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thy dissolution； than every one of the rest： the last step is not the
cause of lassitude： it does not confess it。 Every day travels towards
death； the last only arrives at it。〃 These are the good lessons our
mother Nature teaches。
I have often considered with myself whence it should proceed； that in war
the image of death； whether we look upon it in ourselves or in others；
should； without comparison； appear less dreadful than at home in our own
houses （for if it were not so； it would be an army of doctors and whining
milksops）； and that being still in all places the same； there should be；
notwithstanding； much more assurance in peasants and the meaner sort of
people； than in others of better quality。 I believe； in truth； that it
is those terrible ceremonies and preparations wherewith we set it out；
that more terrify us than the thing itself； a new； quite contrary way of
living； the cries of mothers； wives； and children； the visits of
astounded and afflicted friends； the attendance of pale and blubbering
servants； a dark room； set round with burning tapers； our beds environed
with physicians and divines； in sum； nothing but ghostliness and horror
round about us； we seem dead and buried already。 Children are afraid
even of those they are best acquainted with； when disguised in a visor；
and so 'tis with us； the visor must be removed as well from things as
from persons； that being taken away； we shall find nothing underneath but
the very same death that a mean servant or a poor chambermaid died a day
or two ago； without any manner of apprehension。 Happy is the death that
deprives us of leisure for preparing such ceremonials。
CHAPTER XX
OF THE FORCE OF IMAGINATION
〃Fortis imaginatio generat casum；〃 say the schoolmen。
＇〃A strong imagination begets the event itself。〃Axiom。 Scholast。＇
I am one of those who are most sensible of the power of imagination：
every one is jostled by it； but some are overthrown by it。 It has a very
piercing impression upon me； and I make it my business to avoid； wanting
force to resist it。 I could live by the sole help of healthful and jolly
company： the very sight of another's pain materially pains me； and I
often usurp the sensations of another person。 A perpetual cough in
another tickles my lungs and throat。 I more unwillingly visit the sick
in whom by love and duty I am interested； than those I care not for； to
whom I less look。 I take possession of the disease I am concerned at；
and take it to myself。 I do not at all wonder that fancy should give
fevers and sometimes kill such as allow it too much scope； and are too
willing to entertain it。 Simon Thomas was a great physician of his time：
I remember； that happening one day at Toulouse to meet him at a rich old
fellow's house； who was troubled with weak lungs； and discoursing with
the patient about the method of his cure； he told him； that one thing
which would be very conducive to it； was to give me such occasion to be
pleased with his company； that I might come often to see him； by which
means； and by fixing his eyes upon the freshness of my complexion； and
his imagination upon the sprightliness and vigour that glowed in my
youth； and possessing all his senses with the flourishing age wherein I
then was； his habit of body might； peradventure； be amended； but he
forgot to say that mine； at the same time； might be made worse。 Gallus
Vibius so much bent his mind to find out the essence and motions of
madness； that； in the end； he himself went out of his wits； and to such a
degree； that he could never after recover his judgment； and might brag
that he was become a fool by too much wisdom。 Some there are who through
fear anticipate the hangman； and there was the man； whose eyes being
unbound to have his pardon read to him； was found stark dead upon the
scaffold； by the stroke of imagination。 We start； tremble； turn pale；
and blush； as we are variously moved by imagination； and； being a…bed；
feel our bodies agitated with its power to that degree； as even sometimes
to expiring。 And boiling youth； when fast asleep； grows so warm with
fancy； as in a dream to satisfy amorous desires：
〃Ut； quasi transactis saepe omnibu rebu； profundant
Fluminis ingentes； fluctus； vestemque cruentent。〃
Although it be no new thing to see horns grown in a night on the forehead
of one that had none when he went to bed； notwithstanding； what befell
Cippus； King of Italy； is memorable； who having one day been a very
delighted spectator of a bullfight； and having all the night dreamed that
he had horns on his head； did； by the force of imagination； really cause
them to grow there。 Passion gave to the son of Croesus the voice which
nature had denied him。 And Antiochus fell into a fever； inflamed with
the beauty of Stratonice； too deeply imprinted in his soul。 Pliny
pretends to have seen Lucius Cossitius； who from a woman was turned into
a man upon her very wedding…day。 Pontanus and others report the like
metamorphosis to have happened in these latter days in Italy。 And；
through the vehement desire of him and his mother：
〃Volta puer solvit； quae foemina voverat； Iphis。〃
Myself passing by Vitry le Francois； saw a man the Bishop of Soissons
had； in confirmation； called Germain； whom all the inhabitants of the
place had known to be a girl till two…and…twenty years of age； called
Mary。 He was； at the time of my being there； very full of beard； old；
and not married。 He told us； that by straining himself in a leap his
male organs came out； and the girls of that place have； to this day； a
song； wherein they advise one another not to take too great strides； for
fear of being turned into men； as Mary Germain was。 It is no wonder if
this sort of accident frequently happen； for if imagination have any
power in such things； it is so continually and vigorously bent upon this
subject； that to the end it may not so often relapse into the same
thought and violence of desire； it were better； once for all； to give
these young wenches the things they long for。
Some attribute the scars of King Dagobert and of St。 Francis to the force
of imagination。 It is said； that by it bodies will sometimes be removed
from their places； and Celsus tells us of a priest whose soul would be
ravished into such an ecstasy that the body would； for a long time；
remain without sense or respiration。 St。 Augustine makes mention of
another； who； upon the hearing of any lamentable or doleful cries； would
presently fall into a swoon； and be so far out of himself； that it was in
vain to call； bawl in his ears； pinch or burn him； till he voluntarily
came to himself； and then he would say； that he had heard voices as it
were afar off； and did feel when they pinched and burned him； and； to
prove that this was no obstinate dissimulation in defiance of his sense
of feeling； it was manifest； that all the while he had neither pulse nor
breathing。
'Tis very probable； that visions； enchantments； and all extraordinary
effects of that nature； derive their credit principally from the power of
imagination； working and making its chiefest impression upon vulgar and
more easy souls； whose belief is so strangely imposed upon； as to think
they see what they do not see。
I am not satisfied whether those pleasant ligatures ＇Les nouements
d'aiguillettes； as they were called； knots tied by some one； at a
wedding； on a strip of leather； cotton； or silk； and which； especially
when passed through the wedding…ring； were supposed to have the magical
effect of preventing a consummation of the marriage until they were
untied。 See Louandre； La Sorcellerie； 1853； p。 73。 The same
superstition and appliance existed in England。＇ with which this age of
ours is so occupied； that there is almost no other talk； are not mere
voluntary impressions of apprehension and fear； for I know； by
experience； in the case of a particular friend of mine； one for whom I
can be as responsible as for myself； and a man that cannot possibly fall
under any manner of suspicion of insufficiency； and as little of being
enchanted； who having heard a companion of his make a relation of an
unusual frigidity that surprised him at a very unseasonable time； being
afterwards himself engaged upon the same account； the horror of the
former story on a sudden so strangely possessed his imagination； that he
ran the same fortune the other had done； and from that time forward； the
scurvy remembrance of his disaster running in his mind and tyrannising
over him； he was subject to relapse into the same misfortune。 He found
some remedy； however； for this fancy in another fancy； by himself frankly
confessing and declaring beforehand to the party with whom he was to have
to do； this subjection of his； by which means； the agitation of his soul
was； in some sort； appeased； and knowing that； now； some such
misbehaviour was expected from him； the restraint upon his faculties grew
less。 And afterwards； at such times as he was in no such apprehension；
when setting about the act （his thoughts being then disengaged and free；
and his body in its true and natural estate） he was at leisure to cause
t