第53页 / 共483页

I paused, examining and analysing all the minutiae of causation,

as exemplified in the change from life to death, and death to

life, until from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke

in upon me-a light so brilliant and wondrous, yet so simple, that

while I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect which it

illustrated, I was surprised that among so many men of genius who

had directed their inquiries towards the same science, that I

alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.

Remember, I am not recording the vision of a madman. The sun does

not more certainly shine in the heavens than that which I now

affirm is true. Some miracle might have produced it, yet the

stages of the discovery were distinct and probable. After days

and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in

discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became

myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.