"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. "Soon a
gentle
light
stole
over
the
heavens
and
gave
me
a
sensation
of
pleasure. I started
up
and
beheld a radiant
form
rise
from
among
the
trees. [The moon] I gazed
with
a
kind
of
wonder.
It
moved
slowly,
but
it
enlightened my path,
and
I
again
went
out
in
search
of
berries. I
was
still
cold
when
under
one
of
the
trees I found a
huge
cloak,
with
which
I covered myself,
and
sat
down
upon
the
ground.
No
distinct
ideas
occupied my mind;
all
was
confused. I felt light,
and
hunger,
and
thirst,
and
darkness;
innumerable
sounds
rang
in
my ears,
and
on
all
sides
various
scents saluted me;
the
only
object
that
I
could
distinguish
was
the
bright
moon,
and
I fixed my
eyes
on
that
with
pleasure. "Several
changes
of
day
and
night
passed,
and
the
orb
of
night
had
greatly
lessened,
when
I began
to
distinguish
my
sensations
from
each
other. I gradually
saw
plainly
the
clear
stream
that
supplied
me
with
drink
and
the
trees
that
shaded
me
with
their
foliage. I
was
delighted
when
I
first
discovered
that
a
pleasant
sound,
which
often
saluted my ears,
proceeded
from
the
throats
of
the
little
winged animals
who
had
often
intercepted
the
light
from
my eyes. I began
also
to
observe,
with
greater
accuracy,
the
forms
that
surrounded
me
and
to
perceive
the
boundaries
of
the
radiant
roof
of
light
which
canopied me. Sometimes I tried
to
imitate
the
pleasant
songs
of
the
birds
but
was
unable. Sometimes I
wished
to
express my
sensations
in
my
own
mode,
but
the
uncouth
and
inarticulate
sounds
which
broke
from
me
frightened
me
into
silence again. "The moon had
disappeared
from
the
night,
and
again,
with
a lessened form,
showed
itself,
while
I
still
remained
in
the
forest. My
sensations
had
by
this
time
become
distinct,
and
my
mind
received
every
day
additional ideas. My
eyes
became accustomed
to
the
light
and
to
perceive
objects
in
their
right
forms; I distinguished
the
insect
from
the
herb,
and
by
degrees,
one
herb
from
another. I found
that
the
sparrow
uttered
none
but
harsh
notes, whilst
those
of
the
blackbird
and
thrush
were
sweet
and
enticing. "One day,
when
I
was
oppressed
by
cold, I found a
fire
which
had been left
by
some
wandering
beggars,
and
was
overcome
with
delight
at
the
warmth
I experienced
from
it.
In
my
joy
I thrust my
hand
into
the
live
embers,
but
quickly
drew
it
out
again
with
a
cry
of
pain.
How
strange, I thought,
that
the
same
cause
should
produce
such
opposite
effects! I
examined
the
materials
of
the
fire,
and
to
my
joy
found
it
to
be
composed
of
wood. I
quickly
collected
some
branches,
but
they
were
wet
and
would
not
burn. I
was
pained
at
this
and
sat
still
watching
the
operation
of
the
fire.
The
wet
wood
which
I had
placed
near
the
heat
dried
and
itself
became inflamed. I
reflected
on
this,
and
by
touching
the
various
branches, I
discovered
the
cause
and
busied
myself
in
collecting
a
great
quantity
of
wood,
that
I
might
dry
it
and
have
a plentiful supply
of
fire.
When
night
came
on
and
brought
sleep
with
it, I
was
in
the
greatest
fear
lest
my
fire
should
be
extinguished. I covered
it
carefully
with
dry
wood
and
leaves
and
placed
wet
branches
upon
it;
and
then,
spreading
my cloak, I
lay
on
the
ground
and
sank
into
sleep. "It
was
morning
when
I awoke,
and
my
first
care
was
to
visit
the
fire. I uncovered it,
and
a
gentle
breeze
quickly
fanned
it
into
a flame. I
observed
this
also
and
contrived
a
fan
of
branches,
which
roused
the
embers
when
they
were
nearly extinguished.
