CHAPTER [III.] <XI>
"IT is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original
[æra] <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 {MS Ingolstadt,}
[Ingoldstadt;] <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] <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,]
<but> feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat
down and wept.