all for want of husbands. Aelianus Montaltus, _cap. 37. de melanchol._,
confirms as much out of Galen; so doth Wierus, Christophorus a Vega _de
art. med. lib. 3. c. 14_, relates many such examples of men and women, that
he had seen so melancholy. Felix Plater in the first book of his
Observations, [1485]"tells a story of an ancient gentleman in Alsatia, that
married a young wife, and was not able to pay his debts in that kind for a
long time together, by reason of his several infirmities: but she, because
of this inhibition of Venus, fell into a horrible fury, and desired every
one that came to see her, by words, looks, and gestures, to have to do with
her," &c. [1486]Bernardus Paternus, a physician, saith, "He knew a good
honest godly priest, that because he would neither willingly marry, nor
make use of the stews, fell into grievous melancholy fits." Hildesheim,
_spicel. 2_, hath such another example of an Italian melancholy priest, in
a consultation had _Anno_ 1580. Jason Pratensis gives instance in a married
man, that from his wife's death abstaining, [1487]"after marriage, became
exceedingly melancholy," Rodericus a Fonseca in a young man so misaffected,
_Tom. 2. consult. 85._ To these you may add, if you please, that conceited
tale of a Jew, so visited in like sort, and so cured, out of Poggius
Florentinus.

Intemperate Venus is all but as bad in the other extreme. Galen, _l. 6. de
mortis popular. sect. 5. text. 26_, reckons up melancholy amongst those
diseases which are [1488]"exasperated by venery:" so doth Avicenna, _2, 3,
c. 11._ Oribasius, _loc. citat._ Ficinus, _lib. 2. de sanitate tuenda_.
Marsilius Cognatus, Montaltus, _cap. 27._ Guianerius, _Tract. 3. cap. 2._
Magninus, _cap. 5. part. 3._ [1489]gives the reason, because [1490]"it
infrigidates and dries up the body, consumes the spirits; and would
therefore have all such as are cold and dry to take heed of and to avoid it
as a mortal enemy." Jacchinus _in 9 Rhasis, cap. 15_, ascribes the same
cause, and instanceth in a patient of his, that married a young wife in a