When
night
came
again
I found,
with
pleasure,
that
the
fire
gave
light
as
well
as
heat
and
that
the
discovery
of
this
element
was
useful
to
me
in
my food,
for
I found
some
of
the
offals
that
the
travellers had left had been roasted,
and
tasted
much
more
savoury
than
the
berries
I
gathered
from
the
trees. I tried, therefore,
to
dress my
food
in
the
same
manner,
placing
it
on
the
live
embers. I found
that
the
berries
were
spoiled
by
this
operation,
and
the
nuts
and
roots
much
improved. "Food, however, became scarce,
and
I
often
spent
the
whole
day
searching
in
vain
for
a
few
acorns
to
assuage
the
pangs
of
hunger.
When
I found this, I resolved
to
quit
the
place
that
I had hitherto inhabited,
to
seek
for
one
where
the
few
wants
I experienced
would
be
more
easily satisfied.
In
this
emigration
I exceedingly lamented
the
loss
of
the
fire
which
I had
obtained
through
accident
and
knew
not
how
to
reproduce
it. I gave
several
hours
to
the
serious
consideration
of
this
difficulty,
but
I
was
obliged
to
relinquish
all
attempt
to
supply it,
and
wrapping
myself
up
in
my cloak, I struck
across
the
wood
towards
the
setting
sun. I
passed
three
days
in
these
rambles
and
at
length
discovered
the
open
country. A
great
fall
of
snow
had taken
place
the
night
before,
and
the
fields
were
of
one
uniform white;
the
appearance
was
disconsolate,
and
I found my feet chilled
by
the
cold damp
substance
that
covered
the
ground. "It
was
about
seven
in
the
morning,
and
I
longed
to
obtain
food
and
shelter;
at
length
I
perceived
a small hut,
on
a rising ground,
which
had doubtless been built
for
the
convenience
of
some
shepherd.
This
was
a
new
sight
to
me,
and
I
examined
the
structure
with
great
curiosity.
Finding
the
door
open, I entered.
An
old
man
sat
in
it,
near
a fire,
over
which
he
was
preparing
his
breakfast.
He
turned
on
hearing a noise,
and
perceiving
me,
shrieked
loudly,
and
quitting
the
hut,
ran
across
the
fields
with
a
speed
of
which
his
debilitated
form
hardly
appeared
capable.
His
appearance,
different
from
any
I had
ever
before
seen,
and
his
flight
somewhat
surprised me.
But
I
was
enchanted
by
the
appearance
of
the
hut;
here
the
snow
and
rain
could
not
penetrate;
the
ground
was
dry;
and
it
presented
to
me
then
as
exquisite
and
divine
a
retreat
as
Pandemonium
appeared
to
the
demons
of
hell
after
their
sufferings
in
the
lake
of
fire. I
greedily
devoured
the
remnants
of
the
shepherd's breakfast,
which
consisted
of
bread, cheese, milk,
and
wine;
the
latter, however, I
did
not
like. Then,
overcome
by
fatigue, I
lay
down
among
some
straw
and
fell
asleep. "It
was
noon
when
I awoke,
and
allured
by
the
warmth
of
the
sun,
which
shone
brightly
on
the
white
ground, I determined
to
recommence
my travels; and,
depositing
the
remains
of
the
peasant's
breakfast
in
a
wallet
I found, I
proceeded
across
the
fields
for
several
hours,
until
at
sunset
I
arrived
at
a village.
How
miraculous
did
this
appear!
The
huts,
the
neater
cottages,
and
stately
houses
engaged my
admiration
by
turns.
The
vegetables
in
the
gardens,
the
milk
and
cheese
that
I
saw
placed
at
the
windows
of
some
of
the
cottages,
allured
my appetite.
One
of
the
best
of
these
I entered,
but
I had
hardly
placed
my
foot
within
the
door
before
the
children shrieked,
and
one
of
the
women fainted.
The
whole
village
was
roused;
some
fled,
some
attacked
me, until, grievously bruised
by
stones
and
many
other
kinds
of
missile
weapons, I
escaped
to
the
open
country
and
fearfully
took
refuge
in
a
low
hovel,
quite
bare,
and
making
a wretched
appearance
after
the
palaces
I had beheld
in
the
village.
