"Beneath them kneeling on his knee, A superstitious man you see: He fasts, prays, on his idol fixt, Tormented hope and fear betwixt: For hell perhaps he takes more pain, Than thou dost heaven itself to gain. Alas poor soul, I pity thee, What stars incline thee so to be?"

Die Anatomy of Melancholy von Robert Burton gibt es online. Viel Text, zu allem überfluss auch noch englisch. Da muss ich wohl durch.

Link via pynchonoid