[2683]Bashfulness and blushing, is a passion proper to men alone, and is not only caused for [2684]some shame and ignominy, or that they are guilty unto themselves of some foul fact committed, but as [2685]Fracastorius well determines, ob defectum proprium, et timorem, “from fear, and a conceit of our defects; the face labours and is troubled at his presence that sees our defects, and nature willing to help, sends thither heat, heat draws the subtlest blood, and so we blush.  They that are bold, arrogant, and careless, seldom or never blush, but such as are fearful.”  Anthonius Lodovicus, in his book de pudore, will have this subtle blood to arise in the face, not so much for the reverence of our betters in presence, [2686]"but for joy and pleasure, or if anything at unawares shall pass from us, a sudden accident, occurse, or meeting:”  (which Disarius in [2687] Macrobius confirms) any object heard or seen, for blind men never blush, as Dandinus observes, the night and darkness make men impudent.  Or that we be staid before our betters, or in company we like not, or if anything molest and offend us, erubescentia turns to rubor, blushing to a continuate redness. [2688]Sometimes the extremity of the ears tingle, and are red, sometimes the whole face, Etsi nihil vitiosum commiseris, as Lodovicus holds:  though Aristotle is of opinion, omnis pudor ex vitio commisso, all shame for some offence.  But we find otherwise, it may as well proceed [2689]from fear, from force and inexperience, (so [2690]Dandinus holds) as vice; a hot liver, saith Duretus (notis in Hollerium:) “from a hot brain, from wind, the lungs heated, or after drinking of wine, strong drink, perturbations,” &c.

Laughter what it is, saith [2691]Tully, “how caused, where, and so suddenly breaks out, that desirous to stay it, we cannot, how it comes to possess and stir our face, veins, eyes, countenance, mouth, sides, let Democritus determine.”  The cause that it often affects melancholy men so much, is given by Gomesius, lib. 3. de sale genial. cap. 18. abundance of pleasant vapours, which, in sanguine melancholy especially, break from the heart, [2692]"and tickle the midriff, because it is transverse and full of nerves:  by which titillation the sense being moved, and arteries distended, or pulled, the spirits from thence move and possess the sides, veins, countenance, eyes.”  See more in Jossius de risu et fletu, Vives 3 de Anima.  Tears, as Scaliger defines, proceed from grief and pity, [2693]"or from the heating of a moist brain, for a dry cannot weep.”