The scenes exhibited in this dream, and the events prefigured by it,
according to my interpretation, are here set in juxtaposition: the
impression it made on my apprehension was lively and distinct as reality
itself. I relate it, because it is immediately connected with the
subject of my narrative. In the rule referred to by my imaginary
interlocutor there is nothing that I desire to keep secret, but to
explain it at this time might be foreign to my purpose: besides,
quicquid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recipientis; and I should be loth
to intrude on any what they may not be willing to read. Dr. Johnson
said, "There is often more in the title than in all the rest of the
book;" but it may be unfair to put into a book what cannot in any wise
be augured from the title. Yet, as the rule was enjoined in a dream
which had relation to my story, as the knowledge of the rule may help to
form an opinion of the nature and character of the dream itself, and as
moreover it may be told in very few words, I will here declare it.
The three great enemies of youth and of mankind,--the three chief
sources of moral evil, of intellectual debility and derangement, and of
corporal sufferance--are, sins against chastity, drunkenness, and
gaming. Early in life, I made this observation; let any one, who doubts
the truth of it, cast his eyes on the world. Dr. Cheyne's works "on
health" and "on regimen," had persuaded me that animal food was
pernicious to health and to all the faculties and dispositions which
depend on health: it excites and gratifies the appetite to such a
degree, that few, very few, feed upon it without gluttony. Let any one
then observe chastity--abstain from animal food, and from wine and
vinous spirits, renounce all play for money, or engaging stakes on
hazard, and he will conform to the rule "of the penitents of St. Clair."
When the priest said, and repeated, "not sub peccato," I of course
understood him to mean, not that chastity was not of precept and
obligatory on all as a Christian and moral virtue, but that sins against
it should not be aggravated by being an infraction of the rule. The
other parts of the rule regard things in themselves indifferent: among
the several persons whom I have known that abstained from animal food,
some there were who did so as believing it unlawful to take away life:
I admired their practice, but disapproved their reasoning; the Author
of Life has himself permitted it: on that ground it is justifiable;
though it might be an amusing question, whence they who disbelieve all
revelation derive authority to put to death these creatures except in
case of self-defence, as when attacked by a bear or a tiger. The
moderate use of alcohol is lawful, medicinal even; to interest and amuse
ourselves by engaging a moderate stake on hazard is perfectly innocent;
but he who renounces vinous spirits and gaming, strikes at the root of
many mischiefs and many perturbations.
What I have related, I have related as it happened: the dream and the
reference in the dream to my opinions, could neither be sought for, nor
procured, nor prepared by any act of mine: my opinions here recorded
have this merit, that, according to our Lincolnshire phraseology, "they
won't do nobody no harm," and this is merit enough; merit, not negative,
but positive; for the phrase always implies the expectation of a great
benefit. In the hope that they may do somebody some good, I leave the
matter to favourable or unfavourable acceptation; and prepare to narrate
my journey to Nice,--that delicious climate, where is,
----ver perpetuum atque alienis mensibus aestas.