CENTURY VII. 377 



the spirits : for it must be noted, that many motions, 

 though they be unprofitable to expel that which 

 hurteth, yet they are offers of nature, and cause mo 

 tions by consent, as in groaning, or crying upon pain. 

 714. Grief and pain cause sighing, sobbing, 

 groaning, screaming, and roaring ; tears, distorting 

 of the face, grinding of the teeth, sweating. Sighing 

 is caused by the drawing in of a greater quantity of 

 breath to refresh the heart that laboureth ; like a 

 great draught when one is thirsty. Sobbing is the 

 same thing stronger. Groaning, and screaming, and 

 roaring, are caused by an appetite of expulsion, as 

 hath been said : for when the spirits cannot expel the 

 thing that hurteth, in their strife to do it, by motion 

 of consent, they expel the voice. And this is when 

 the spirits yield, and give over to resist : for if one do 

 constantly resist pain, he will not groan. Tears are \ 

 caused by a contraction of the spirits of the brain : 

 which contraction by consequence astringeth the 

 moisture of the brain, and thereby sendeth tears into 

 the eyes. And this contraction or compression causeth 

 also wringing of the hands ; for wringing is a gesture 

 of expression of moisture. The distorting of the face 

 is caused by a contention, first to bear and resist, and 

 then to expel ; which maketh the parts knit first, and 

 afterwards open. Grinding of the teeth is caused 

 likewise, by a gathering and serring of the spirits to 

 gether to resist, which maketh the teeth also to sit 

 hard one against another. Sweating is also a com 

 pound motion, by the labour of the spirits, first to 

 resist, and then to expel. 



VOL. IV. 2 



