These phenomena regarding nerves of sense, then, are strictly analogous to those which we recognize in those parts of the brain which are intimately connected with, or influenced by, these nerves of sense: thus in analogy to waking illusions, we have the _imperfect_ associations of a dream when the organs are irregularly acted on. INCUBUS, OR NIGHT-MARE. “O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream.” ROMEO AND JULIET. “Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, And weigh thee down.” KING RICHARD III. ASTR. I will no longer hesitate to grant that the dream occurs in the moment of departing or returning consciousness. Still, are you not _reversing_ the order of these phenomena? may not the excitement of vague ideas in the mind be, itself, the cause of waking, and not the consequence of slumber, or half-sleep? EV. I believe not, except the sensibility of the body be influenced by touch, or sound, or by oppressive congestions of blood in the brain, causing that state of disturbance which reduces sound sleep to slumber; as in the instance of “Night-mare,” which is to the mind what sensation is to the body, restoring it to a state of _half-consciousness_, essential to that sort of dreaming, in which we make a painful effort to relieve, and at last awake. CAST. Mara, by my fay! the night-spectre of Scandinavia; that evil spirit of the Runic theology, who weighed upon the bosom, and bereaved her victims of speech and motion: that oppressive dream, therefore, termed _Hag-ridden_, or, in the Anglo-Saxon, _Elf-siderme_. Is it not she, of whom it is written,— “We seem to run, and destitute of force, Our sinking limbs forsake us in the course. In vain we heave for breath, in vain we cry; The nerves unbraced, their usual strength deny, And on the tongue the faltering accents die.” EV. A very faithful picture.