Erōtomania or A treatise discoursing of the essence, causes, symptomes, prognosticks, and cure of love, or erotique melancholy. Written by Iames Ferrand Dr. of Physick

CAP. XVII. Whether Teares be Symptomes of Love, or no.

HIppocrates in his Epidemicks makes * 1.1 Teares to be of two sorts, Voluntary and Involuntary. The last of which kinds is caused by reason of the weakenesse of the Retentive Facultie in the Braine, which hath been debilitated either by some Disease, or by the great Abundance of moisture, contracted within the Head: or else because the expulsive Faculty of the Braine is provoked by the sharpnesse of the Humours in the Braine, or by the vapours that are exhaled from the inferi∣or parts; as it is often seen in those that are sick of an Ague: or lastly by reason of some particular distemper of the eyes, as Exul∣ceration, Fistula, Opthalmy, Running of the eyes, or the like, as also by Smoake,

Dust, or other like externall causes.

As concerning voluntary Teares, it was the Opinion of Empedocles long since, that when any one was surcharged with any strong passion of the Mind, the Blood was troubled, and from thence fol∣lowed Teares, in like manner as whey comes from Milke. Alexander Aphrodi∣saeus is of opinion, that the Melancholy Humour having shut up and encompassed the Heart; the Humidity endeavours to shew it selfe, where it findes the freest passage.

But we say, that the materiall cause of Teares, is the same with that of Spittle; which is, the Abundance of serosity re∣maining in the Braine, after the third con∣coction: by reason whereof old men, wo∣men, and young children, are more in∣clined to weeping, then any other.

Now this moysture flowes from the eyes, either by reason of the compression of the Braine, during the time of sadnesse: or else by the Dilatation of it; as we often see it comes to passe in those that are char∣ged with some suddaine great joy, or else ••augh extreamely. For as much then as

Lovers are subject to all these passions, * 1.2 of Ioy, Laughter and Sadnesse: it is evi∣dent that they are not Involuntary Teares that fall from Lovers eyes, which, as we have already shewed, are generally dry and void of Teares, but only the Volun∣tary, as when they either doubt, or else despaire of their Mistresses favour. And hence it is that we shall observe Poëts so often representing unto us Lovers weep∣ing and lamenting: Because that Love is also delighted in Teares, according to the Poet.

Nonnihil aspersis gaudet Amor Lachrymis. * 1.3

Yet will I not therefore presently con∣clude, that this signe is Pathognomicall, nor scarcely Certaine; especially in wo∣men, who as the Poet saies,

Quóve volunt plorant tempore, quóvt modo.

Have the command of their Teares, and can weepe, when, and how they please.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aph. 17. Sect. 1. 1. 6.
• * 1.2

  Avic. Ar∣nald.
• * 1.3

  Propert. l. 1. Eleg, 11.