CH. III.] ACTIONS OF PLEASURE AND PAIN. 125 



form it. Therewith is combined the emotion of shame, and 

 the face reddens. This reddening is incidental. A philosopher 

 studies from a foreseeing of fame, until he is hypochondriacal 

 and loses his digestive powers. This action of deep thought 

 (vide § 332) is only incidental to the anticipation of fame, &c. 



247. Since sensational foreseeings and prophetic visions are 

 occasionally so vivid in dreams, and especially in somnambulism, 

 as well as in insanity and prophetic ecstasy, that they equal true 

 sensations, particularly as they become usually in such persons 

 imperfect external sensations, and constitute the greater number 

 of apparitions, spectres, &c. (148, 243), — they develope the same 

 actions as are produced by true external sensations. 



248. The poetic faculty [Dichtungskraft] is occupied with 

 foreseeings as well as imaginations, and according to the same 

 laws. Hence it is that somnambulists, visionaries, lunatics, 

 inspired persons, soothsayers, &c., are as much deluded by the 

 foreseeings of their bodings and expectations as by their ima- 

 ginations, taking both for true sensations, while their sentient 

 actions are equally erroneous (237). 



249. The true expectations differ from the foreseeings in 

 this, that their sentient actions are confined to the brain, and 

 do not extend to the mechanical machines. 



Actions of Sensational Pleasure and Pain through the Nerves 

 on the Mechanical Machines. 



250. So soon as a sensation, or other conception of the mind, 

 pleases or displeases, or contains the excitants of the feelings 

 (88), it is said that they touch the heart, that the heart sympa- 

 thizes, &c. This mode of expression has its rise in the universal 

 experience, that the movements of the heart, and especially 

 those actions termed vital by physiologists, are manifestly 

 affected by all conceptions which please or displease. It is 

 said of the pleasant external sensation excited by food, drink, 

 or medicine, that it goes to the heart, enlivens, strengthens the 

 heart. A beautiful sight, or music, soothes the soul and 

 exhilarates the heart. Tickling excites convulsive respiration 

 and laughter, and accelerates the whole circulation. Pain 

 causes fever, and sighing, groaning, and weeping. Pleasant 

 condolence, or a kind visit, refreshes the heart ; a reproof that 



