Somnambulism a Fragment Quiz

PDF page 590: [The following fragment will require no other preface or com mentary than an extract from the Vienna Gazette of June 14, 1784. “At Great Glogau, in Silesia, the attention of physicians, and of the people, has been excited by the case of a young man, whose behaviour indicates perfect health in all respects but one. He has a habit of rising in his sleep, and performing a great many actions with as much order and exactness as when awake. This habit for a long time showed itself in freaks and achievements merely innocent, or, at least, only troublesome and inconvenient, till about six weeks ago. At that period a shocking event took place about three leagues from the town, and in the neighbourhood where the youth’s family resides. A young lady, travelling with her father by night, was shot dead upon the road, by some person unknown. The officers of jus tice took a good deal of pains to trace the author of the crime, and at length, by carefully comparing circumstances, a suspi cion was fixed upon this youth. After an accurate scrutiny, by the tribunal of the circle, he has been declared author of the murder: but what renders the case truly extraordinary is, that there are good reasons for believing that the deed was perpe trated by the youth while asleep, and was entirely unknown to himself. The young woman was the object of

PDF page 590: [The following fragment will require no other preface or com mentary than an extract from the Vienna Gazette of June 14, 1784. “At Great Glogau, in Silesia, the attention of physicians, and of the people, has been excited by the case of a young man, whose behaviour indicates perfect health in all respects but one. He has a habit of rising in his sleep, and performing a great many actions with as much order and exactness as when awake. This habit for a long time showed itself in freaks and achievements merely innocent, or, at least, only troublesome and inconvenient, till about six weeks ago. At that period a shocking event took place about three leagues from the town, and in the neighbourhood where the youth’s family resides. A young lady, travelling with her father by night, was shot dead upon the road, by some person unknown. The officers of jus tice took a good deal of pains to trace the author of the crime, and at length, by carefully comparing circumstances, a suspi cion was fixed upon this youth. After an accurate scrutiny, by the tribunal of the circle, he has been declared author of the murder: but what renders the case truly extraordinary is, that there are good reasons for believing that the deed was perpe trated by the youth while asleep, and was entirely unknown to himself. The young woman was the object of

PDF page 590: [The following fragment will require no other preface or com mentary than an extract from the Vienna Gazette of June 14, 1784. “At Great Glogau, in Silesia, the attention of physicians, and of the people, has been excited by the case of a young man, whose behaviour indicates perfect health in all respects but one. He has a habit of rising in his sleep, and performing a great many actions with as much order and exactness as when awake. This habit for a long time showed itself in freaks and achievements merely innocent, or, at least, only troublesome and inconvenient, till about six weeks ago. At that period a shocking event took place about three leagues from the town, and in the neighbourhood where the youth’s family resides. A young lady, travelling with her father by night, was shot dead upon the road, by some person unknown. The officers of jus tice took a good deal of pains to trace the author of the crime, and at length, by carefully comparing circumstances, a suspi cion was fixed upon this youth. After an accurate scrutiny, by the tribunal of the circle, he has been declared author of the murder: but what renders the case truly extraordinary is, that there are good reasons for believing that the deed was perpe trated by the youth while asleep, and was entirely unknown to himself. The young woman was the object of

PDF page 590: [The following fragment will require no other preface or com mentary than an extract from the Vienna Gazette of June 14, 1784. “At Great Glogau, in Silesia, the attention of physicians, and of the people, has been excited by the case of a young man, whose behaviour indicates perfect health in all respects but one. He has a habit of rising in his sleep, and performing a great many actions with as much order and exactness as when awake. This habit for a long time showed itself in freaks and achievements merely innocent, or, at least, only troublesome and inconvenient, till about six weeks ago. At that period a shocking event took place about three leagues from the town, and in the neighbourhood where the youth’s family resides. A young lady, travelling with her father by night, was shot dead upon the road, by some person unknown. The officers of jus tice took a good deal of pains to trace the author of the crime, and at length, by carefully comparing circumstances, a suspi cion was fixed upon this youth. After an accurate scrutiny, by the tribunal of the circle, he has been declared author of the murder: but what renders the case truly extraordinary is, that there are good reasons for believing that the deed was perpe trated by the youth while asleep, and was entirely unknown to himself. The young woman was the object of

