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Suppose now that you suddenly turn them round and make them look

with pain and grief to themselves at the real images; will they

believe them to be real? Will not their eyes be dazzled, and will

they not try to get away from the light to something which they

are able to behold without blinking? And suppose further, that

they are dragged up a steep and rugged ascent into the presence

of the sun himself, will not their sight be darkened with the

excess of light? Some time will pass before they get the habit of

perceiving at all; and at first they will be able to perceive

only shadows and reflections in the water; then they will

recognize the moon and the stars, and will at length behold the

sun in his own proper place as he is. Last of all they will

conclude:-This is he who gives us the year and the seasons, and

is the author of all that we see. How will they rejoice in

passing from darkness to light! How worthless to them will seem

the honours and glories of the den!