DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0026
12
HISTORY OF A SLEEP WALKER.
that has yet been observed. This man was of the middling
size, of a complection between pale and brown, of a very
dry constitution, hot and passionate temper, and addicted
to drinking; he acknowledged that he had been accustom-
ed to walk in his sleep from the age of eleven years, and
what was not a little extraordinary, his fits took him only
in spring, that is, from the beginning of March till about
the middle of April. In other seasons his sleep was tran-
quil, excepting a few nights in autumn, when he used
suddenly to raise himself in his bed, on which he awoke,
lay down and quietly fell asleep again.
The first scene began about the hour of two in the morn-
ing, some time before which he appeared so overcome
with sleep that he could scarcely support himself. He
then sat down on a chair in the anti-chamber, and there
slept as usual for a quarter of an hour. Afterwards sitting
up straight he remained some time motionless as if in pro-
found thought or listening to something. He then rose,
walked about in the anti-chamber, took his snuff-box out
of his pocket for the purpose of taking a pinch ; but find-
ing scarcely any snuff, he seemed vexed at it, and went
up to a chair in which the steward of the marchioness
used to sit, called him by his name and asked him for
some snuff. An open box being presented to him, he
took a pinch and then placed himself in the attitude of a
person who listens; upon which as if he had received
orders to that effect, he ran and fetched a bougie and ap-
proached towards a candle which was always kept burn-
ing in the same place. Here supposing he had lighted
the bougie, he held it in a proper manner, went gently
towards the hall and from thence to the stair-case, stop-
ping and turning about from time to time as if he was
lighting somebody down. At length having arrived at
the door of the house, he placed himself in his accus-
tomed situation, and soon afterwards, having bowed to the
ladies
HISTORY OF A SLEEP WALKER.
that has yet been observed. This man was of the middling
size, of a complection between pale and brown, of a very
dry constitution, hot and passionate temper, and addicted
to drinking; he acknowledged that he had been accustom-
ed to walk in his sleep from the age of eleven years, and
what was not a little extraordinary, his fits took him only
in spring, that is, from the beginning of March till about
the middle of April. In other seasons his sleep was tran-
quil, excepting a few nights in autumn, when he used
suddenly to raise himself in his bed, on which he awoke,
lay down and quietly fell asleep again.
The first scene began about the hour of two in the morn-
ing, some time before which he appeared so overcome
with sleep that he could scarcely support himself. He
then sat down on a chair in the anti-chamber, and there
slept as usual for a quarter of an hour. Afterwards sitting
up straight he remained some time motionless as if in pro-
found thought or listening to something. He then rose,
walked about in the anti-chamber, took his snuff-box out
of his pocket for the purpose of taking a pinch ; but find-
ing scarcely any snuff, he seemed vexed at it, and went
up to a chair in which the steward of the marchioness
used to sit, called him by his name and asked him for
some snuff. An open box being presented to him, he
took a pinch and then placed himself in the attitude of a
person who listens; upon which as if he had received
orders to that effect, he ran and fetched a bougie and ap-
proached towards a candle which was always kept burn-
ing in the same place. Here supposing he had lighted
the bougie, he held it in a proper manner, went gently
towards the hall and from thence to the stair-case, stop-
ping and turning about from time to time as if he was
lighting somebody down. At length having arrived at
the door of the house, he placed himself in his accus-
tomed situation, and soon afterwards, having bowed to the
ladies