Chap.V. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 269 



Having thus examined our Pbantafms while we are awake, I come 

 now to fpeak ofour Dreams, that is, our Phantafms in our Sleep ; but, 

 before I fay any thing of them, I will make fome obfervations upon 

 what Ariftotle does not call Dreams, but which certainly comes very 

 near to them, I mean our Rcafonings in our Sleep. 



That our Intelle<fl:, which operates, as well as our Phantafia, with- 

 out the afhftance of the Body, when we are av/ake, (hould operate, 

 as the Phantafia likewife does, when we are afleep, is very natural j 

 and, in fa£t, we are fure it fo happens. But it operates differently, 

 as the Phantafia likewife does in different men ; for, in vulgar men, 

 it operates, as it does when they are awake, upon the Phantafms 

 in the Imagination, reafoning, as fuch men do, upon corporeal 

 things and the events of human life. But, in the Philofopher, it is 

 very often employed in the fame way as it is during the day, reafon- 

 ing about truths eternal, and inveftigating theorems of fcience, not 

 converfant with things in generation and corruption, I have not, 

 therefore, the leaft doubt of the truth of what Synefius fays, concern- 

 ing his philofophic Dreams, having had fome experience of that kind 

 myfelf, and being well aflured that others have had the fame experi- 

 ence *. And it is very reafonable to think, that the Intelle<fi, in the 

 ftill and quiet of the night, when its attention is not called off by 

 any external objects, fhould be more colledled within itfelf, and 

 fliould operate better, than at any other time. 



That the exercife of this faculty of our Mind, when we are afleep, 

 as well as when we are awake, fhould be much affedted by the ha- 

 bit and difpofition of our Body and Mind, is both agreeable to rea- 

 ion, and confirmed by experience. If our Body is perfeftly found 

 and healthy, without being either overcharged with food, or in want 



of 



• See page 24 r. 



