Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub
[subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]

THE WORKS

OF THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOSEPH ADDISON.

WITH NOTES

BY RICHARD HURD, D.D.

LORD BISHOP OF WORCESTER.

VOL. IV.

THE SPECTATOR.-THE GUARDIAN.-THE LOVER.-THE PRESENT
STATE OF THE WAR.-TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF COUNT TARIFF.
THE WHIG-EXAMINER. THE FREEHOLDER.

LONDON:

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCLIV.

Ң

824.52

JOHN CHILDS AND SON, BUNGAY.

THE SPECTATOR.

No. 487. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.

-Cum prostrata sopore

Urget membra quies, et mens sine pondere ludit. PETR.

THOUGH there are many authors who have written on dreams, they have generally considered them only as revelations of what has already happened in distant parts of the world, or as passages of what is to happen in future periods

of time.

I shall consider this subject in another light, as dreams may give us some idea of the great excellency of a human soul, and some intimations of its independency on matter.

In the first place, our dreams are great instances of that activity which is natural to the human soul, and which it is not in the power of sleep to deaden or abate. When the man appears tired and worn out with the labours of the day, this active part in his composition is still busied and unwearied. When the organs of sense want their due repose and necessary reparations, and the body is no longer able to keep pace with that spiritual substance to which it is united, the soul exerts herself in her several faculties, and continues in the action till her partner is again qualified to bear her company. In this case dreams look like the relaxations and amusements of the soul, when she is disencumbered of her machine, her sports and recreations, when she has laid her charge asleep.

In the second place, dreams are an instance of that agility and perfection which is natural to the faculties of the mind, when they are disengaged from the body. The soul is clogged and retarded in her operations, when she acts in conjunction

[blocks in formation]
« ForrigeFortsæt »