CHAPTER XI
"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. 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.