Title:  Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous, in Opposition to Sceptics and Atheists

Author:  George Berkeley

Release Date:  Secember, 2003 [Etext #4724] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 7, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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Three dialogues between Hylas and Philonous,
in opposition to Sceptics and atheists
by George Berkeley (1685-1753)

THE FIRST DIALOGUE

Philonous.  Good morrow, Hylas:  I did not expect to find you abroad so early.

Hylas.  It is indeed something unusual; but my thoughts were so taken up with a subject I was discoursing of last night, that finding I could not sleep, I resolved to rise and take a turn in the garden.

Phil.  It happened well, to let you see what innocent and agreeable pleasures you lose every morning.  Can there be a pleasanter time of the day, or a more delightful season of the year?  That purple sky, those wild but sweet notes of birds, the fragrant bloom upon the trees and flowers, the gentle influence of the rising sun, these and a thousand nameless beauties of nature inspire the soul with secret transports; its faculties too being at this time fresh and lively, are fit for those meditations, which the solitude of a garden and tranquillity of the morning naturally dispose us to.  But I am afraid I interrupt your thoughts:  for you seemed very intent on something.

HYL.  It is true, I was, and shall be obliged to you if you will permit me to go on in the same vein; not that I would by any means deprive myself of your company, for my thoughts always flow more easily in conversation with a friend, than when I am alone:  but my request is, that you would suffer me to impart my reflexions to you.