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MANLY P, H,{LL HENRY L. DRÂKE
P¡esident - Founder ViccP¡esident
ü?'L '?l'7b
THE ANATOMY OF MELANCIiOLY
Dear Friends:
obert Burton (vzz-ta1O ) was a quiet English scholar and. an Anglican
clergyman. He studied in secret, but revealed his findings openly. He
e:çlored the wisdom of the ancients and passed judgment upon the foibles
of his own time. By nature a kindly man, Burton wás in nò sense of the
word a controversalist, but he did have opinÍons, tempered by his crer-
lcal dedicatåons. HÍs princÍ.pal contríbutíon to the irprovement of the
hunan race was THE ANATOUIÏ 0F ¡íELAN0HOLY, which he publÍshed. r¡nder the pseudonym
frDemocri tus, ,ïr¡tior. tr The work
first appeared in 1621, and there were several later
editÍons with revisions and alterations by the author. In 1931 , ry old [Link], PauJ.
Jordan-SmÍth, re-issued the work with an English translatÍon of the numerous Latin
pirrase s which ornament the original. We have in our Library, two o1d editlons of
THE ANATOl,ff 0F ìvIELANCHOLY, and the 16ó0 issue is the one used by I'fr. Jordan-,SmÍth,
and contains his booþ1ate.
Ït has been pointed out that Burton was a pioneer psychoLogist, antlcfpating nany
reeent oplnions and correeting a nunber of modern errors. He notes that melancholy
is both a religlous and a ptrysical problem, aild that cures involve the services of
both cl-erg¡rmen and pÏryslcians. He takes it for granted that unless these two pro-
fesslons cooperate, cures are unlÍkely.
The causes of melancholy are numerous and difficult to classÍfy, but Burton, with
hls skill in arranging data r¡¡der proper headings, rralíantly attempts to clarífþ
the confusion. l{elancholy is a chronle kind of depression, an ail¡nent wtth nost
distresslng s¡nrptoms--a burden upon both the sufferer and those intimately assocía-
ted with hÍn. All effects originate in approprÍate causes. Mental deblLity often
beglns with r¡rfortunate mental habits which, becoming chronÍc, are difficult to
eomect. Sone persons are more susceptible to melancholy because of their ternpera-
ments, The individual wlth inordinate ambitions is lÍke1y to suffer from numerous
frustrations when he cannot aeeomplish his purposes. Those who 1Íve alone in sorùer
envirorunent are often addÍcted to self-pfty and perpetuate old grievances and dis-
appointments, thus abuslng the faeulties of the mfnct. Burton devotes consíderabLe
spaee to the love-slck, whose enotional traumas destroy natural optfnism. He does
not deny the seriousness of amatory disappointments, but takes it for granted that
everï indivldual is equipped wlth those lnterrral resourees which ean reseue him from
his despondencÍes. RelÍgion appears to be especially useful in such cases.
I.,{elancholy is at the root of marry severe mental ailnents. Once the natrrre departs
from its own l¡u:er tranquillíty, the dispositíon suffers; [Link] situatlons
are ignored and hope is overshadowed by fear and futility. In such cases Burton
recornmends strenuous pl¡ysical exercÍses to restore the tone of the body, and thus
promote sleep. Enotiònal fatigue often leads to insomnia, but long walks, work in
a garden, or diligence in a strenuous trade will lead to peaceful sh¡nber. Burton
also concerned himself wÍth diet. il[anrs spirit is sustained by God, but bis body
requires proper nutrition. He recognized a va1íd relationship between dyspepsÍa
and despondency. No doubt he had anple opportrrnity to e:çlore this arear for he
lived in a day of gluttony. Then, as now, overeating was a status symbol. It was
also evi<lent that the melancholÍac sought consolation at the dírLner table, and.
hoped to revive his failing splrit with the aid of distilled spirits. The whole
concept was erroneous, for in one sense at 1east, a man is what he eats.
Some Í[Link] are born wÍth unstable disposítions. To the degree that they are
problems to their parents, their parents are problems to them. Those who resent
correctlon when it is necessary soon lose the ski11 to discipline themselves. This
is an important point. Unless the nind and the emotions are disciplined. by integrity,
responsibílities become tragedies and normal occurrences are viewed as disasters.
