And generally to what pursuits soever Each of us is attached and closely tied, Or on whatever tasks we have been used To spend much time, so that therein the mind Has borne unwonted strain, in those same tasks We mostly seem in sleep to be engaged. Lawyers imagine they are pleading causes, Or drafting deeds; generals that they are fighting In some pitched battle; mariners that they still Are waging with the winds their lifelong war; And we that we are toiling at our task, Questioning ever the nature of all things, And setting our discoveries forth in books Written in our native tongue. And thus in general Do all other pursuits and arts appear To fill men’s minds and mock them during sleep. And with those who for many days together Have watched stage shows with unremitting zeal, We generally find that when they have ceased To apprehend them with their senses, yet Passages remain open in the mind Through which the same images of things may enter. Thus the same sights for many days keep passing Before their eyes, so that even when awake They seem to be beholding figures dancing And moving supple limbs; also their ears Seem to be listening clear-toned melodies Of the lyre’s eloquent strings, while they behold In fancy the same audience, the stage too, Glowing with all its varied scenery. So great the influence of zeal and pleasure, And of those tasks whereon not only men Are wont to spend their energies, but even All living animals. Thus you will see Strong horses, when their limbs are lying at rest, Nevertheless in slumber sweat and pant Continually, and as though to win some prize Strain their strength to the utmost, or else struggle To start, as if the barriers were thrown open. And often hunters’ dogs while softly slumbering Will yet suddenly toss their legs about And utter hurried yelps, sniffing the air Again and again, as though following the trail Of wild beasts they have scented: and roused from sleep They often chase the empty images Of stags, as if they saw them in full flight, Till having shaken their delusions off They come back to themselves. But the tame brood Of dogs reared in the house, will shake themselves And start up from the ground, as if they saw Unknown figures and faces: and the more savage Each breed is, the more fierce must be its dreams. And in the night-time birds of various kinds, Suddenly taking flight, trouble with their wings The groves of deities, when in gentle sleep Hawks have appeared threatening them with havoc Of battle, flying after them in pursuit. Again the minds of men, which greatly labouring Achieve great aims, will often during sleep Act and perform the same. Kings take by storm, Are made captive, join battle, cry aloud As though assassinated then and there.