CENTURY VIII. 17 



another s behalf. The cast of the eye is a gesture of 

 aversion, or lothness to behold the object of pity. 



720. Wonder causeth astonishment, or an iminove- 

 able posture of the body ; casting up of the eyes to 

 heaven ; and lifting up of the hands. For astonish 

 ment, it is caused by the fixing of the mind upon one 

 object of cogitation, whereby it doth not spatiate and 

 transcur, as it useth ; for in wonder the spirits fly not, 

 as in fear ; but only settle, and are made less apt to 

 move. As for the casting up of the eyes and lifting 

 up of the hands, it is a kind of appeal to the Deity ; 

 which is the author, by power and providence, of 

 strange wonders. 



721. Laughing causeth a dilatation of the mouth 

 and lips ; a continued expulsion of the breath, with the 

 loud noise, which maketh the interjection of laughing ; 

 shaking of the breast and sides ; running of the eyes 

 with water, if it be violent and continued. Wherein 

 first it is to be understood, that laughing is scarce 

 (properly) a passion, but hath his source from the in 

 tellect ; for in laughing there ever precedeth a conceit 

 of somewhat ridiculous ; and therefore it is proper to 

 man. Secondly, that the cause of laughing is but a 

 light touch of the spirits, and not so deep an impres 

 sion as in other passions. And therefore (that which 

 hath no affinity with the passions of the mind) it is 

 moved, and that in great vehemency, only by tickling 

 some parts of the body : and we see that men even in 

 a grieved state of mind, yet cannot sometimes forbear 

 laughing. Thirdly, it is ever joined with some degree 

 of delight : and therefore exhilaration hath some affin 

 ity with joy, though it be a much lighter motion : res 



VOL. v. 2 



