Tertullian — On the Soul 48
XLVIII. [1] They affirm that clearer and more cultivated dreams are dreamed toward the outer nights, as if the vigor of souls were already emerging once sleep is drawn out… [2] But I would think these things can be estimated ingeniously rather than proved constantly, even if it is Plato who estimated them; and perhaps they proceed by chance. Otherwise dreams will be from choice if they can be directed. [3] As for distinguishing or withdrawing foods — now presumption, now superstition prescribing a discipline for dreams — it must be examined: superstition, as when a fast is ordered for those about to incubate at oracles to induce chastity; presumption, as when Pythagoreans also for this species spit out the bean as burdensome and inflating fodder. But that threefold brotherhood with Daniel, content with pulse alone lest they be contaminated by the king’s dishes, besides remaining wisdom chiefly redeemed from God the grace of dreams — both of obtaining and of expounding them. [4] … So sobriety will not profit to remove ecstasy, but to commend the ecstasy itself, that it may happen in God. ****** Fast for God, not for dream-tech. Sobriety serves religion so ecstasy is in God — not a pagan incubator’s trick.
Latin
>XLVIII. [1] Certiora et colatiora somniari affirmant sub extimis noctibus, quasi iam emergente animarum uigore prodacto sopore. Ex temporibus autem anni uerno magis quieta, quod aestas dissoluat animas et hiems quodammodo obduret et autumnus, temptator alias ualetudinum, succis pomorum uinosissimis diluat. [2] Item ex ipsius quietis situ, si neque resupina neque dextero latere decumbat neque conresupinatis internis, quasi refusis loculis, statio sensuum fluitet aut conpressa iecoris sagina <sedes turbata> sit mentis. Sed haec ingeniose aestimari potius quam constanter probari putem, etsi Plato est qui ea aestimauit; et fortassean casu procedant. Alioquin ex arbitrio erunt somnia, si dirigi poterunt. [3] Nam quod et de cibis distinguendis uel derogandis nunc praesumptio nunc superstitio disciplinam somniis praescribit, examinandum est: superstitio, ut cum apud oracula incubaturis ieiunium indicitur, ut castimoniam inducat, praesumptio, ut cum Pythagorici ob hanc quoque speciem fabam respuunt onerosum et inflatui pabulum. Atquin trina illa cum Daniele fraternitas legumine solo contenti, ne regiis ferculis contaminarentur, praeter sapientiam reliquam somniorum praecipue gratiam a deo redemerunt et impetrandorum et disserendorum. [4] Ieiunus autem nescio an ego solus plurimum ita somniem, ut me somniasse non sentiam. Nihil ergo sobrietas, inquis, ad hanc partem? Immo tanto magis ad hanc, quantum et ad omnem; si et ad superstitionem, multo amplius ad religionem. Sic enim et daemonia expostulant eam a suis somniatoribus ad lenocinium scilicet diuinitatis, quia familiarem dei norunt, quia et Daniel rursus trium hebdomadum statione aruit uictu, sed ut deum inliceret humiliationis officiis, non ut animae somniaturae sensum et sapientiam strueret, quasi non in ecstasi acturae. Ita non ad ecstasin summouendam sobrietas proficiet, sed ad ipsam ecstasin commendandam, ut in deo fiat.