AND BODILY STATES UPON THE IMAGINATION. Jl 



Imagination is so great, that it presents to him in their pristine and 

 original colours scenes which have been long past. 



Many of these points are illustrated by the conversations of Lear, 

 during his paroxysms of mania. His discourses with Mad Tom 

 during the tempest — " first let me talk with this philosopher. 

 What is the cause of thunder ?" — and again, — te I'd speak a word 

 with this most learned Theban." Perhaps the master-stroke in this 

 part of the play is the fancied trial of Regan and Goneril for their 

 ingratitude, and his investment of his vagabond companions and the 

 disguised Kent with the appurtenances belonging to the adminis- 

 trators of justice. Thus Lear: 



ft It shall be done, I will arraign them straight : — 

 Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer; 

 Thou, sapient Sir, sit here. Now, you she foxes !" 



Again — 



" I'll see their trial first : — Bring in the evidence. — 

 Thou robed man of justice, take thy place ; 

 And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, 

 Bench by his side : — You are of the commission, 

 Sit you too." 



" Arraign her first ; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath, before this ho- 

 nourable assembly, she kicked the poor king her father.*' 



u And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim 

 What store her heart is made of. — Stop her there ! 

 Arms, arms, sword, fire ! — Corruption in the place ! 

 False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape ?" 



This utter chaos of the Imagination is highly descriptive of the 

 mental imagery of the maniac ; so wild, so wandering, occasionally 

 so absurd, and again so natural and pathetic as in this speech : 

 " Let them anatomize Regan, and see what breeds about her heart. 

 Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts." The 

 maniac's imagination surrounds him with angels and demons : he 

 holds conversations with them, promises them obedience, flies from 

 their fancied denunciations and horrible forms, and conducts himself 

 as though his chamber or his cell were actually peopled by the 

 beings that exist merely in his imagination. An unfortunate being, 

 under this variety of mental derangement, fancied that he saw 

 devils constantly about him ; and one day rushed upon a party of 

 visitors as upon a legion of demons. Another, during the day, was 

 generally tranquil, but, at night, fancied himself surrounded by 

 ghosts and phantoms. At different times he had imaginary confer- 



