On the Marvelous Occurrences in the World

see nor hear, without any notable innovation being made in the object seen or heard, and with the medium or organ being well disposed. This is evident in certain diseases, from which (because the soul is not hindered concerning other things) a man then sees and speaks things which he could not, nor would he know in health. But also, a healthy man sometimes finds himself in such a disposition that he can see or hear from a distance greater than he is accustomed to. Hence, a man who is recollected and not dispersed to another thing, in whose brain there would not be for that time a stronger likeness than the likeness of the voice of Plato, with the medium being very calm, could hear Plato speaking from a very great distance, and so also concerning seeing. For the internal faculty, and the likeness, and the goodness of the organ, and the act of thinking could be equivalent to the strength of the sound or color. Truly, from what precise distance vision or audition can occur, no one knows except God. Fifthly, I say that in mountains or valleys, or temples, and other places apt for the generation of an echo a reflected sound, it is possible for wonderful, diverse voices and speeches to be heard by many, and that from this, occasionally, death or a storm of the country might follow. For if the sound of an echo represents the voice of the speaker by reflection, as is evident, it is possible that it might pass through diverse paths, from which, figured in diverse ways, it could cause wonderful appearances; but it is also possible that the death of someone or of some people might follow from there: