ANIMALS. 375 



newly brought into existence, describing the illusion of his first 

 BCiisations, and pointing out the steps by which he arrived at 

 reality. He considers him as just created, and awaking amidst 

 the productions of nature ; and, to animate the narrative still 

 more strongly, has made his philosophical man a speaker. The 

 reader will no doubt recollect Adam's speech in Milton as being 

 similar. All that I can say to obviate the imputation of plagiar- 

 ism is, that the one treats the subject more as a poet, the other 

 more as a philosopher. The philosopher's man describes his 

 first sensations in the following manner.^ 



I well remember that joyful anxious moment when I first be- 

 came acquainted with my own existence. I was quite ignorant 

 of what I was, how I was produced, or from whence I came. 

 I opened my eyes ; what an addition to my surprise ! the light 

 of the day, the azure vault of heaven, the verdure of the earth, 

 the crystal of the waters, all employed me at once, and animated 

 and filled me with inexpressible delight. I at first imagined 

 that all those objects were within me, and made a part of 

 myself. 



Impressed with this idea, I turned my eyes to the sun ; its 

 splendour dazzled and overpowered me ; I shut them once more ; 

 and, to my great concern, I supposed that during this short in. 

 terval of darkness, I was again returning to nothing. 



Afflicted, seized with astonishment, I pondered a moment on 

 this great change, when I heard a variety of unexpected sounds. 

 The whistling of the wind, and the melody of the groves, 

 formed a concert, the soft cadence of which sunk upon my soul. 

 I listened for some time, and was persuaded tliat all this music 

 was within me. 



Quite occupied with this new kind of existence, I had already 

 forgotten the light, which was my first inlet into life; wlien I 

 once more opened my eyes, and found myself again in possession 

 of my former happiness. The gratification of the two senses 

 at once, was a pleasure too great for utterance. 



I turned my eyes upon a thousand various objects ; I soon 

 found that I could lose them, and restore them at will ; and 

 amused myself more at leisure with a repetition of this new- 

 made power. 



3 ni:tt.iii. \-i I vi p. 83 