A [Link] household. ean stand the shocks of circumstances, md the well-organ-
ized Í[Link] is victorious over the adversities of providence. There is a¡r o1d
proverb which would have ilellghted ]lurton if he diil not already lmow lt: rrThe devil
lin¿s. work for Ídle ha¡ds to d.o.n The abuse of leisure, as Aristotle noted long
before, is a carilinal sin. Thus it is more conmon to find melanchoLia in persons
who waste time. It is frequently a disease of the wealttry, the weLL-to-dor or the
lazy. Any person who does not wôrk will r-rltinately worry. It is ailvisable, there-
fore, that those of fair means should dedicate themselves to the improvement of
their minds. The poor who yearn after learning have scartt opportrrn:ity for study,
whereas those free of financial burdens lack the incentive to enricl¡ their lnner
lives.
There are cases in whÍch drudgery brings witir it depression and discouragement.
îhls can be copected by taking a better attitude toward routine activÍty. To
realize the importance of siuple tasks is to regaÍn composure and peace of mind.
T¡e hístory of human socÍety provÍdes adequate proof that those with moderate en-
dowments and linrited opportunity, cen be more happy than the over-prifÍleged-
trVorry plagues those wf¡ã tnmi< a little, but not enough to free thenselves fron the
gtoom ãf ignorance. Either the ¡nind should be allowed to rest in peace, or else
it must be strengthened for the achievement of high purposes.
Br¡rton was deeply concerrred w'Ith theunlverse. He [Link] oosmoqony- ftgT-a more-or-
Iess theofogicãL poÍnt of view, but with numerous excursions 1n Greek phiJ-osophy.
He recognfzãa tnal nan w&s created accordfng to a pLan ancl must live by that p1-an
if he tã to enjoy conplete security. Both [Link] and the troublenakers have
is
broken the laws ôf t¡t¡lnan conduct. That whÍch contrary to the comon good' an
ãiriiotion rrpon both the spirit and the bo(y. The ten conrnandments must governing
be obeyed
or the indlvidual will uLtinately beeone ili. When one breaks the ruLes wi1l
p¡ysicaL t¡eaLth he will develop ãn assortment of cllsabilities. Hís digestion
üe distr:rbed and he will develóp the sallow symptom of chronic illness. Those who
ù"""i. the religlous code which is both reasonable and proper, nayforfind their sen-
peroeptfons impaired. When the body becomes uncomfortabLe any reasont )
"ã"y
melancholy usuallY follo'rs.
.Although Burton did not have the benefit of the Freudian vocabulary, he devoted
considerable spaee to the varior¡s psychological disturb¿rnces v¡hich arise from men-
tal confusion. He recognized many environmental factors, including social disorderst
economic pressures, md those almost constant wars which plagued Europe for centuries.
He was aware of epídemical diseases, natural disasters, md religious conflicts. He
was quick to realize that peace comes not from the compatibí1ity of nations, but
depend,s r4lon irurer strength alone. Troubles try the spírit but will not destroy it
in a life dedicated to faith, hope and charity. Irlan has been wonderfully equipped
to sr.¡rvive the shocks which the flesh is heir to. He ca¡urot be defeated, but he
can vohurtarily surrender to the predicarnents of his generation. The body Ís held
within the prÍson of tine and place, but the spirÍt is forever free to search for
truth with patience and diligence.
Br.¡rton has been accused of over-simplifying the cause and eure of mental dísortlers.
At the same tíme, however, 1t is evident that his basic premÍse is correct. He nay
have lapsed into Latín oecasionally, but his conclusions are stated Ín good English.
The be'wÍlctefing assortment of psychological disturbanees whieh befuddle the modern
practíoner have [Link] to this generation a¡rd become consÍderably worse in the
centuries that have elapsed [Link] Br¡rton wrote his book.
