afked us a few questions, not very material to relate, and foon after retired. WHEN we returned into the yard, we found our caravan ready to fet out, at which we all declared ourfelves well pleased; for we were fufficiently tiredwith the formality of a court, notwithstanding its outward fplendor and magnificence. CHAP V. The travellers proceed on their journey, and meet several Spirits, who are coming into the flesh. W E now came to the banks of the great river Cocytus, where we quitted our vehicle, and paffed the water in a boat, after which we were obliged, to travel on foot the rest of our journey; and now we met, for the first time, feveral paffengers travelling to the world we had left, who informed us they were fouls going into the flesh. THE two firit we met were walking arm in arm in very clofe and friendly conference; they informed us, that one of them was intended for a duke, and the other for a hackney coachman. As we had not yet arrived at the place where we were to depofit our paffions, we were all furprized at the familiarity which fubfifted between perfons of fuch different degrees, nor could the grave lady help expreffing her aftonishment at it. The future coachman then replied, with a laugh, that they had exchanged lots; for that the duke had with his dukedom drawn a fhrew of wife,. and the coachman only a fingle state.. As we proceeded on our journey, we met a folemn fpirit walking alone with great gravity in his countenance our curiofity invited us, notwithstanding his reserve, to ask what lot he had drawn. He answered, 'with a fmile, he was to have the reputation of a wife man with 100,000 /. in his pocket, and that he was practifing the folemnity which he was to act in the other world. A LITTLE farther we met a company of very merry fpirits, whom we imagined by their mirth to have L4 drawn drawn fome mighty lot; but on enquiry, they informed us they were to be beggars. the THE farther we advanced, the greater numbers we met; and now we difcovered two large roads leading different ways, and of very different appearance; one all craggy with rocks, full as it feemed of boggy grounds, and every where befet with briars, fo that it was impoffible to pass through it without the utmost danger and difficulty; the other the moft delightful imaginable, leading through the most verdant meadows, painted and perfumed with all kinds of beautiful flowers; in short, the most wanton imagination could imagine nothing more lovely. Notwithstanding which, we were furprized to fee great numbers crowding into the former, and only one or two folitary fpirits chufing the latter. On enquiry we were acquainted that the bad road was the way to Greatnefs, and the other to Goodness. When we expreffed our furprize at the preference given to the former, we were acquainted that it was chofen for the fake of the mufic of drums and trumpets, and the perpetual acclamations of the mob, with which thofe who travelled this way, were conftantly faluted, We were told likewife, that there were feveral noble palaces to be feen, and lodged in on this road, by thofe who had paffed through the difficulties of it, (which indeed many were not able to furmount) and great quantities of all forts of treafure to be found in it; whereas the other had little inviting more than the beauty of the way, fcarce a handfome, building, fave one greatly refembling a certain houfe by the Bath, to be feen during that whole journey; and lastly, that it was thought very fcandalous and. mean-fpiritied to travel through this, and as highly honourable and noble to pass by the other. WE now heard a violent noife, when cafting our eyes forwards, we perceived a vaft number of fpirits advancing in purfuit of one, whom they mocked and infulted with all kinds of fcorn. I cannot give my reader a more adequate idea of this fcene, than by. comparing it to an English mob conducting a pickpocket to the water; or by fuppofing that an incenfed audieneè audience at a play-house had unhappily poffeffed themfelves of the miferable damned poet. Some laughed, fome hiffed, fome fqawled, fome groaned, fome bawled, fome fpit at him, fome threw dirt at him. It was impoffible not to afk who or what the wretched fpirit was, whom they treated in this barbarous manner; when to our great furprize, we were informed that it was a king: we were likewife told, that this manner of behaviour was ufual among the fpirits to those who drew the lots of emperors, kings, and other great men, not from envy or anger, but mere derision and contempt of earthly grandeur: that nothing was more common, than for thofe who had drawn thefe great prizes, as to us they feemed, to exchange them with taylors and cablers; and that Alexander the Great and Diogenes had formerly done fo; he that was afterwards Diogenes having originally fallen on the lot of Alexander. AND now on a fudden, the mockery ceased, and the king fpirit having obtained a hearing, began