PDF page 591: his affection, and the journey in which she had engaged had given him the ut most anxiety for her safety.”] Our guests were preparing to retire for the night, when somebody knocked loudly at the gate. The person was imme diately admitted, and presented a letter to Mr. Davis. This letter was from a friend, in which he informed our guest of cer tain concerns of great importance, on which the letter-writer was extremely anxious to have a personal conference with his friend; but knowing that he intended to set out from —— four days previous to his writing, he was hindered from setting out by the apprehension of missing him upon the way. Meanwhile, he had deemed it best to send a special messsage to quicken his motions, should he be able to find him. The importance of this interview was such, that Mr. Davis declared his intention of setting out immediately. No solicita tions could induce him to delay a moment. His daughter, con vinced of the urgency of his motives, readily consented to brave the perils and discomforts of a nocturnal journey. This event had not been anticipated by me. The shock that it produced in me was, to my own apprehension, a subject of surprise. I could not help perceiving that it was greater than the occasion would justify. The pleasures of this intercourse were, in a moment, to be ravished from me. I was to part from my new friend, and when we should again meet it was impos sible to foresee. It was then that I recollected her expressions, that assured me that her choice was fixed upon another. If I saw her again, it would probably be as a wife. The claims of friendship, as well as those of love, would then be swallowed up by a superior and hateful obligation.

PDF page 590: [The following fragment will require no other preface or com mentary than an extract from the Vienna Gazette of June 14, 1784. “At Great Glogau, in Silesia, the attention of physicians, and of the people, has been excited by the case of a young man, whose behaviour indicates perfect health in all respects but one. He has a habit of rising in his sleep, and performing a great many actions with as much order and exactness as when awake. This habit for a long time showed itself in freaks and achievements merely innocent, or, at least, only troublesome and inconvenient, till about six weeks ago. At that period a shocking event took place about three leagues from the town, and in the neighbourhood where the youth’s family resides. A young lady, travelling with her father by night, was shot dead upon the road, by some person unknown. The officers of jus tice took a good deal of pains to trace the author of the crime, and at length, by carefully comparing circumstances, a suspi cion was fixed upon this youth. After an accurate scrutiny, by the tribunal of the circle, he has been declared author of the murder: but what renders the case truly extraordinary is, that there are good reasons for believing that the deed was perpe trated by the youth while asleep, and was entirely unknown to himself. The young woman was the object of

PDF page 591: his affection, and the journey in which she had engaged had given him the ut most anxiety for her safety.”] Our guests were preparing to retire for the night, when somebody knocked loudly at the gate. The person was imme diately admitted, and presented a letter to Mr. Davis. This letter was from a friend, in which he informed our guest of cer tain concerns of great importance, on which the letter-writer was extremely anxious to have a personal conference with his friend; but knowing that he intended to set out from —— four days previous to his writing, he was hindered from setting out by the apprehension of missing him upon the way. Meanwhile, he had deemed it best to send a special messsage to quicken his motions, should he be able to find him. The importance of this interview was such, that Mr. Davis declared his intention of setting out immediately. No solicita tions could induce him to delay a moment. His daughter, con vinced of the urgency of his motives, readily consented to brave the perils and discomforts of a nocturnal journey. This event had not been anticipated by me. The shock that it produced in me was, to my own apprehension, a subject of surprise. I could not help perceiving that it was greater than the occasion would justify. The pleasures of this intercourse were, in a moment, to be ravished from me. I was to part from my new friend, and when we should again meet it was impos sible to foresee. It was then that I recollected her expressions, that assured me that her choice was fixed upon another. If I saw her again, it would probably be as a wife. The claims of friendship, as well as those of love, would then be swallowed up by a superior and hateful obligation.

