On language: four humours in Shakespeare days and in his plays

In Shakespeare’s time, it was believed that human nature was governed by four fluids called ‘humours’: blood (sanguine), black bile (melancholy), yellow bile (choleric), and phlegm (phlegmatic).  Out of balance among these humours are responsible for the change of temperament (complexion).

sanguine 
Sanguineus in Latin is blood, thus sanguine complexion is having a healthy, red color; it is naturally cheerful or hopeful. The 30-year War of Roses were actually the Civil War of England fought between the two branches of the same family (House of York and House of Lancaster) between 1455 and 1485. In the Temple Garden scene of Shakespeare’s Henry VI, the contending factions pluck red (Lancaster) and white (York) rose to choose side. Shakespeare might be the one to blame to link the exquisitely beautiful rose to the war.

Basset to King, of the red rose of Lancaster:

Crossing the sea from England into France,
This fellow here, with envious carping tongue,
aying the sanguine color of the leaves.
                Part 1 Henry VI Act 4 Scene 1

melancholy 
Melanos in Latin is black, thus melancholic is ‘black bile’, which is due to higher bilirubin concentration, leading to gloomy mood, ill-temper or sullenness for sure. King John to Hubert: if that surly spirit, melancholy, / Had baked thy blood.


Chinese had different interpretation for these humors: ‘having bile’ (有膽量) means ‘courageous’ and there is certainly no scientific basis.

choleric 
Chole in Latin is bile; choleric (hot-tempered, irascible, easily irritable)

Dromio of Syracuse to Antipholus of Syracuse, advising him not to eat meat.

Dromio: If it be, sir, I pray you eat none of it.
Antipholus: Your reason?
Dromio: Lest it make you choleric,
                 The Comedy of Errors Act 2 Scene 2

phlegmatic 
Phlegm in Latin means sputum, cold and moist, phlegm is supposed to cause sluggishness; thus phlegmatic means sluggish bordered on indifference.

Quick: The young man is an honest man.

Caius: What shall de honest man do in my closet?
Dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
Quick: I beseech you be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it:
He came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
                  The Merry Wives of Windsor Act 1 Scene 4

In The Riverside Shakespeare, it was explained that Shakespeare’s use of ‘phlegmatic’ here is a blunder, he meant to use ‘choleric’ (angry).  Shakespeare might have mixed up with the physiology of his days!