I wish I could write a chapter upon sleep.
A fitter occasion could never have presented itself, than what this moment offers, when all the curtains of the family are drawn--the candles put out--and no creature's eyes are open but a single one, for the other has been shut these twenty years, of my mother's nurse.
It is a fine subject!
And yet, as fine as it is, I would undertake to write a dozen chapters upon button-holes, both quicker and with more fame, than a single chapter upon this.
Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em----and trust me, when I get amongst 'em ----You gentry with great beards----look as grave as you will ------I'll make merry work with my button-holes --I shall have 'em all to myself--'tis a maiden subject --I shall run foul of no man's wisdom or fine sayings in it.
But for sleep ----I know I shall make nothing of it before I begin --I am no dab at your fine sayings in the first place--and in the next, I cannot for my soul set a grave face upon a bad matter, and tell the world--'tis the refuge of the unfortunate--the enfranchisement of the prisoner--the downy lap of the hopeless, the weary, and the broken-hearted; nor could I set out with a lye in my mouth, by affirming, that of all the soft and delicious functions of our nature, by which the great Author of it, in his bounty, has been pleased to recompense the sufferings wherewith his justice and his good pleasure has wearied us----that this is the chiefest (I know pleasures worth ten of it); or what a happiness it is to man, when the anxieties and passions of the day are over, and he lies down upon his back, that his soul shall be so seated within him, that whichever way she turns her eyes, the heavens shall look calm and sweet above her--no desire--or fear--or doubt that troubles the air, nor any difficulty past, present, or to come, that the imagination may not pass over without offence, in that sweet secession.
"God's blessing," said _Sancho Pana_, "be upon the man who first invented this self-same thing called sleep--it covers a man all over like a cloak." Now there is more to me in this, and it speaks warmer to my heart and affections, than all the dissertations squeez'd out of the heads of the learned together upon the subject.
--Not that I altogether disapprove of what _Montaigne_ advances upon it--'tis admirable in its way--(I quote by memory).

I wish I could write a chapter upon sleep.
A fitter occasion could never have presented itself than this moment, when all the curtains are drawn - the candles put out - and no creature's eyes are open but a single one, of my mother's nurse.
It is a fine subject!
And yet, fine as it is, I would rather write a dozen chapters upon button-holes than a single chapter upon this. Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - You gentry look as grave as you will - I'll make merry work with my button-holes. I shall have 'em all to myself - 'tis a maiden subject - I shall run foul of no man's fine sayings in it.
But as for sleep - I know I shall make nothing of it before I begin. I am no dab hand at fine sayings in the first place, and in the next, I cannot for my soul look grave, and tell the world 'tis the refuge of the unfortunate - the freedom of the prisoner - the comfort of the hopeless and the weary; nor could I lie by affirming, that - of all the delicious functions of our nature, by which God, in his bounty, has been pleased to recompense the sufferings wherewith his justice has wearied us - that this is the chiefest (for I know pleasures worth ten of it); or what a happiness it is to man, when the anxieties of the day are over, and he lies back, with the heavens looking calm and sweet above him - no fear or doubt troubling him.
'God's blessing,' said Sancho Panza, 'be upon the man who first invented this thing called sleep - it covers a man like a cloak.' Now this speaks warmer to my heart than all the dissertations squeezed out of the heads of the learned.
Not that I altogether disapprove of what Montaigne says - 'tis admirable in its way; (I quote by memory):
