CHAPTER III.
"IT is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original
æra 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. The light became more and
more oppressive to me; and, the heat wearying me as I walked, I
sought a place where I could receive shade. This was the forest
near Ingolstadt; and here I lay by the side of a brook resting
from my fatigue, until I felt tormented by hunger and thirst.
This roused me from my nearly dormant state, and I ate some
berries which I found hanging on the trees, or lying on the
ground. I slaked my thirst at the brook; and then lying down,
was overcome by sleep.
"It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened
as it were instinctively, finding myself so desolate. Before I
had quitted your apartment, on a sensation of cold, I had
covered myself with some clothes; but these were insufficient to
secure me from the dews of night. I was a poor, helpless,
miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but,
feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept.