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On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
I. Of Feare, and the sixe parts thereof; with their definitions and differences.
Next griefe (in generall) wee will describe Feare, which is divided into sixe parts; Sloth, Bashfulnesse, Shame, Amazednesse, Carefulnesse, and Terror.
Sloth is when we feare lest we should be compelled to worke. Amazednesse is a feare which ariseth in us when some huge and unusuall thing appeareth Terror is a trembling, or shuddering, occasioned by some dreadfull object. Carefulnesse is when wee feare losing that which we have, or of missing that which we desire; for by the fear of these things, wee are brought into a carefull agony. Bashfulnesse is the feare of some rebuke or disgrace; and is a very honest passion. Shame is a feare begotten in us upon the remembrance of some evill which we have committed: And where this is found there is remaining some hope of goodnesse and amendment.
And this is the difference betwixt bashfulnesse, and shame, he that is ashamed is troubled through feare of such things as hee hath done; but he that is abashed feares lest some reproach may befall him: But the old writers use the words indifferently, calling shame bashfulnesse; and bashfulnesse shame.
The cause of feare is a IIcold that generally surprizeth us, by reason our whole heat (by the sudden apprehension of some thing) is driven unto the heart, as to the principall part; even as the people flie to their Governours, when they are frighted.
The instrument which this griefe useth, is the belly (or mouth of the stomach) For there the biting is first felt: And Galen in his third book of Demonstrations, writeth to this purpose;
When men are grieved (saith hee) choller flowes plentifully into the stomach, which causeth a biting; and that griefe, and biting never ceaseth untill they have vomited out the choller. They feele this biting underneath the gristle which is in the middle of the breast; which gristle is like a sword, and thereof is called 〈…〉, but the heart lyeth much higher. For the Stomach is placed under the midriffe, and the heart above it.
The old writers did use also to give the name of the heart to the mouth of the stomach; as namely, Hippocrates; & Thucidides, when hee talketh of the plague. His words be these, And when it came with some strength unto the heart, (meaning the stomach) it made it give up; and there came from it as many purgations of choller, as have been named of the Physitians. For, that which is turned up, and forced to vomit, is the mouth of the stomach, and not that bowel which we call the heart.