and wise.  To some it is in disposition, to another in habit; and as they write of heat and cold, we may say of this humour, one is melancholicus ad octo, a second two degrees less, a third halfway.  ’Tis superparticular, sesquialtera, sesquitertia, and superbipartiens tertias, quintas Melancholiae, &c. all those geometrical proportions are too little to express it. [2599]"It comes to many by fits, and goes; to others it is continuate:”  many (saith [2600]Faventinus) “in spring and fall only are molested,” some once a year, as that Roman [2601] Galen speaks of:  [2602]one, at the conjunction of the moon alone, or some unfortunate aspects, at such and such set hours and times, like the sea-tides, to some women when they be with child, as [2603]Plater notes, never otherwise:  to others ’tis settled and fixed; to one led about and variable still by that ignis fatuus of phantasy, like an arthritis or running gout, ’tis here and there, and in every joint, always molesting some part or other; or if the body be free, in a myriad of forms exercising the mind.  A second once peradventure in his life hath a most grievous fit, once in seven years, once in five years, even to the extremity of madness, death, or dotage, and that upon, some feral accident or perturbation, terrible object, and for a time, never perhaps so before, never after.  A third is moved upon all such troublesome objects, cross fortune, disaster, and violent passions, otherwise free, once troubled in three or four years.  A fourth, if things be to his mind, or he in action, well pleased, in good company, is most jocund, and of a good complexion:  if idle, or alone, a la mort, or carried away wholly with pleasant dreams and phantasies, but if once crossed and displeased,

       “Pectore concipiet nil nisi triste suo;”

       “He will imagine naught save sadness in his heart;”

his countenance is altered on a sudden, his heart heavy, irksome thoughts crucify his soul, and in an instant he is moped or weary of his life, he will kill himself.  A fifth complains in his youth, a sixth in his middle age, the last in his old age.

Generally thus much we may conclude of melancholy; that it is [2604]most pleasant at first, I say, mentis gratissimus error, [2605]a most delightsome humour, to be alone, dwell alone, walk alone, meditate, lie in bed whole days, dreaming awake as it were, and frame a thousand fantastical imaginations unto themselves.  They are never better pleased than when they are so doing, they are in paradise for the time, and cannot well endure to be interrupt; with him in the poet, [2606]_pol me occidistis amici, non servastis ait_? you have undone him, he complains, if you trouble him:  tell him what inconvenience will follow, what will be the event, all is one, canis ad vomitum, [2607]’tis so pleasant he cannot refrain.  He may thus continue peradventure many years by reason of a strong temperature, or some mixture of business,