PDF page 591: his affection, and the journey in which she had engaged had given him the ut most anxiety for her safety.”] Our guests were preparing to retire for the night, when somebody knocked loudly at the gate. The person was imme diately admitted, and presented a letter to Mr. Davis. This letter was from a friend, in which he informed our guest of cer tain concerns of great importance, on which the letter-writer was extremely anxious to have a personal conference with his friend; but knowing that he intended to set out from —— four days previous to his writing, he was hindered from setting out by the apprehension of missing him upon the way. Meanwhile, he had deemed it best to send a special messsage to quicken his motions, should he be able to find him. The importance of this interview was such, that Mr. Davis declared his intention of setting out immediately. No solicita tions could induce him to delay a moment. His daughter, con vinced of the urgency of his motives, readily consented to brave the perils and discomforts of a nocturnal journey. This event had not been anticipated by me. The shock that it produced in me was, to my own apprehension, a subject of surprise. I could not help perceiving that it was greater than the occasion would justify. The pleasures of this intercourse were, in a moment, to be ravished from me. I was to part from my new friend, and when we should again meet it was impos sible to foresee. It was then that I recollected her expressions, that assured me that her choice was fixed upon another. If I saw her again, it would probably be as a wife. The claims of friendship, as well as those of love, would then be swallowed up by a superior and hateful obligation.

PDF page 594: contemplation of its immediate effects. There were twenty miles to a ferry, by which the travellers designed to cross the river, and at which they expected to arrive at sun-rise the next morning. I have said that the intermediate way was plain and direct. Their guide professed to be thoroughly acquainted with it.—From what quarter, then, could danger be expected to arise? It was easy to enumerate and magnify possibilities; that a tree, or ridge, or stone unobserved might overturn the carriage; that their horse might fail, or be urged, by some accident, to flight, were far from being impossible. Still they were such as justified caution. My vigilance would, at least, contribute to their security. But I could not for a moment divest myself of the belief, that my aid was indispensable. As I pondered on this image my emotions arose to terror. All men are, at times, influenced by inexplicable sentiments. Ideas haunt them in spite of all their efforts to discard them. Prepossessions are entertained, for which their reason is unable to discover any adequate cause. The strength of a belief, when it is destitute of any rational foundation, seems, of itself, to fur nish a new ground for credulity. We first admit a powerful per suasion, and then, from reflecting on the insufficiency of the ground

PDF page 595: on which it is built, instead of being prompted to dis miss it, we become more forcibly attached to it. I had received little of the education of design. I owed the formation of my character chiefly to accident. I shall not pre tend to determine in what degree I was credulous or supersti tious. A belief, for which I could not rationally account, I was sufficiently prone to consider as the work of some invisible agent; as an intimation from the great

PDF page 595: vivid. My passions, when I allowed them sway, were incontroulable. My conduct, as my feelings, was characterised by precipitation and headlong energy. On this occasion I was eloquent in my remonstrances. I could not suppress my opinion, that unseen danger lurked in their way. When called upon to state the reasons of my apprehen sions, I could only enumerate possibilities of which they were already apprised, but which they regarded in their true light. I somnambulism 5 made bold enquiries into the importance of the motives that should induce them to expose themselves to the least hazard. They could not urge their horse beyond his real strength. They would be compelled to suspend their journey for some time the next day. A few hours were all that they could hope to save by their utmost expedition. Were a few hours of such infinite moment? In these representations I was sensible that I had overleaped the bounds of rigid decorum. It was not my place to weigh his motives and inducements. My age and situation, in this family, rendered silence and submission my peculiar province. I had hitherto confined myself within bounds of scrupulous propri ety, but now I had

