On the Marvelous Occurrences in the World

...we distinguish Sortes from Plato by their gait, or by their cough, or by their sneezing, even if we could not fully explain the difference in words; so we frequently err in a judgment of this kind. Thirdly, I say it is possible that it appears to Sortes existing in the fields or in a cavern that he is being told, "go to confession," or "return what you have taken," when yet he hears nothing truly except the wind blowing, or a man singing, or a bell ringing. This is because of the figuration of the sound, or the disposition of the organ, or because of a likeness strongly impressed, as above. However, it is true that such appearances rarely happen because of the many things required for this. For then it is necessary that the sound of the wind or of the bell cause such a likeness in the organ of hearing as a man saying, "go to sleep," or "return what you have taken," would cause; or certainly because of the internal faculty being so inclined to hear that, that with a light occasion offered from the outside, it is brought to the act of hearing because of the strong phantasia imagination preceding it. And just as it is possible that there be an error in hearing, so it is possible that there be an error in sight and hearing together, so that I believe I see Sortes talking to me, who is not there, or who is another, and saying other things. For if each one by itself is possible, there is no reason why they should not be possible jointly, although this happens rarely since many things are required. Fourthly, I say that it is possible that Sortes may see or hear now what he previously could neither...