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

CHAP. XX. The Signes whereby we may knowe those that are inclined to Love-Melancholy.

ARistotle in his Ethicks, and Tully in his Tusculan Questions, distinguish betwixt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Lover, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Amorist: as we distinguish betwixt Ebri∣••us, one that is Drunke, and Ebriosus, a Drunkard. Because that a Lover, is one that is indeed falne in Love; but an Amo∣rist, is one that is inclined to this Folly, ei∣ther by his Naturall Constitution & Tem∣per of Body; or else by reason of his Edu∣cation, Discipline, Custome, or the Like.

The Diagnostick signes of the Lover we have already delivered in the prece∣dent Chapters; It remaines now that we set downe those by which the Amorist is to be knowne: seeing our Intention is, to prescribe as well the meanes to prevent

this Malady, as the Remedies to cure it.

In the First place then we are to consi∣der * 1.1 the constitution and Habit of the whole Body, when so ever wee desire to know, to what Diseases any one is subject. For by this meanes Helen knew that Pa∣ris was fitter for Cupids service, then for Mars.

Quòd bene te iactas, & fortia facta recēsen A verbis facies dissidet ista tuis. Aptamagis veneri quàm sunt tua Corpora Marti: Bella gerant fortes: tu Pari semper Ama.

Thou brag'st well: But this smooth cheek speaks thee farre More apt for Venus, then for Mars his warre. Let others fight; and on their enemies prove Their ruder strength: my Paris thou shalt love.

In the second place, the Temperature of the Principall, and secret parts is to be considered; of which I shall speake more hereafter, in the Chapter of Physiognoms

only in this place giving you to under∣stand, that a hot and dry Temperature, or ••se such a one as is only hot; is the most ••nclined to Love. We must also observe the parties Complexion: for we see that ••ose that are of a sanguine Complexion, ••re generally very Amorous: Not that I would have a man alwaies weare a sad, towning, austere Countenance.

Habet tristis quo{que} Turba Cynaedos. * 1.2

For under such a one there oft∣times lies hid the strongest Inclination to lasciviousnesse.

••n the next place we shall doe well to consider the age: for commonly the youn∣ger * 1.3 people are more subject to this di∣••case, then the elder: especially while they have a harshnesse in their voyce, which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; the Latins, Hircire: And in wenches, when their Brests begin to burgeon, which the greeks all 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the latin Fratrare, Sororiare, Catullire: At which time, Aristotle warns all Fathers to have a strict eye over their Daughters, and not to suffer them to con∣verse

with young men, especially such a•• are given much to Courtship: Because that at this time they have an extreame raging desire over all their Body.

But old men on the contrary side, are as much averse from venery, unlesse they be naturally very leacherous. For Enripi∣des saies, that Venus is displeased with old men: And for this cause the Heathens, (at Plutarch reports) accounted those Mar∣riages that were celebrated in the moneth of May, Disasterous, and ominous; as some superstitious Christians also doe at this day: because that Venus hated this moneth, as being consecrated to the honour of old age.

Lacydes, King of the Argians, was knowne to be in love, by his over curious trimming and curling of his haire: as was Pompey the great also, by the nice scratch∣ing of his head with one finger.

Magnus, quem metuunt omnes, digito ca∣put uno Scalpit. Quid credas hunc sibi ved•• virum?

He, whom the world feares, nicely with one naile

His head doth scratch; what, thinke ye, doth he aile?

Our Ladies have the same opinion of ••ose men that are very hairy, that Aristo∣••••e hath; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hairines, saith ••••, is a signe of the abundance of Excre∣ments: And for this reason, those men that ••e hairy, are fuller of seed, & therefore * 1.4 ••re addicted to Venery, then those that ••e smooth. As it is also observed in the are, who being extreame hairy, as having ••ly among all other living creatures, ••ire also on the ball of his feet, is withall counted one of the most lustfull crea∣tures * 1.5 that is.

On the contrary a woman cannot en∣••re a man that hath but little Beard; not •••• much, for that they are commonly cold ••••d impotent, as that, so much resembling ••unuches, they are for the most part in∣••ined to basenesse, cruelty, and deceitful∣nesse. Such a one, as Plato reports, was Melitus Pitheus, that was Socrates his ••lse accuser, and in regard of that very

thing excepted against by Socrates.

But this is then found most true, when they are leane withall, and have thin, ho•• Iow, shriveled Cheekes. For, as the Phy∣siognomists say, these markes denote * 1.6 man to be of a filthy, lustfull disposition and that by reason of the Imaginative Fa∣culty being depraved: but withall, Envi∣ous, Crafty, and consequently a knave; ac∣cording to the doctrine of the Philoso∣pher, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. * 1.7

Their Extraction and Descent and things also very considerable; as well fo•• that children may have the same Tempe∣rature both of the Principall parts, as also of those that serve for Generation, that their Parents have: as also by reason of ba•• discipline, & ill example. We might also * 1.8 adde to these, the milk of the nurse, which as Phavorinus affirmes, is of very great force, either in correcting, or corrupting as well the manners of the mind, as the Constitution of the Body: for as much as those alwaies follow the Temperature o•• the Body. And of this opinion the Po•••• also seemes to be, where he brings Dido, reproaching Aeneas with his Edu∣cation,

and thus upbraiding him with his cruelty.

