Page:Omniana 2.djvu/25

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OMNIANA.
15

end is altogether irrational. II. His having lost his wits, i.e. his understanding or judicial power; but not his reason, or the use of his senses. Such was Don Quixote; and, therefore, we love and reverence him, while we despise Hudibras. III. His being out of his senses, as is the case of an hypochondrist, to whom his limbs appear to be of glass. Granting that, all his conduct is both rational (or moral) and prudent; IV. or the case may be a combination of all three, though I doubt the existence of such a case; or of any two of them; V. or lastly, it may be merely such an excess of sensation, as overpowers and suspends all; which is frenzy or raving madness.

A diseased state of an organ of sense, or of the inner organs connected with it, will perpetually tamper with the understanding, and unless there be an energetic and watchful counteraction of the judgment (of which I have known more