DREAMS AND ILLUSIONS. 247 



I was amazed by the lively image brought before 

 me. I could adduce other instances from my own 

 experience and that of others to show that in a 

 waking and altogether normal state we may believe 

 in the reality of the image as we do in dreams. 



This vivid and momentary realization of images 

 is very common in the lower classes, who often talk 

 to themselves, and use gestures which show that they 

 are conversing at the moment with imaginary persons, 

 who stand before them as if they were really there, in 

 the same manner as in dreams. Indeed, every one has 

 experienced this phenomenon for himself, especially 

 when strongly excited by anger, sorrow, or hope. If 

 it were possible to reflect on the process of thought at 

 the time we should distinctly understand that we were 

 dreaming while still awake. 



The vivid imagination of artists is well known, so 

 that they are able to see and represent things and 

 persons, either in words, with the pencil, or the chisel, 

 just as if they were actually present. The image so 

 vividly realized is a necessary condition of the exercise 

 of their respective arts. When great poets, such as 

 Dante, Ariosto, Milton, and Goethe, conceived and 

 idealized their thoughts with every detail of circum- 

 stances, persons, actions, expressions, and move- 

 ments, no one can deny that the images were vividly 

 present to their minds, and that while' in the act 

 of composition these were unconsciously regarded 

 as having a real existence. If these poetic descrip- 



