Hayat Üzerine Üç Kitap: Bilginin Melankolisi ve Göksel Neden

How many causes there are by which the learned are or become melancholic. For scholars to be melancholic, three types of causes in particular are responsible. The first is celestial, the second natural, and the third is human. The celestial cause exists because Mercury—who invites us to investigate doctrines—and Saturn—who brings it about that we persevere in investigating doctrines and preserve those discovered—are said by astronomers to be in a certain way cold and dry. Or if perhaps Mercury is not cold, he is nevertheless often made extremely dry by his proximity to the Sun. Such is the nature of melancholy according to physicians; and Mercury himself and Saturn bestow this same nature upon the students of letters, who are their followers.