Non tibi Diva parens, generis nec Darda∣nus autor, * 1.9 Perfide: sed duris genuit te cautibus horrens Caucasus; Hircanae{que} admôrunt ubera Tigres.

No Goddesse brought thee forth: nor canst thou be Deriv'd, false man, from Trojan Ancestry. But thou, from some hard, unrelenting Rocke Descended art; and Tigers gave thee suck.

Michael Scotus, discoursing on this point, reports that he had seen a child that had been nursed up by a sow; who when he was now grown to some bignes, would eat immoderately, as Hogs doe; and de∣lighted very much to tumble and wallow up and downe in durty places. And he te••s a story of another, that had been brought up by a shee-goat, who in his going skip∣ped after the manner of Goats, and would ever be pilling and eating the barke of Trees.

Hippocrates, Ptolomy, and Vegetius, af∣firme that the Aire, Climat, and place of * 1.10 their Birth are of very great consideration in this particular: Et Plaga Caeli, non so∣lùm ad robur Corporis, sed etiam Animo∣rum facit, saith Vegetius: The Climat con∣duceth much, not only to the strength and perfect Temperature of the Body, but of the mind also, and its faculties. And in∣deed we see commonly that the Germans are great Drinkers, the Spaniards proud, the English deceitfull, the French uncon∣stant, the Athenians witty, the Thracians dull, the Sarmatians Chast but the Neopo∣litans, Asians, Africans, and Aegyptians, very lascivious and addicted to Venery. And Ovid makes the Thracians also beare them company, when he speakes thus of Tereus.

Digna quidem facies ast hunc innata libido Extimulat; pronum{que} genus regionibus illis Jn Venerem: & flagrat vitio gentis{que}, suo{que}.

* 1.11 Her face was excellent: But inbred lust Inrag'd his blood; to which those Climes are prone; Stung by his Countries Fury, and his owne.

But these signes are very uncertaine, and meerely conjecturall: For, as Apuleius saies, Apud socordissimos Scythas Ana∣charsis sapiens natus est: & apud Athenien∣ses, Melecides fatuus: The wise Anachar∣sis was descended from the dull heavy Scythian: and Athens brought forth Me∣lecides, a Foole.

But what shall we say to that story of a litle blind Dog in Italy in the time of the Emperour Iustinian, who, as Nice∣phorus * 1.12 reports it, was able by certaine signes to give notice of such persons as were any way touched with unchast de∣sires? Or the Bird Porphyrion, mentioned by Dupreau, in Anno 563, that would make as though she would strangle her selfe, if she but perceived an Amorous or an adulterous person within her Masters house? Or to the Water of Triall, used by the ancient Hebrewes, for to prove whe∣ther * 1.13 a married woman had been dishonest or no: Of which water an unchast woman had no sooner tasted, but she began pre∣sently to be very dry; whereas on the contrary, if the suspicion were unjust, she thereby recovered a more perfect state of

health then before. And lastly to another Fountaine, the vertue whereof was such, * 1.14 that if any unchast woman touched it, the water would burne her flesh; but did no hurt at all to those women that were chast. Which Gangolphe, wife to a certaine Burgonian, supposing to be fabulous, for the satisfaction of her Husband, who had but just cause to be jealous, would needs one day thrust her arme into the Fountain: but she presently drew it forth againe, all scorched and burnt? What shall we say (I say) to all these, but only that God hath given to many things such hidden qualities, as that the most learned Philoso∣pher can render no sound evident reason of them. Nature rerum vis at{que} Majestas in omnibus momentis fide caret: saith Pliny: * 1.15 In all things of strange and miraculous production, the power and Majesty of Nature transcends all beliefe.

Multa tegit sacro involucro Natura; ne{que} ullis * 1.16 Fas est scire quidem mortalibus omnia, Multa Admirare modò, nec non venerare; ne{que} illa

Inquires, quae sunt Arcanis proxima. Nam{que} In manibus quae sunt, haec nos vix scire pu∣tandum est. Est procul à nobis adeò praesentia veri.

Wise Nature many things with mists doth vaile: And then decrees, mans knowledge here shall faile. Her secrets, of our wonder then must be The Object, not our curiosity. We scarcely know the things before our eyes. So darke, and hidden are truths Mysteries.

