58 HISTORY OF 



In this state of doubt and perplexity, I began 

 to harbour new suspicions, and to fear that sleep 

 had robbed me of some of my late powers j when, 

 turning on one side, to resolve my doubts, what 

 was my amazement to behold 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 serv- 

 ed to complete that happiness which was begun 

 in the individual ; and every sense was gratified 

 in all its varieties. 



CHAPTER V. 



OF OLD AGE AND DEATH.* 



EVERY thing in nature has its improvement and 

 decay. The human form is no sooner arrived at 

 its state of perfection, than it begins to decline. 

 The alteration is at first insensible, and often 

 several years are elapsed before we find ourselves 

 grown old. The news of this disagreeable change, 

 too, generally comes from without, and we learn 

 from others that we grow old, before we are will- 

 ing to believe the report. 



When the body has come to its full height, and 

 is extended into its just dimensions, it then also 

 begins to receive an additional bulk, which rather 



* This chapter is taken from M. Buffon, except where it is marked by 

 inverted commas. 