Robert Burton took the name tfl)emocritus, Juniorrr because he attempted to e:pand the
philosophieal princíples of the Greek philosopher, Democritus, one of the first and
most inportant of the atonists. Burton seems to have been especially íntrigued with
the ancient Greek philosopherts definitlon of the sou1, which was an intan¡¡ib1e body
eomposed of highly attenuated atoms. In the early seventeenth century the scientific
approaeh to lÍfe came to dominate human thinlcing. Among the contenporaries of
Burton were Francis Baeon, Rene Descartes, and. the early Utopians. There is Ínternal
evidence in the Al'lATOI',ff 0F lilEtANCI{OLY that Burton was also well-ínformed on Rosí-
crucian mysticism and alcheny. lle approached the trnew learningtt with consirlerable
spirÍtual insight. Like Bacon, he approved of trastrologÍa sanarrf ancl tvas a pÍvotal
figrrre Ín the broad prograrn of universal reformation which was to liberate the
world from bondage to scholasticism. Tire [Link] was upon the dignity of the
fndivÍdual, who was no longer to be merely the helpless vassal of the ehurch and
state. Liberation was to come, not through revolution, but throu¡rh regeneration.
By releasing his own internal potential the human being was to take hís proper
place in the Divine Plan of things. He must prepare himself for freedorns he had
never known, and upon his shoulders was to rest the destiny of humankind. The ulti-
mate goal could only be attained through the cultivatlon of inner graees and the
ur¡foldrrent of the ratLonal powers. lfelancholy and other psychologÍca1 disturbanees
resulted from the conflict between inevitable change and human resistance to nev¡
ideas. Change was the irrestible force and man, the irrnovable object.
The mind must be broad but not ohalIow, deep but not narrow. We are stil1 exper-
iencíng the bewilderrnent resulting from ínadequate inte::nal resources confronted
with ever-e)eanding [Link]. lfental health is best preservecl by a firm eonvíction
that all things are working together for good, but the process, IÍke that of the
growbh of the physical body, is attended by physícaI, emotional, and rnental dis-
comforts. Burton no dorrbt apprecíated the words of the Barrl, rrA11 is well that
ends wellrrrbut would have pointed out that between the begirurin¡1 and the end
there are numerous ínconveniences.
h+
Always most síncerely,
n/d=4
The foLlowinglist of books is recommended reading. Thesebooks maybe ordered fromThe
PhiLosophical Research Society, Û0.c. (address on page one). Please add 35ç for handling.
California residents, include sales ta¡r. Note: Prices subject to change without notice.
TITLE AUTHOR PRICE
Cosmic Memory Rudolph Steiner (p) $ 2.95
Crude B1ack Molasses Cyril Scott (p) 1.35
Culture - Manrs Adaptive Dirnension M. F. A. Montagh (p) 2.60
The Cosmic Doctrine Dion Fortune 4.50
[Link] Prophecies of Nostradamus H.C. Roberts, Trans. 5. 95
Clairvoyance C. W. Leadbeater 2.25
CurÍous Lore of Precious Stones George F. Kunz (p) 4.50
Culpeper's Complete Herbal (Remedies) Nicholas Culpeper 6.95
The Comte de St. Germain I. Cooper-Oakley (p) 2.50
Cor¡fucius & Coafircianism Richard Wilhelm (p) 1.65
Cosmos in Man H. Saraydaria:r (p) 8.00
The Chakras C. W. Leadbeater (p) 3.45
Cider Vinegar - Naturers Great Health
Promoter & Safest Cure of Obesity Cyril Scott (p) t.25
Crafts & Trades of JElan, with Doll and Billie T. Chandler 5.50
Flower Arrangement
Cutting through SpÍritual MaterialÍsm ChogTam Tmngpa (p) 4. 25
Chariots of the Gods Erich von Daniken (p) 1. t4
Consciousness of the Atom Alice A. Bailey (p) 1. 75
ConscÍousness & Reality Muses & Young ([Link]) 1 0. 00
The Ctricadees (A Zen Story) Conrad Hyers 3 95
Collectable Chinese Art & Antiques Don A. Maust (p) 7 95
Cosmic Connection Carl Sagan 7 95
The Ceramic Art of Japan Hugo Munsterberg 13 75
BOOKS BY MANLY P HALL
The Guru $ 5.50 Most Holy Trinosophia
Pathways of Philosophy 6.50 (St. Gemain) 10.00
Self-Unfoldment 6.50 Words to the Wise 6.50
rùi/ay of Heaven 5.00 Collected Writings, VoI. II 6.50
IN THESE DAYS A THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE DEEPER MEANING
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