The Passions of the Mind in General

The Passions

a multitude, becauſe, if once they can ſtirre a Paſſion or
Affection in their Hearers, then they have almoſt halfe
perſwaded them, for that the forces of ſtrong Paſſions,
marvellouſly allure and draw the wit and will to judge
and conſent vnto that they are moved. Many things
more might be ſaide concerning this matter, but in all
the other Chapters folowing, except this firſt, I meane
to touch this point very largely.
As this Treatiſe affordeth great riches to the Phyſi-
tian of the ſoule, ſo it importeth much the Phyſitian of
the bodie, for that there is no Paſſion very vehement,
but that it alters extreamely ſome of the foure humors
of the bodie, and all Phyſitians commonly agree, that
among diverſe other extrinſecall cauſes of diſeaſes, one,
and not the leaſt, is, the exceſſe of some inordinate Paſ-
ſion: for although it buſieth their braines, as alſo the na-
turall Philoſophers, to explicate the manner how an o-
peration that lodgeth in the ſoule can alter the bodie,
and moove the humors from one place to another, (as
for example, recall most of the bloud in the face, or o-
ther partes, to the heart, as wee ſee by daily experience
See Fracastorius, Book on Sympathy, and Book 2 On Intellectual Perception, around the middle.to chance in feare and anger) yet they conſent that it
may proceede from a certaine ſympathie of nature, a
ſubordination of one part to another, and that the ſpi-
rites and humors wait vpon the Paſſions, as their Lords
and Maiſters. The Phyſitians therefore knowing by
what Paſſion the maladie was cauſed, may well inferre
what humor aboundeth, & conſequently what ought
to be purged, what remedy to be applied; & after, how
it may be prevented.
If all the aforeſaide Profeſſions may challenge each
one a part in this Diſcourſe, ſurely the good Chriſtian,
whoſe