“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.