This
hovel however,
joined
a
cottage
of
a
neat
and
pleasant
appearance,
but
after
my
late
dearly
bought experience, I
dared
not
enter
it. My
place
of
refuge
was
constructed
of
wood,
but
so
low
that
I
could
with
difficulty
sit
upright
in
it.
No
wood, however,
was
placed
on
the
earth,
which
formed
the
floor,
but
it
was
dry;
and
although
the
wind
entered
it
by
innumerable
chinks, I found
it
an
agreeable
asylum
from
the
snow
and
rain. "Here, then, I
retreated
and
lay
down
happy
to
have
found a shelter, however miserable,
from
the
inclemency
of
the
season,
and
still
more
from
the
barbarity
of
man.
As
soon
as
morning
dawned I crept
from
my kennel,
that
I
might
view
the
adjacent
cottage
and
discover
if
I
could
remain
in
the
habitation
I had found.
It
was
situated
against
the
back
of
the
cottage
and
surrounded
on
the
sides
which
were
exposed
by
a
pig
sty
and
a clear pool
of
water.
One
part
was
open,
and
by
that
I had crept in;
but
now
I covered
every
crevice
by
which
I
might
be
perceived
with
stones
and
wood,
yet
in
such
a
manner
that
I
might
move
them
on
occasion
to
pass out;
all
the
light
I
enjoyed
came
through
the
sty,
and
that
was
sufficient
for
me. "Having
thus
arranged
my dwelling
and
carpeted
it
with
clean straw, I retired,
for
I
saw
the
figure
of
a
man
at
a distance,
and
I
remembered
too
well
my treatment
the
night
before
to
trust
myself
in
his
power. I had first, however, provided
for
my
sustenance
for
that
day
by
a
loaf
of
coarse
bread,
which
I purloined,
and
a
cup
with
which
I
could
drink
more
conveniently
than
from
my
hand
of
the
pure
water
which
flowed
by
my retreat.
The
floor
was
a
little
raised,
so
that
it
was
kept perfectly dry,
and
by
its
vicinity
to
the
chimney
of
the
cottage
it
was
tolerably warm. "Being
thus
provided, I resolved
to
reside
in
this
hovel
until
something
should
occur
which
might
alter
my determination.
It
was
indeed
a
paradise
compared
to
the
bleak
forest, my
former
residence,
the
rain-dropping branches,
and
dank
earth. I ate my
breakfast
with
pleasure
and
was
about
to
remove a
plank
to
procure
myself
a
little
water
when
I
heard
a step,
and
looking
through
a small chink, I beheld a
young
creature,
with
a
pail
on
her
head, passing
before
my hovel.
The
girl
was
young
and
of
gentle
demeanour, unlike
what
I
have
since
found cottagers
and
farmhouse
servants
to
be.
Yet
she
was
meanly dressed, a
coarse
blue petticoat
and
a
linen
jacket
being
her
only
garb;
her
fair
hair
was
plaited
but
not
adorned:
she
looked
patient
yet
sad. I lost sight
of
her,
and
in
about
a
quarter
of
an
hour
she
returned
bearing
the
pail,
which
was
now
partly
filled
with
milk.
As
she
walked along, seemingly incommoded
by
the
burden, a
young
man
met her,
whose
countenance expressed a
deeper
despondence.
Uttering
a
few
sounds
with
an
air
of
melancholy,
he
took
the
pail
from
her
head
and
bore
it
to
the
cottage
himself.
She
followed,
and
they
disappeared. Presently I
saw
the
young
man
again,
with
some
tools
in
his
hand,
cross
the
field
behind
the
cottage;
and
the
girl
was
also
busied, sometimes
in
the
house
and
sometimes
in
the
yard. "On
examining
my dwelling, I found
that
one
of
the
windows
of
the
cottage
had
formerly
occupied a
part
of
it,
but
the
panes
had been
filled
up
with
wood.
In
one
of
these
was
a small
and
almost
imperceptible
chink
through
which
the
eye
could
just
penetrate.
Through
this
crevice
a small
room
was
visible, whitewashed
and
clean
but
very
bare
of
furniture.
In
one
corner,
near
a small fire, sat
an
old
man,
leaning
his
head
on
his
hands
in
a
disconsolate
attitude.
