Wright, Thomas (c. 1561-1623)

The Passions of the Mind

London

Valentine Simmes and Adam Islip for Walter Burre and Thomas Thorpe

1604

"For, as the Ratte running behinde a paynted cloth, betrayeth her selfe; even so, a Passion lurking in the heart, by thoughts and speech discovereth it selfe, according to the common Proverbe, ex abundantia cordis os loquitur, from the aboundance of heart, the tongue speaketh: for as a River abounding with water, must make an inundation, and runne over the bankes; even so, when the heart is overflowen with affections, it must find some passage by the mouth, minde, or actions."

Hereunto adde thoughtes, and words: if one speake and thinke much of beautie, vaine attire, glory, honour, reputation; if he feele in his heart, that often he desireth to be praised, or to insinuate his owne praise, it is most manifest, that the Passion of Pride pricketh him; and so I meane of all other Affections, because the minde doth thinke, and the tongue will speake according to the Passions of the heart: for, as the Ratte running behinde a paynted cloth, betrayeth her selfe; even so, a Passion lurking in the heart, by thoughts and speech discovereth it selfe, according to the common Proverbe, [end page 78] ex abundantia cordis os loquitur, from the aboundance of heart, the tongue speaketh: for as a River abounding with water, must make an inundation, and runne over the bankes; even so, when the heart is overflowen with affections, it must find some passage by the mouth, minde, or actions. And for this cause, I have divers times heard some persons very passionate affirme, that they thought their hearts would have broken, if they had not vented them in some sort, either with spitefull words, or revenging deeds: and that they could do no otherwise than their Passions inforced them.
(pp. 78-9)

Animals::Rat Liquid::River::Water Geography::River Bank Motion::Overflow

Reading

Four entries in ESTC (1604, 1620, 1621, and 1630).

Thomas Wright, The passions of the minde in generall. Corrected, enlarged, and with sundry new discourses augmented. By Thomas Wright. With a treatise thereto adioyning of the clymatericall yeare, occasioned by the death of Queene Elizabeth. (London: Printed by Valentine Simmes [and Adam Islip] for Walter Burre [and Thomas Thorpe] and are to be sold [by Walter Burre] in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Crane, Anno. 1604). <Link to EEBO-TCP>

04/26/2022