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On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
I. Of the concupiscence, and of pleasure and griefe, which are the two parts, whereinto…
That part of the soule, which (as we have said before) is irrationall, and yet obeyeth reason, is divided into these two; namely, the concupiscible, and irascible part. The coNcupiscence is againe divided into pleasure and griefe: For if our concupiscence attaines to that which is desired, it breedeth a pleasure, and if it misseth of the same, it engendreth griefe.
This desire may another way be divided into four parts, the cōcupiscence it selfe being one of the foure. For of those things which are; some be good, some evill, some present, and some expected; and after this maner, if two bee multiplied, the parts in the division of the concupiscence will be foure: For you shall there find things good, things bad, things present, and things expected.
Now good expected, is this desire: Good when it is present, is pleasure. Evill when it is looked for, begetteth feare; when it is present, it bringeth griefe. If therefore you have respect to good things, therein consisteth pleasure and desire; but if you respect evill things, of them proceed feare and griefe. And for these considerations, some have divided affection into these foure parts; desire, pleasure, feare, grief. We call those things good and bad, that are either so indeed, or else reputed to be such.
Evill affections are ingendred IIin our minde, by these three things; Evill education, unskilfulnesse (or ignorance,) and by an evill constitution of Body.
For, if wee be not well educated, even from our childhood, so that wee may learne to master our passions in the beginning, wee soone fall into an immoderation almost incurable. By reason of ignorance also, a certaine perverse judgement is fostered in the reasonable part of our soule, which makes us think evill things to be good; and good things to be evill. And by meanes of an ill complexion (or constitution) of body, somewhat is likewise occasioned to our harme; For they in whom choller abound are inclined to fretfulnesse; and they who exceed in heat and moisture, are prone to lasciviousnesse.
Wee must endeavour therefore, to cure an evill custome by enuring our selves to good customes; we must remove ignorance by learning knowledge; & we must labour to rectifie the evill constitution of our bodies, by such bodily things, as may so much as is possible help to bring it into a meane temperature; which may be effected by a good dyet, by exercise, and by physick, if need be.