to fpeak as follows: for we were now near enough to hear him diftinctly. GENTLEMEN, I am justly furprized at your treating me in this 'manner; fince whatever lot I have drawn, I did not chufe: if therefore it be worthy of derifion, you 'fhould compaffionate me, for it might have fallen to any of your shares. I know in how low a light the ftation to which fate hath affigned me is confi'dered here, and that, when ambition doth not fup'port it, it becomes generally fo intolerable, that there is fcarce any other condition for which it is not glad⚫ly exchanged: for what portion in the world to which we are going, is fo miferable as that of care? Shoul 'I therefore confider myself as become by this lo effentially your fuperior, and of a higher order of being than the rest of my fellow-creatures: fhould [ foolishly imagine myself without wisdom fuperior t> the wife, without knowledge to the learned, with ་ ་ out courage to the brave, and without goodness and virtue to the good and virtuous; furely fo prepofterous, fo abfurd a pride would justly render me the object of ridicule. But far be it from me to entertain it. And yet, gentlemen, I prize the lot I have drawn, nor would I exchange it with any of yours, feeing it is in my eye fo much greater than the reft. Ambition, which. I own myfelf poffeffed of, teaches me this. Ambition, which makes me covet praise, affures me, that I fhall enjoy a much larger proportion of it than can fall within your power either to deserve or obtain. I am then fuperior to you all, when I am able to do more good, and when I execute that power. What the father is to the fon, the guardian to the orphan, or the patron to his client, that am I to you. You are my children, to whom I will be a father, a guardian, and a patron. Not one evening in my long reign (for fo it is to be) will I repofe myfelf to reft, without the glorious, the heart-warming confideration, that thousands that night owe their fweeteft reft to me. What a delicious fortune is it to him, whofe ftrongeft appetite is doing good, to have every day the opportunity and the power of fatisfying it! If fuch a man hath ambition, how happy is it for him to be feated fo on high, that every aft blazes abroad, and attracts to him praises tainted. with neither farçafm nor adulation; but fuch as the nicest and most delicate mind may relish? Thus therefore, while you derive your good from me, I am your fuperior. If to my ftrict distribution of justice you owe the fafety of your property from domeftic enemies: if by my vigilance and valour you are protected from foreign foes: if by my encourage-. ⚫ment of genuine induftry, every fcience, every art ⚫ which can embellifh or fweeten life is produced and flourishes among you; will any of you be fo infen-. fible or ungrateful, as to deny praife and respect to him, by whofe care and conduct you enjoy these bleffings? I wonder not at the cenfure which fo frequently falls on those in my station; but I wonder that thofe in my ftation fo frequently deferve it. What What ftrange perverfenefs of nature! What wanton delight in mifchief mut taint his compofition, who prefers dangers, difficulty, and difgrace, by doing evil, to fafety, eafe, and honour, by doing good? who refufes happiness in the other world, and heaven in this, for mifery there, and hell here? But be affured, my intentions are different. I shall always endeavour the eafe, the happinefs, and the glory of my people, being confident that by fo do-ing, I take the most certain method of procuring them all to myfelf.'-He then ftruck directly into the road of Goodnefs, and received fuch a shout of applause, as I never remember to have heard equalled.. He was gone a little way, when a fpirit limped after him, fwearing he would fetch him back. This fpirit, I was prefently informed, was one who had: drawn the lot of his prime minister. 'C HA P. VI.. An account of the wheel of Fortune, with a method of preparing a spirit for this world. W The E now proceeded on our journey, without staying to fee whether he fulfilled his word or no; and, without encountering any thing worth mentioning, came to the place where the fpirits on their paffage to the other world were obliged to decide by lot the station in which every one was to act there. Here was a monstrous wheel, infinitely larger than those in which I had formerly feen lottery tickets depofited.. 'This was called the WHEEL OF FORTUNE. goddess herself was prefent. She was one of the most deformed females I ever beheld; nor could I help obferving the frowns fhe expreffed when any beautiful! fpirit of her own fex paffed by her, nor the affability. which fmiled in her countenance on the approach of any handsome male fpirits. Hence I accounted for the truth of an obfervation I had often made on earth, that nothing is more fortunate than handfome men, nor more unfortunate than handsome women. The reader may be perhaps pleased with an account of L.6 the |