2(H THE MONOMANIAC. 



beat myself into submission !" and, with that, he tore away from the 

 wall, and struck himself about the head open-handed, but so gently 

 that the blows could not have hurt a babe. The description appears 

 ridiculous, but it was a mournful sight, and my heart sickened. 



Having continued this mummery for some time, the patient again 

 became calm, and without previous intimation took a seat near me 

 and resumed the conversation, venting many feeling ebullitions 

 against the hard fate which consigned him to so much misery, and 

 expressing the strongest pity for his other self, whom, he remarked, 

 was still more unfortunate. This mockery of reason by madness, be- 

 came too much for me to bear, and I offered to depart, but he now 

 pressed me so earnestly to stay, and painted so vividly his dejected 

 state when left "alone with himself," that I was constrained to 

 lengthen the period of my visit. Whilst engaged in discourse, the 

 attendant entered, bearing Hill's dinner (for he always insisted upon 

 dining in his own room), and then, at my request, left us again to- 

 gether. I remarked that the table was spread as if for two. 



" Now," said Hill, " I shall experience further annoyance before 

 I can swallow my victuals. You have just witnessed my frantic 

 humour ; you shall now see me in a sulky mood :" whereupon he folded 

 his hands upon his knee, shook his shoulders like a wayward school- 

 boy, and drooped his head in silence. This continued but for a mi- 

 nute, and looking up, he added " There, you see, I won't eat. 

 Here is a most excellent meal would that all my fellow-creatures 

 had one equally good ! and yet I am so obstinate that I won't taste 

 a mouthful ; myself is of course a sufferer through such mulishness, 

 as my own dinner is getting quite cold, for it would be unfeeling to 

 commence first." 



" It is indeed silly thus to self-impose the fate of Tantalus. What 

 remedy shall you employ to bring yourself to your senses ?" I asked. 



" None ; my senses have gone from me, and can neither be 

 brought to me, nor I to them ; they are irrecoverably lost, for I sent 

 the crier round every day for a month, offering a large reward for 

 their restoration, but, alas ! when the bellman returned, he said, ' Oh 

 no r to my inquiry concerning his success. The dog could not say 

 ( Oh yes !' when he was wanted." 



" You misapprehend me ; I mean, how do you bring yourself to 

 eat ? by coaxing and wheedling ?" 



" No ; I make threats of another beating, and then feed myself as I 

 would an infant you shall see." Assuming a sullen, morose ex- 

 pression of countenance, Hill then relapsed into a silence of several 

 moments ; after which he shook his fist in his own face and muttered 

 some unintelligible sound. " I have conquered !" he cried tri- 

 umphantly, and without further ceremony placed a portion of meat 

 on both plates, and took a mouthful alternately from each. Pre- 

 sently he smiled and said, " I told you so I knew it was all hum- 

 bug. Not eat, indeed ! I hate such d d nonsense ; but you see, 



a little wholesome admonition soon brought me about." With these 

 and like interjections he devoured his dinner, and I shortly after- 

 wards quitted him. 



I paid him many subsequent visits ; but a further description of 



