Робинзон Крузо
Ill and Conscience–Stricken
Butmythoughtsweresadlydisturbed,andIhadnoinclinationtosleep; soIsatdowninmychair,andlightedmylamp,foritbegantobedark. Now,astheapprehensionofthereturnofmydistemperterrifiedmeverymuch,itoccurredtomythoughtthattheBrazilianstakenophysicbuttheirtobaccoforalmostalldistempers; andIhadapieceofarolloftobaccoinoneofthechests,whichwasquitecured,andsomealsothatwasgreen,andnotquitecured.
Iwent,directedbyHeavennodoubt;forinthischestIfoundacurebothforsoulandbody. Iopenedthechest,andfoundwhatIlookedfor,viz.,thetobacco,andasthefewbooksIhadsavedlaytheretoo,ItookoutoneoftheBibleswhichImentionedbefore,andwhichtothistimeIhadnotfoundleisure,orsomuchasinclination,tolookinto. Isay,Itookitout,andbroughtboththatandthetobaccowithmetothetable.
WhatusetomakeofthetobaccoIknewnot,astomydistemper,orwhetheritwasgoodforitorno; butItriedseveralexperimentswithit,asifIwasresolveditshouldhitonewayorother. Ifirsttookapieceofaleaf,andcheweditinmymouth,whichindeedatfirstalmoststupefiedmybrain,thetobaccobeinggreenandstrong,andthatIhadnotbeenmuchusedtoit. ThenItooksomeandsteepeditanhourortwoinsomerum,andresolvedtotakedoseofitwhenIlaydown. Andlastly,Iburntsomeuponapanofcoals,andheldmynosecloseoverthesmokeofitaslongasIcouldbearit,aswellfortheheat,asalmostforsuffocation.
Intheintervalofthisoperation,ItookuptheBible,andbegantoread,butmyheadwastoomuchdisturbedwiththetobaccotobearreading,atleastthattime; onlyhavingopenedthebookcasually,thefirstwordsthatoccurredtomewerethese, "CallonMeinthedayoftrouble,andIwilldeliver,andthoushaltglorifyMe."