PDF page 596: suddenly lost sight of all regards but those which related to the safety of the travellers. Mr. Davis regarded my vehemence with suspicion. He eyed me with more attention than I had hitherto received from him. The impression which this unexpected interference made upon him, I was, at the time, too much absorbed in other con siderations to notice. It was afterwards plain that he suspected my zeal to originate in a passion for his daughter, which it was by no means proper for him to encourage. If this idea occurred to him, his humanity would not suffer it to generate indigna tion or resentment in his bosom. On the contrary, he treated my arguments with mildness, and assured me that I had over rated the inconveniences and perils of the journey. Some re gard was to be paid to his daughter’s ease and health. He did not believe them to be materially endangered. They should make suitable provision of cloaks and caps against the inclem ency of the air. Had not the occasion been extremely urgent, and of that urgency he alone could be the proper judge, he should certainly not consent to endure even these trivial in conveniences. “But you seem,” continued he, “chiefly anxious for my daughter’s sake. There is, without doubt, a large por tion of gallantry in your fears. It is natural and venial in a young man to take infinite pains for the service of the ladies; but, my dear, what say you? I will refer this important question to your decision. Shall we go, or wait till the morning?” “Go, by all means,” replied she. “I confess the fears that have been expressed appear to be groundless. I am bound to our 6 charles brockden brown young friend for the concern he takes in our welfare,

PDF page 596: suddenly lost sight of all regards but those which related to the safety of the travellers. Mr. Davis regarded my vehemence with suspicion. He eyed me with more attention than I had hitherto received from him. The impression which this unexpected interference made upon him, I was, at the time, too much absorbed in other con siderations to notice. It was afterwards plain that he suspected my zeal to originate in a passion for his daughter, which it was by no means proper for him to encourage. If this idea occurred to him, his humanity would not suffer it to generate indigna tion or resentment in his bosom. On the contrary, he treated my arguments with mildness, and assured me that I had over rated the inconveniences and perils of the journey. Some re gard was to be paid to his daughter’s ease and health. He did not believe them to be materially endangered. They should make suitable provision of cloaks and caps against the inclem ency of the air. Had not the occasion been extremely urgent, and of that urgency he alone could be the proper judge, he should certainly not consent to endure even these trivial in conveniences. “But you seem,” continued he, “chiefly anxious for my daughter’s sake. There is, without doubt, a large por tion of gallantry in your fears. It is natural and venial in a young man to take infinite pains for the service of the ladies; but, my dear, what say you? I will refer this important question to your decision. Shall we go, or wait till the morning?” “Go, by all means,” replied she. “I confess the fears that have been expressed appear to be groundless. I am bound to our 6 charles brockden brown young friend for the concern he takes in our welfare,

PDF page 597: but cer tainly his imagination misleads him. I am not so much a girl as to be scared merely because it is dark.” I might have foreseen this decision; but what could I say? My fears and my repugnance were strong as ever. The evil that was menaced was terrible. By remaining where they were till the next day they would escape it. Was no other method sufficient for their preservation? My attendance would effectually obviate the danger. This scheme possessed irresistible attractions. I was thankful to the danger for suggesting it. In the fervour of my concep tions, I was willing to run to the world’s end to show my de votion to the lady. I could sustain, with alacrity, the fatigue of many nights of travelling and watchfulness. I should unspeak ably prefer them to warmth and ease, if I could thereby extort from this lady a single phrase of gratitude or approbation. I proposed to them to bear them company, at least till the morning light. They would not listen to it. Half my purpose was indeed answered by the glistening eyes and affectionate looks of Miss Davis, but the remainder I was pertinaciously bent on likewise accomplishing. If Mr. Davis had not suspected my motives, he would probably have been less indisposed to com pliance. As it was, however, his objections were insuperable. They earnestly insisted on my relinquishing my design. My uncle, also, not seeing any thing that justified extraordinary precautions, added his injunctions. I was conscious of my in ability to show any sufficient grounds for my fears. As long as their representations rung in my ears, I allowed myself to be ashamed of my weakness, and conjured up a temporary per suasion that my attendance was, indeed, superfluous, and that I should show most wisdom in suffering them to depart alone.