Besides this, he to whom you should show it seeth himself and
perceiveth the thing that he would bid you prove. But the thing
that he would make you believe--the truth of his revelation which
you bid him prove--you see not that he knoweth it well himself.
And therefore, ere you believe it against the scripture, it would
be well consonant unto reason that he should show you how he
knoweth it for a true waking revelation and not a false dreaming
delusion.
VINCENT: Then shall he peradventure answer me that whether I
believe him or not maketh to him no matter; the thing toucheth
himself and not me, and he himself is in himself as sure that it
is a true revelation as that he can tell that he dreameth not but
talketh with me awake.
ANTHONY: Without doubt, cousin, if he abide at that point and can
by no reason be brought to do so much as doubt, nor can by no
means be shogged out of his dead sleep, but will needs take his
dream for a very truth, and--as some men rise by night and walk
about their chamber in their sleep--will so rise and hang himself;
I can then see no other way but either bind him fast in his bed,
or else essay whether that might hap to help him with which, the
common tale goeth, a carver's wife helped her husband in such a
frantic fancy. When, upon a Good Friday, he would needs have
killed himself for Christ as Christ did for him, she said to him
that it would then be fitting for him to die even after the same
fashion.
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