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JOURNEY,

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BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

The Author dies; meets with Mercury, and is by him conducted to the stage, which sets out for the other world.

On the first day of December, 1741, I departed this life at my lodging in Cheapside. My body had been some time dead before I was at liberty to quit it, lest it should by any accident return to life: this is an injunction imposed on all souls by the eternal law of fate, to prevent the inconveniences which would follow. As soon as the destined period was expired (being no longer than till the body is become perfectly cold and stiff,) I began to move; but found myself under a difficulty of making my escape, for the mouth, or door, was shut, so that it was impossible for me to go out at it; and the windows vulgarly called the eyes, were so closely pulled down by the fingers of a nurse, that I could by no means open them. At last, I perceived a beam of light glimmering at the top of the house (for such I may call the body I had been inclosed

* Some doubt whether this should not be rather 1641, which is a date more agreeable to the account given of it in the introduction: but then there are some passages which seem to relate to transactions infinitely later, even within this year or two. To say the truth, there are difficulties attend either conjecture; so the reader may take which he pleases.

in), whither ascending I gently let myself down through a kind of chimney, and issued out at the nostrils.

No prisoner discharged from a long confinement ever tasted the sweets of liberty with a more exquisite relish, than I enjoyed in this delivery from a dungeon wherein I had been detained upwards of forty years, and with much the same kind of regard I cast my eyes backwards upon it.

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My friends and relations had all quitted the room. being all (as I plainly overheard) very loudly quarrelling below stairs about my will; there was only an old woman left above to guard the body, as I apprehend. She was

in a fast sleep, occasioned, as from her savour it seemed. by a comfortable dose of gin. I had no pleasure in this company, and therefore, as the window was wide open, I sallied forth into the open air: but to my great astonishment found myself unable to fly, which I had always during my habitation in the body conceived of spirits: however, I came so lightly to the ground, that I did not hurt myself; and though I had not the gift of flying (owing probably to my having neither feathers nor wings I was capable of hopping such a prodigious way at once, that it served my turn almost as well.

I had not hopped far, before I perceived a tall young gentleman in a silk waistcoat, with a wing on his lett heel, a garland on his head, and a caduceus in his right) hand. I thought I had seen this person before, but had not time to recollect where, when he called out to me, and asked me how long I had been departed. I

Eyes are not perhaps so properly adapted to a spiritual substance; but we are here, as in many other places, obliged to use corporeal terms to make ourselves the better understood.

† This is the dress in which the god appears to mortals at the theatres. One of the offices attributed to this god by the ancients, was to collect the ghosts as a shepherd doth a flock of sheep, and drive them with his wand into the other world.

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answered, I was just come forth. You must not stay ' here,' replied he, unless you had been murdered; in

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' which case indeed, you might have been suffered to walk some time; but if you died a natural death, you must set out for the other world immediately.' I desired to know the way. O,' cried the gentleman, ' I will shew you to the inn whence the stage proceeds: for I am the porter. Perhaps you never heard of me, my name is ' Mercury.' 'Sure, Sir,' said I, I have seen you at the 'play-house.' Upon which he smiled, and without satisfying me as to that point, walked directly forward, bidding me hop after him. I obeyed him, and soon found myself in Warwick-lane; where Mercury making a full stop, pointed at a particular house, where he bade me inquire for the stage, and wishing me a good journey, took his leave, saying he must go seek after other customers.

I arrived just as the coach was setting out, and found I had no occasion for inquiry; for every person seemed to know my business the moment I appeared at the door: the coachman told me his horses were to, but that he had no place left; however, though there were already six, the passengers offered to make room for me. I thanked them, and ascended without much ceremony. We immediately began our journey, being seven in number; for as the women wore no hoops, three of them were but equal to two men.

Perhaps, reader, thou mayst be pleased with an account of this whole equipage, as peradventure thou wilt not, while alive, see any such. The coach was made by an eminent toyman, who is well known to deal in immaterial substance, that being the matter of which it was compounded. The work was so extremely fine, that it was entirely invisible to the human eye. The horses which drew this extraordinary vehicle were all spiritual,

as well as the passengers. They had, indeed, all died in the service of a certain post-master; and as for the coachman, who was a very thin piece of immaterial substance, he had the honour while alive of driving the Great Peter, or Peter the Great, in whose service his soul, as well as body, was almost starved to death.

Such was the vehicle in which I set out, and now, those who are not willing to travel on with me, may, if they please, stop here, those who are, must proceed to the subsequent chapters, in which this journey is continued.

CHAPTER II.

In which the Author first refutes some idle opinions concerning spirits, and then the passengers relate their several deaths.

It is the common opinion that spirits, like owls, can see in the dark; nay, and can then most easily be perceived | by others. For which reason, many persons of good understanding, to prevent being terrified with such objects, usually keep a candle burning by them, that the light may prevent their seeing. Mr. Locke, in direct opposition to this, hath not doubted to assert, that you may see a spirit in open daylight full as well as in the darkest night.

It was very dark when we set out from the inn, nor could we see any more than if every soul of us had been alive. We had travelled a good way before any one offered to open his mouth: indeed, most of the company were fast asleep*: but as I could not close my own eyes,

* Those who have read of the gods sleeping in Homer, will not be surprised at this happening to spirits.

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