Robert Burton hivatkozásai Ficino De vita-jára The Anatomy of Melancholy című művében
Robert Burton’s References to Ficino’s De vita libri tres in The Anatomy of Melancholy

Summary/Abstract: This study examines where Ficino appears in The Anatomy of Melancholy and which books of De vita Burton he may have read himself. Since it is known that the Third Book, De vita coelitus comparanda, which deals with astrology and talismans, has been omitted from most of its editions, the main question is whether Burton has personally studied the latter. To this end, I also looked at Ficino’s mention by name and possible textual quotations in the Introduction and the First and Second Partitions. The Third Partition, which discusses love and religious melancholy and quotes Ficino in connection with his Commentary on The Symposium, is discussed elsewhere. Based on Burton’s thirteen Ficino quotes in the First Partition of his work, we might think that he knew only the First and Second Books of De vita directly. However, in the nine quotes from the Second Partition, which presents the cure for melancholy, Burton touches on the subject matter of the Third Book on several points. Thus, we can say that he must have read all three books of De vita, and thus also De vita coelitus comparanda. Although he once studied these thoroughly, he did not check the places cited at the time of writing, so his quotations are somewhat inaccurate. The Oxford scholar quotes many of Ficino’s arguments about melancholy, not from himself but his contemporaries. Thus, in Burton’s work, we see not only how well he knew the Florentine philosopher’s work On Life, but also how much Ficino’s teachings in De vita were already built into the public consciousness when Burton wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy.

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