so that the mind becomes in great measure passive, and we can seldom discern any accurate recollection or powers of reasoning.

"Ebon night is no logician*."

Many things which did occur in sleep, and many things which strike the mind when we are awake, escape almost instantly from the memory, and are not recollected till perchance some remote event recall them to our remembrance so likewise drunken persons often forget the events and actions which took place during their intoxication; and with respect to dreams, Nebuchadnezzar forgot his dream till Daniel recalled it to his mind †.

Dreams, though sometimes forgotten almost as soon as framed, are not to be considered as useless: they may serve to exercise the faculties and improve the temper of the mind, which

* Mysterious Mother.

† Dan. ii. 5.

may derive profit from the contemplation of successive images, but could receive no advantage from apathy.

Incoherent as they are, they enable us on reconsideration to watch the temper of the mind, to regard its predominant affections, and to note its undisguised propensities; and they who are disposed to correct any mischievous tendencies, may be assisted thereby in discovering where it may be done with most benefit and effect.

Zeno was of opinion, that every one might form a judgment of his advancement in virtue from his dreams, since if he found himself not pleased with any thing disgraceful and unjust, but his powers of mind enlightened by reason, shining out for the reflection of pure images, like a placid and waveless sea, he might have ground for self approbation*; on the other

* Plutarch. Wyttenbach, vol. ii. p. 316.

hand, if in sleep the mind seemed readily to yield itself to vicious passions, there must be much cause for vigilance.

It was upon a similar conviction that Dionysius inflicted the punishment of death on Marsyas, for having dreamt that he had cut the tyrant's throat, being persuaded that it must have formed the subject of his waking thoughts *. When we are awake, as Plutarch has observed, if vice peeps out, it accommodates itself to the opinion of men, and is abashed; and veiling its passions, it does not entirely give up itself to its impulse, but restrains and contends with it, but in sleep flying beyond opinions and laws, and transgressing all modesty and shame, it excites every lust and stirs up its evil propensities, aiming even at the most dreadful crimes, and enjoying illegal things and images which terminate in no pleasure, but promote disorder. It is observable, however, that

*Plutarch. Dionys.

Plut. vol. i. p. 398. Edit. Wyttenbach.

when the passions operate to excess in dreams, the mind is affected with a sense of conscious guilt, the influence of which throws a gloom over the waking thoughts; and Plato was of opinion that the mind might be so subjected to the influence of reason, as not even in sleep to be carried away by any vicious desires.

The mind appears to entertain some idea of the length of time that the body has slept, though probably this is from a consideration of circumstances when it awakes, since its estimate does not seem to depend upon the succession of images which it has contemplated; and if sleep is extended to any unusual length of time, no accurate idea of the time elapsed is preserved, as a person who had slept for a week is known to have fancied that he had slept only one night.

ON

CHAPTER XIV.

THE NATURE AND EFFICIENT CAUSE OF

DREAMS.

The mind enjoys this prerogative and honourable distinction, that it can perform many things by its own powers; but the body can effect nothing but by the impulse and suggestion of the mind.-Levinus Lemmius de Occult. Nat. Mirac. L. i. C. 12. Hoc tamen prærogativæ, &c.

7

As dreams usually obtain when the senses are closed against external objects, they must be considered as the work of the mind, sketches of the fancy, deriving its materials and objects from experience. It is the pre-eminent glory of the mind that it can thus subsist, as it were, in a separate state, independently of the body, which in none of its regular functions, is removed from the superintendance and control of the mind.