For such parents as do
otherwise, Plutarch esteems of them [2134]"that are more careful of their
shoes than of their feet," that rate their wealth above their children. And
he, saith [2135]Cardan, "that leaves his son to a covetous schoolmaster to
be informed, or to a close Abbey to fast and learn wisdom together, doth no
other, than that he be a learned fool, or a sickly wise man."

SUBSECT. III.--_Terrors and Affrights, Causes of Melancholy_.

Tully, in the fourth of his Tusculans, distinguishes these terrors which
arise from the apprehension of some terrible object heard or seen, from
other fears, and so doth Patritius _lib. 5. Tit. 4. de regis institut._ Of
all fears they are most pernicious and violent, and so suddenly alter the
whole temperature of the body, move the soul and spirits, strike such a
deep impression, that the parties can never be recovered, causing more
grievous and fiercer melancholy, as Felix Plater, _c. 3. de mentis
alienat_. [2136]speaks out of his experience, than any inward cause
whatsoever: "and imprints itself so forcibly in the spirits, brain,
humours, that if all the mass of blood were let out of the body, it could
hardly be extracted. This horrible kind of melancholy" (for so he terms it)
"had been often brought before him, and troubles and affrights commonly men
and women, young and old of all sorts." [2137]Hercules de Saxonia calls
this kind of melancholy (_ab agitatione spirituum_) by a peculiar name, it
comes from the agitation, motion, contraction, dilatation of spirits, not
from any distemperature of humours, and produceth strong effects. This
terror is most usually caused, as [2138]Plutarch will have, "from some
imminent danger, when a terrible object is at hand," heard, seen, or
conceived, [2139]"truly appearing, or in a [2140]dream:" and many times the
more sudden the accident, it is the more violent.

[2141] "Stat terror animis, et cor attonitum salit,
Pavidumque trepidis palpitat venis jecur."

"Their soul's affright, their heart amazed quakes,
The trembling liver pants i' th' veins, and aches."

Arthemedorus the grammarian lost his wits by the unexpected sight of a
crocodile, Laurentius _7. de melan_. [2142]The massacre at Lyons, 1572, in
the reign of Charles IX., was so terrible and fearful, that many ran mad,
some died, great-bellied women were brought to bed before their time,
generally all affrighted aghast. Many lose their wits [2143]"by the s