SECT. XVIII. 12. OF SLEE?. 159 



into our bedchamber, we fometimes dream a whole hiftory of 

 thieves or fire in the very inftant of awaking. 



Daring the fufpenfion of volition we cannot compare our 

 other ideas with thofe of the parts of time in which they exid ; 

 that is, we cannot compare the imaginary fcene, which is before 

 us, with thofe changes of it, which precede or follow it : becaufe 

 this at of comparing requires recollection or voluntary exertion. 

 Whereas in our waking hours, we are perpetually making this 

 comparifon, and by that means our waking ideas are kept con- 

 fident with each other by intuitive analogy ; but this compari- 

 fon retards the fucceflion of them, by occafioning their repeti- 

 tion. Add to this, that the tranfaclions of our dreams confid 

 chiefly of vifible ideas, and that a whole hidory of thieves and fire 

 may be beheld in an indant of time like the figures in a pidture. 



1 2. Frojn this incapacity of attending to the parts of time irt 

 our dreams, arifes our ignorance of the length of the night ; 

 which, but from our condant experience to the contrary, we 

 fhould conclude was but a few minutes, when our ileep is per- 

 fect. The fame happens in our reveries : thus when we are 

 poflefled with vehement joy, grief, or anger, time appears fhort, 

 for we exert no volition to compare the prefent fcenery with the 

 pad or future ; but when we are compelled to perform thofe ex- 

 crcifes of mind or body, which are unmixed with pailion, as in 

 travelling over a dreary country, time appears long ; for our de- 

 fire to finifh our journey occafions us more frequently to com- 

 pare our prefent (ituation with the parts of time or place, which 

 are before and behind us. 



So when we are enveloped in deep contemplation of any kind, 

 or in reverie, as in reading a very intereding play or romance, 

 we meafure time very inaccurately ; and hence, if a play greatly 

 affefts our paffions, the abfurdities of palling over many days or 

 years, and of perpetual changes of place, are not perceived by 

 the audience ; as is experienced by every one, who reads or fees 

 fome plays of the immortal Shakeipeare : but it is neceffary for 

 inferior authors to obferve thofe rules of the irtfaw and TT^TTVO 

 inculcated by Aridotle, becaufe their works do not intered the 

 paffions iufficiently to produce complete reverie. 



fhofe works, however, whether a romance or a fermon, which 

 do not intered us fo much as to induce reverie, may neverthe- 

 lefs incline us to fleep. For thofe pleafurable ideas, which are 

 prefented to us, and are too gentle to excite laughter, (which is 

 attended with interrupted voluntary exertions, as explained 

 Sect. XXXIV. I. 4.) and which are not accompained with any 

 other emotion, which ufually excites fome voluntary exertion, 

 as anger, or fear, arc liable to produce ileep j which confifts in 



