Conducted by Contemplation, I found myself in the fertile regions of
Imagination; Genius and Education had dispersed those mists which are
the offspring of Prejudice. My soul, seized with the fire of Enthusiasm,
took her flight to scenes which mortals have not yet dared to explore.
I penetrated the inmost recesses of the temple of that Virtue, by the
exercise of whose attributes mortals are almost elevated to the mighty
inhabitants of heaven. At the porch of this edifice stood blooming
Temperance, and meek Religion with uplifted eye. At the feet of
Temperance laid grovelling Austerity, accompanied with the meagre crowd
of penitential Fasts. Cloathed in black, at the feet of Religion,
appeared Superstition, with her attendants, Folly, Enthusiasm, and
Hypocrisy. In vain they endeavoured to enter the temple of Virtue;
Temperance and Religion united, stood the shock of their numberless
hosts! Having passed the porch, my divine guide left me to the care of
Liberality of Mind: “You heed not my advice; follow her dictates and
they will assuredly conduct thee to Virtue.” As we proceeded, Liberality
of Mind made me acquainted with the names of these moral virtues by
whose aid the throne of the goddess is ascended. “He who perpetually
points to the divine throne, is Philosophy. He unfolds the various
secrets of nature, which are hid from the ignorant. Before him is
Contemplation; and behind him, Imagination, who has given birth to so
many hypotheses. See Fortitude, with her eye of fire, disdaining every
allurement the earth affords: after whom follows Resignation to the will
of Providence; and here, behold----” I now saw Virtue enthroned; with
Benevolence one side, and on the other that celestial power who teaches
men to controul their mortal passions. Virtue’s glory did not blaze
forth; her fire was that which burnt continually the same equal flame;
unlike the glare of vice, which greatly blazes forth for the moment, but
soon leaves us in eternal darkness!
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