Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

But now let us consider the third member of the distinction which we brought, namely when dreams do rashly or by chance signify those things which afterward do happen. That taketh place in those things, whose cause is not in us, but rather distant, and far of, as if a man should see a victory, or a murder to happen in hosts far distant from him, or any man that is absent exalted to very great dignity. These things say the Peripatetics are joined together by chance: neither can they be conferred together, either as causes, or as signs. Even as if when we are talking of any body, the same man peradventure come in the mean while, we say Lupus est in fabula, when as yet the same mention making of him, was neither the cause, nor sign of his coming. So therefore these things are said to be joined together rashly, because both they come by chance, and also they seldom have success: for this is the nature of things coming by chance, to happen seldom.

But now let vs consider the third mēber of the distinction which we brought, namely when dreames do rashly or by chaunce signify those things which afterward do happē. That taketh place in those things, whose cause is not in vs, but rather distant, and far of, as if a man should see a victory, or a murther to happē in hostes far distant from him, or any man that is absent exalted to very greate dignity. These thinges say the Peripatitikes are ioyned together by chaunce: neither canne they be conferred together, eyther as causes, or as signes. Euen as if when we are talking of any body, the same man paradueuture come in the mean while, we say Lupus est in fabula, whē as yet the same mencion making of him, was neyther the cause, nor signe of hys commyng. So therfore these thinges are sayd to be ioyned together rashlye, bycause both they come by chaunce, and also they seldome haue successe: for this is the nature of things comming by chaunce, to happen seldome.

¹Farther, Aristotle hath taught, who they be, which above other foretell many things in dreams. And the same be chiefly attributeth unto idle persons & such as are ever prattling, & then to such as are melancholic & frantic, which are deprived both of senses and mind. He seemeth also to ascribe somewhat unto kinsfolks and friends. For these kind of men have very many dreams when they sleep. For prattlers and idle persons are wholly void of cogitations, wherefore they at inwardly filled with images and forms. The melancholic also by reason of the power and nature of melancholy, do dream very many things. Farther, they are very much given unto cogitations. The frantic also, because their mind is void both of the knowledge of the outward senses, and also of the use of reason: therefore they are utterly given to imaginations. Lastly, friends do for that cause see many things of their friends in their dreams, because they are very much careful and pensive for them. Al these men now rehearsed, are wont by dreams to foretell many things, because in diverse dreams and in a manner infinite, it is not possible, but that some true things happen sometimes. They which the whole day exercise themselves in shooting, do much oftener bit the mark, then they which do very seldom shoot. And they which play all the day at dice or tables, do much oftener throw good castes, then they which little or seldom use that kind of play.