Sect. XVIII. 12. OF SLEEP. i 59 



into our bedchamber, we fometimes ftream a whole hiftory of 

 thieves or fire in the very in ft ant of awaking. 



During the fufpenfion of volition we cannot compare our 

 other ideas with thofe of the parts of lime in which they exift ; 

 that is, we cannot compare the imaginary fcene, which 45 before 

 us, with thofe changes of it, which precede or follow it : becaufe 

 this a<ft of comparing requires recollection or voluntary exertion. 

 Whereas in our waking hours, we are perpetually making this 

 comparifon, and by that means our waking ideas are kept con- 

 fiftent with each other by intuitive analogy -, but this compari- 

 fon retards the fuccefiion of them, by cccafioning their repeti- 

 tion. Add to this, that the tranfae~tions of our dreams confifl 

 chiefly of vifible ideas, and that a whole hiftory of thieves and fire 

 may be beheld in an inftant of time like the figures in a picture. 

 12. From this incapacity of attending to the parts of time in 

 our dreams, arifes our ignorance of the length of the night ; 

 which, but from our conltant experience to the contrary, we 

 fliould conclude was but a few minutes, when our deep is per- 

 fect:. The fame happens in our reveries ; thus when we are 

 poflefled with vehement joy, grief, or anger, time appears fliort, 

 for we exert no volition to compare the prefent fcenery with die 

 paft or future ; but when we are compelled to perform thofe ex- 

 ercifes of mind or body, which are unmixed with paflion, as in 

 travelling over a dreary country, time appears long ; for our de- 

 fire to finifh our journey occafions us more frequently to com- 

 pare our prefent fituation with the parts of time or place, which 

 are before and behind us. 



So when we are enveloped in deep contemplation of any kind, 

 or in reverie, as in reading a very interefting play or romance, 

 we meafivre time very inaccurately ; and hence, if a play greatly 

 affects our pailions, the abfurdities of palling over many days or 

 years, and of perpetual changes of place, are not perceived by 

 the audience ; as is experienced by every one, who reads or fees 

 fome plays of the immortal Shakfpeare 5 but it is neteflary for 

 inferior authors to obferve thofe rules of the iri6*vc» and t^th* 

 inculcated by Ariftotle, becaufe their works do not intereft the 

 pailions fufficiently to produce complete reverie. 



Thofe works, however, whether a romance or a fermon, which. 

 do not intereft us fo much as to induce reverie, may neverthe- 

 ;l lefs incline us to fleep. For thofe pleafurable ideas, which are 

 prefented to us, and are too gentle to excite laughter, (which is 

 attended with interrupted voluntary exertions, as explained 

 Seel. XXXIV. 1.4.) and which are not accompanied with any 

 other emotion, which ufually excites fome voluntary exertion, 

 as anger, or fear, are liable to produce ileep - 3 which eonfift* in 



a 