The
young
girl
was
occupied
in
arranging
the
cottage;
but
presently
she
took
something
out
of
a drawer,
which
employed
her
hands,
and
she
sat
down
beside
the
old
man, who,
taking
up
an
instrument, began
to
play
and
to
produce
sounds
sweeter
than
the
voice
of
the
thrush
or
the
nightingale.
It
was
a
lovely
sight,
even
to
me,
poor
wretch
who
had
never
beheld
aught
beautiful before.
The
silver
hair
and
benevolent
countenance
of
the
aged
cottager
won my reverence,
while
the
gentle
manners
of
the
girl
enticed
my love.
He
played
a
sweet
mournful air
which
I
perceived
drew
tears
from
the
eyes
of
his
amiable
companion,
of
which
the
old
man
took
no
notice,
until
she
sobbed
audibly;
he
then
pronounced a
few
sounds,
and
the
fair
creature,
leaving
her
work, knelt
at
his
feet.
He
raised
her
and
smiled
with
such
kindness
and
affection
that
I felt
sensations
of
a
peculiar
and
overpowering nature;
they
were
a
mixture
of
pain
and
pleasure,
such
as
I had
never
before
experienced,
either
from
hunger
or
cold,
warmth
or
food;
and
I withdrew
from
the
window,
unable
to
bear
these
emotions. "Soon
after
this
the
young
man
returned, bearing
on
his
shoulders a load
of
wood.
The
girl
met
him
at
the
door,
helped
to
relieve
him
of
his
burden,
and
taking
some
of
the
fuel
into
the
cottage,
placed
it
on
the
fire;
then
she
and
the
youth
went
apart
into
a
nook
of
the
cottage,
and
he
showed
her
a
large
loaf
and
a
piece
of
cheese.
She
seemed
pleased
and
went
into
the
garden
for
some
roots
and
plants,
which
she
placed
in
water,
and
then
upon
the
fire.
She
afterwards
continued
her
work, whilst
the
young
man
went
into
the
garden
and
appeared
busily
employed
in
digging
and
pulling
up
roots.
After
he
had been
employed
thus
about
an
hour,
the
young
woman
joined
him
and
they
entered
the
cottage
together. "The
old
man
had,
in
the
meantime, been pensive,
but
on
the
appearance
of
his
companions
he
assumed
a
more
cheerful air,
and
they
sat
down
to
eat.
The
meal
was
quickly
dispatched.
The
young
woman
was
again
occupied
in
arranging
the
cottage,
the
old
man
walked
before
the
cottage
in
the
sun
for
a
few
minutes,
leaning
on
the
arm
of
the
youth.
Nothing
could
exceed
in
beauty
the
contrast
between
these
two
excellent
creatures.
One
was
old,
with
silver
hairs
and
a countenance
beaming
with
benevolence
and
love;
the
younger
was
slight
and
graceful
in
his
figure,
and
his
features
were
moulded
with
the
finest
symmetry,
yet
his
eyes
and
attitude
expressed
the
utmost
sadness
and
despondency.
The
old
man
returned
to
the
cottage,
and
the
youth,
with
tools
different
from
those
he
had used
in
the
morning,
directed
his
steps
across
the
fields. "Night
quickly
shut
in,
but
to
my
extreme
wonder, I found
that
the
cottagers had a
means
of
prolonging
light
by
the
use
of
tapers,
and
was
delighted
to
find
that
the
setting
of
the
sun
did
not
put
an
end
to
the
pleasure I experienced
in
watching
my
human
neighbours.
In
the
evening
the
young
girl
and
her
companion
were
employed
in
various
occupations
which
I
did
not
understand;
and
the
old
man
again
took
up
the
instrument
which
produced
the
divine
sounds
that
had enchanted
me
in
the
morning.
So
soon
as
he
had finished,
the
youth
began,
not
to
play,
but
to
utter
sounds
that
were
monotonous,
and
neither
resembling
the
harmony
of
the
old
man's
instrument
nor
the
songs
of
the
birds; I
since
found
that
he
read aloud,
but
at
that
time I
knew
nothing
of
the
science
of
words
or
letters. "The family,
after
having
been
thus
occupied
for
a
short
time,
extinguished
their
lights
and
retired,
as
I conjectured,
to
rest."