by chance coming that way, fully removed him from the
conceit.
Sed abunde fabularum audivimus,—enough
of story-telling.
SUBSECT. IV.—Symptoms from Education,
Custom, continuance of Time, our Condition, mixed
with other Diseases, by Fits, Inclination, &c.
Another great occasion of the variety of these symptoms
proceeds from custom, discipline, education, and several
inclinations, [2590]"this humour will imprint in melancholy
men the objects most answerable to their condition
of life, and ordinary actions, and dispose men according
to their several studies and callings.”
If an ambitious man become melancholy, he forthwith
thinks he is a king, an emperor, a monarch, and walks
alone, pleasing himself with a vain hope of some future
preferment, or present as he supposeth, and withal
acts a lord’s part, takes upon him to be some
statesman or magnifico, makes conges, gives entertainment,
looks big, &c. Francisco Sansovino records of
a melancholy man in Cremona, that would not be induced
to believe but that he was pope, gave pardons, made