صفحة 176 من 483

"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original

era of my being; all the events of that period appear confused

and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me,

and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt at the same time; and it was,

indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the

operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a

stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to

shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me and troubled me, but

hardly had I felt this when, by opening my eyes, as I now

suppose, the light poured in upon me again. I walked and, I

believe, descended, but I presently found a great alteration in

my sensations. Before, dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me,

impervious to my touch or sight; but I now found that I could

wander on at liberty, with no obstacles which I could not either

surmount or avoid.