It is much more easy to shew a reason * 1.17 of the discovering of unchast persons by the stones in their Rings, or other Iewels: which are thought to change their colour, and become obscure, darke, and pale, by reason of those vapours, that arise from the unchast lustfull bodies of those that weare them: an experience whereof I my selfe have seen in the Eranos, or Tur∣quois stone. * 1.18

The Genethliacall Astrologers have other signes, more subtle, though perhaps not much more certaine; which they take * 1.19

from the Horoscope. They say, that if one be borne when Mars and Venus are in conjunction, he will undoubtedly be in∣clined to Love and Erotique Melancholy; but perhaps much to his owne dammage. For if the Sunne rise, under the Conjun∣ction of these two Planets, he will not be

Felicior Astro Martis; ut in laqueos non incidat.

Aristotle, in his Politicks, will have the * 1.20 meaning of this to be, that Martialists, and men of warre, are easily taken Prisoners by Cupid: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: All these kind of men (saith he,) are very prone to Venery. And the Physitians say, that the Astrologers, by Venus, understand Phlegme, or rather Blood; and by Mars, Choler: For Mars is hot and dry; and Venus moist: which two Complexions, being met together, * 1.21 doe make the persons enclined to mutuall Love. The same judgement doe they give of him that is borne, when Venus is in Leo; or when the Moon, and Venus doe mutu∣ally aspect each other: or else when Iupi∣ter

is in a Trine, or Sextile aspect with the Sunne, or Mercury; especially if it happen on the second, or fifteenth day of the Moon

But there is no great heed to be taken, what these men say, who are for the most part (in the opinion of S. Augustin) meere * 1.22 Cheaters and Impostors: as you may see proved at large by Ioan. Picus Mirandu∣la, in his 12 bookes that he hath written against Iudiciary Astrologers, being mo∣ved thereto, because that one of them, named Bulanus, had cast his Nativity, and * 1.23 told him that he should live but 34 yeares: which indeed afterwards fell out accordingly. In which bookes of his, he seemes to have comprehended all that can be said against these Fumi venditores: and he hath also been seconded by his Nephew Franciscus Io: Picus, in his * 1.24 bookes, De Praenot. and many other Mo∣derne writers.

Neverthelesse, seeing that Galen, the Prince of Rationall Physitians, Lib. 3. de Dieb. Decret. cap. 5. & 6. seemes to attri∣bute great vertue to the Influences of the Planets over sublunary bodies, and di∣vides

them, as the Astrologers doe, into Influences Benigne, & Maligne. And be∣cause that many endeavour to prove, that no man can be a good Physitian, without the knowledge of Genethliacall Astrolo∣gy, which, they say, is grounded on ex∣perience, as Physicke is; and hath its A∣phorismes, as certaine, as any our Faculty hath: And on the other side againe, there are some that over-superstitiously abhorre the very name of an Astrologer; account∣ing them to be meere Magitians and Con∣jurers: I thinke it fit so farre to justify this Art, as to shew the certainty and profit of it, which I shall doe in the en∣sueing Chapter, and withall shall shew, what use it hath in Physicke: since that Hippocrates saies, that Physick and Astro∣nomy are sisters, and Both daughters of one and the same Father, Apollo.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hip. l. de steril. & l. 4. de morb. nat. Gal. l. 1. ad Glan. c. 1.
• * 1.2

  Mart. l. 7. Ep. 57.
• * 1.3

  Arist. l. 7. de Hist. anim. c. 1. & l. 5. de gen. anim. c. 7.

  Alex.

  Aphrod. l. 1. Probl. 123.

  Cael. l. 15. c. 24. Al••. Botton. c. 15. de morb. mul.
• * 1.4

  Jo. Bapt. Porta.
• * 1.5

  Polemon.
• * 1.6

  Adamant. Porta.
• * 1.7

  in Physiog∣ni.
• * 1.8

  Aul Gelli∣us. l. 12. Noct. Attic. c. 2.
• * 1.9

  Aeneid. 4.
• * 1.10

  Veget. l. 1. c. 2.
• * 1.11

  Transla∣ted by G. S.
• * 1.12

  Niceph. l. 17. c. 32.
• * 1.13

  P. Belon.
• * 1.14

  Fulgos. l. 8. Ebor. tit. de absol. reor.
• * 1.15

  Plin. l. 7. c. 1.
• * 1.16

  Lucretius.
• * 1.17

  Lemni. de occul. nat. mir. c. 30.
• * 1.18

  Prol. Cen∣til. prop. 51.
• * 1.19

  Iul. Firm.
• * 1.20

  Pol. l. 2. c. 9.
• * 1.21

  Ficin. c. 9. orat. 7. in conv. Plat. Franc. Val∣ler. Observ. 7. l. 2. Equi. c. 2. l. 4. de∣nat. Amor.
• * 1.22

  S. Aug. confel. l. 7. c. 6 & l. 2. de Doctr. christ. c. 21
• * 1.23

  Cardan. Aph. 63. Segm. 1. Aph. Astro.
• * 1.24

  Iul. Syren. l. de Fato. Miran. l. 22. 23. 24. M. Medina. l. de rect. in Deum side. c. l. Vultur. l 3. de art. Mil. c. 1.