Other things come up readily, in unbroken order, as they are called
for; those in front making way for the following; and as they make
way, they are hidden from sight, ready to come when I will. All
which takes place when I repeat a thing by heart.
There are all things preserved distinctly and under general heads,
each having entered by its own avenue: as light, and all colours and
forms of bodies by the eyes; by the ears all sorts of sounds; all
smells by the avenue of the nostrils; all tastes by the mouth; and
by the sensation of the whole body, what is hard or soft; hot or cold;
or rugged; heavy or light; either outwardly or inwardly to the body.
All these doth that great harbour of the memory receive in her
numberless secret and inexpressible windings, to be forthcoming, and
brought out at need; each entering in by his own gate, and there
laid up. Nor yet do the things themselves enter in; only the images of
the things perceived are there in readiness, for thought to recall.
Which images, how they are formed, who can tell, though it doth
plainly appear by which sense each hath been brought in and stored up?
For even while I dwell in darkness and silence, in my memory I can
produce colours, if I will, and discern betwixt black and white, and
what others I will: nor yet do sounds break in and disturb the image
drawn in by my eyes, which I am reviewing, though they also are there,
lying dormant, and laid up, as it were, apart.
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