ANIMALS. 377 



i-uived that there was something external, and which did not 

 m^ike 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 evei-y effort, I fell from one surprise into 

 another, for every object appeared equally near me ; and it was 

 not till after an infinity of trials, that I found some objects far- 

 ther removed than the rest. 



j\ mazed with the illusions, and the uncertainty 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 in- 

 stantly separated from the branch. I was proud of being able 

 to grasp a substance without me , I held them up, and their 

 weigi)t appeared to me like an animated power that endeavoured 

 to draw them to the earth. I found a pleasure in conquering 

 their resistance. 



I held them near to eye •, I considered their form and 

 beauty, their fragrance still more allured me to bring them 

 nearer ; I approached them to my lips, and drank in their odours ; 

 the perfume invited my sense of tasting, and I soon tried a new 

 sense — How new ! how exquisite ! Hitherto I had tasted only 

 of pleasiu-e ; but now it was luxury. . The power of tasting gave 

 me the idea of possession. 



Flattered with this new acquisition, I continued its exercise, till 

 an agreeable languor stealing upon my mind, I felt all my limbs 

 become 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 marked. At that in- 

 stant I sunk upon the flowery bank, and slumber seized me. All 

 now seemed once more lost to me. It was then as if I was return- 

 ing 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 ; and I then perceived that I had ceased for 

 a time to exist. This produced a new sen-^ation of fear ; and 

 from this interruption in life, I began to conclude that I was 

 not formed to exist for ever. 



In this state of doubt and perplexity, I began to harbour new 



suspicions ; and to fear that sleep iiad 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 



2 I 3 



