172 



A HISTORY OF 



with my face turned towards the heavens. I 

 happened to strike lightly against a palm-tree, 

 and this renewed my surprise : I laid my hand 

 on this strange body ; it seemed replete with 

 new wonders, for it did not return me sensa- 

 tion for sensation, as my former feelings had 

 done. I perceived that there was something 

 external, and which did not make a part of my 

 own existence. 



I now, therefore, resolved to touch whatever 

 I saw, and vainly attempted to touch the sun ; 

 I stretched forth my arm, and felt only yielding 

 air : at every effort, I fell from one surprise in- 

 to another, for every object appeared equally 

 near me ; and it was not till after an infinity 

 of trials, that I found some objects farther re- 

 moved than the rest. 



Amazed with the illusions, and the uncer- 

 tainty of my state, I sat down beneath a tree ; 

 the most beautiful fruits hung upon it, within 

 my reach ; I stretched forth my hand, and they 

 instantly separated from the branch. I was 

 proud of being able to grasp a substance with- 

 out me ; I held them up, and their weight ap- 

 peared to me like an animated power that en- 

 deavoured to draw them to the earth. I found 

 a pleasure in conquering their resistance. 



I held them near my eye ; I considered their 

 form and beauty ; their fragrance still more 

 allured me to bring them nearer ; I approach- 

 ed them to my lips, and drank in their odours ; 

 the perfume invited my sense of tasting, and 1 

 soon tried a new sense How new ! how ex- 

 quisite ! Hitherto I had tasted only of pleasure ; 



but now it was luxury. The power of tasting 

 gave me the idea of possession. 



Flattered with this new acquisition, I con- 

 tinued its excercise, till an agreeable languor 

 stealing upon my mind, I felt all my limbs be- 

 come heavy, and all my desires suspended. 

 My sensations were now no longer vivid and 

 distinct ; but seemed to lose every object, and 

 presented only feeble images, confusedly mark- 

 ed. At that instant I sunk upon the flowery 

 bank, and slumber seized me. All now seem- 

 ed once more lost to me. It was then as if I 

 was returning to my former nothing. How 

 long my sleep continued, I cannot tell ; as I 

 yet had no perception of time. My awaking 

 appeared like a second birth ; ami I then per- 

 ceived that I had ceased for a time to exist. 

 This produced a new sensation of fear ; and 

 from this interruption in life, I began to con- 

 clude that I was not formed to exist for 

 ever. 



In this state of doubt and perplexity, I be- 

 gan to harbour new suspicions ; and to frar 

 that sleep had robbed me of some of my late 

 powers ; when turning on one side, to resolve 

 my doubts, what was my amazement, to be- 

 hold another being like myself, stretched by 

 my side ! New ideas now began to arise ; 

 new passions, as yet unperceived, with fears 

 and pleasures, all took possession of my mind, 

 and prompted my curiosity : love served to 

 complete that happiness which was begun in 

 the individual ; and every sense was gratified 

 in all its varieties. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



OF OLD AGE AND DEATH. 1 



EVERY thing in nature has its improve- 

 ment and decay. The human form is no soon- 

 er arrived at its state of perfection, than it be- 

 gins to decline. The alteration is at first in- 

 sensible ; and often several years are elap- 

 sed before we find ourselves grown old. The 

 news of this disagreeable change too gene- 

 rally comes from without ; and we learn from 



This chapter is taken from Mr. Buffon, except where 

 it is marked by inverted commas. 



others that we grow old, before we are wil- 

 ling to believe the report. 



When the body has come to its full height, 

 and is extended into its justdimensions; it then 

 also begins to receive an additional bulk, which 

 rather loads than assists it. This is formed 

 from fat; which generally at the age of thirty- 

 five, or forty, covers all the muscles, and inter- 

 rupts their activity. Every action is then per- 

 formed with greater labour, and the increase 

 of size only serves as a forerunner of decay. 



