第9部分(第6/7 頁)

proceed　to　fill　them　with　the　images　of　my　spiritual　stars。　I　recognize

truth　by　the　clearness　and　guidance　that　it　gives　my　thought；　and；

knowing　what　that　clearness　is；　I　can　imagine　what　light　is　to　the　eye。

It　is　not　a　convention　of　language；　but　a　forcible　feeling　of　the

reality；　that　at　times　makes　me　start　when　I　say；　〃Oh；　I　see　my

mistake！〃　or　〃How　dark；　cheerless　is　his　life！〃　I　know　these　are

metaphors。　Still；　I　must　prove　with　them；　since　there　is　nothing　in　our

language　to　replace　them。　Deaf…blind　metaphors　to　correspond　do　not

exist　and　are　not　necessary。　Because　I　can　understand　the　word　〃reflect〃

figuratively；　a　mirror　has　never　perplexed　me。　The　manner　in　which　my

imagination　perceives　absent　things　enables　me　to　see　how　glasses　can

magnify　things；　bring　them　nearer；　or　remove　them　farther。

Deny　me　this　correspondence；　this　internal　sense；　confine　me　to　the

fragmentary；　incoherent　touch…world；　and　lo；　I　bee　as　a　bat　which

wanders　about　on　the　wing。　Suppose　I　omitted　all　words　of　seeing；

hearing；　colour；　light；　landscape；　the　thousand　phenomena；　instruments

and　beauties　connected　with　them。　I　should　suffer　a　great　diminution　of

the　wonder　and　delight　in　attaining　knowledge；　also……more　dreadful

loss……my　emotions　would　be　blunted；　so　that　I　could　not　be　touched　by

things　unseen。

Has　anything　arisen　to　disprove　the　adequacy　of　correspondence？　Has　any

chamber　of　the　blind　man's　brain　been　opened　and　found　empty？　Has　any

psychologist　explored　the　mind　of　the　sightless　and　been　able　to　say；

〃There　is　no　sensation　here〃？

I　tread　the　solid　earth；　I　breathe　the　scented　air。　Out　of　these　two