The travelers proceed on their journey, and meet several
spirits who are coming into the flesh.
We now came to the banks of the great river Cocytus, where we quitted
our vehicle, and passed 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, several passengers traveling to the world we had left, who
informed us they were souls going into the flesh.
The two first we met were walking arm-in-arm, in very close 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 deposit our passions, we were all surprised
at the familiarity which subsisted between persons of such different
degrees; nor could the grave lady help expressing her astonishment
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 shrew for
a wife, and the coachman only a single state.
As we proceeded on our journey we met a solemn spirit walking alone
with great gravity in his countenance: our curiosity invited us,
notwithstanding his reserve, to ask what lot he had drawn.
He answered, with a smile, he was to have the reputation of a wise man
with L100,000 in his pocket, and was practicing the solemnity which he
was to act in the other world. A little farther we met a company of very
merry spirits, whom we imagined by their mirth to have drawn some mighty
lot, but, on inquiry, they informed us they were to be beggars.
The farther we advanced, the greater numbers we met; and now we
discovered two large roads leading different ways, and of very different
appearance; the one all craggy with rocks, full as it seemed of boggy
grounds, and everywhere beset with briars, so that it was impossible to
pass through it without the utmost danger and difficulty; the other, the
most 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 surprised to see great numbers crowding
into the former, and only one or two solitary spirits choosing the
latter.
On inquiry, we were acquainted that the bad road was the way to
greatness, and the other to goodness. When we expressed our surprise at
the preference given to the former we were acquainted that it was chosen
for the sake of the music of drums and trumpets, and the perpetual
acclamations of the mob, with which those who traveled this way were
constantly saluted. We were told likewise that there were several noble
palaces to be seen, and lodged in, on this road, by those who had passed
through the difficulties of it (which indeed many were not able to
surmount), and great quantities of all sorts of treasure to be found in
it; whereas the other had little inviting more than the beauty of the
way, scarce a handsome building, save one greatly resembling a certain
house by the Bath, to be seen during that whole journey; and, lastly,
that it was thought very scandalous and mean-spirited to travel through
this, and as highly honorable and noble to pass by the other. We now
heard a violent noise, when, casting our eyes forwards, we perceived a
vast number of spirits advancing in pursuit of one whom they mocked
and insulted with all kinds of scorn. I cannot give my reader a more
adequate idea of this scene than by comparing it to an English mob
conducting a pickpocket to the water; or by supposing that an incensed
audience at a playhouse had unhappily possessed themselves of the
miserable damned poet. Some laughed, some hissed, some squalled, some
groaned, some bawled, some spit at him, some threw dirt at him. It was
impossible not to ask who or what the wretched spirit was whom they
treated in this barbarous manner; when, to our great surprise, we were
informed that it was a king: we were likewise told that this manner
of behavior was usual among the spirits 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 those who had drawn these great prizes (as to us they seemed)
to exchange them with tailors and cobblers; and that Alexander the
Great and Diogenes had formerly done so; he that was afterwards Diogenes
having originally fallen on the lot of Alexander. And now, on a sudden,
the mockery ceased, and the king-spirit, having obtained a hearing,
began to speak as follows; for we were now near enough to hear him
distinctly:--
“GENTLEMEN,--I am justly surprised at your treating me in this manner,
since whatever lot I have drawn, I did not choose: if, therefore, it
be worthy of derision, you should compassionate me, for it might have
fallen to any of your shares. I know in how low a light the station to
which fate hath assigned me is considered here, and that, when ambition
doth not support it, it becomes generally so intolerable, that there
is scarce any other condition for which it is not gladly exchanged: for
what portion, in the world to which we are going, is so miserable as
that of care? Should I therefore consider myself as become by this lot
essentially your superior, and of a higher order of being than the rest
of my fellow-creatures; should I foolishly imagine myself without wisdom
superior to the wise, without knowledge to the learned, without courage
to the brave, and without goodness and virtue to the good and virtuous;
surely so preposterous, so absurd 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, seeing it is in my eye so much greater than the rest.
Ambition, which I own myself possessed of, teaches me this; ambition,
which makes me covet praise, assures me that I shall enjoy a much larger
proportion of it than can fall within your power either to deserve or
obtain. I am then superior to you all, when I am able to do more good,
and when I execute that power. What the father is to the son, 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 so it is to be) will
I repose myself to rest without the glorious, the heart-warming
consideration, that thousands that night owe their sweetest rest to me.
What a delicious fortune is it to him whose strongest appetite is doing
good, to have every day the opportunity and the power of satisfying it!
If such a man hath ambition, how happy is it for him to be seated so on
high, that every act blazes abroad, and attracts to him praises tainted
with neither sarcasm nor adulation, but such as the nicest and most
delicate mind may relish! Thus, therefore, while you derive your good
from me, I am your superior. If to my strict distribution of justice
you owe the safety of your property from domestic enemies; if by my
vigilance and valor you are protected from foreign foes; if by my
encouragement of genuine industry, every science, every art which can
embellish or sweeten life, is produced and flourishes among you; will
any of you be so insensible or ungrateful as to deny praise and respect
to him by whose care and conduct you enjoy these blessings? I wonder not
at the censure which so frequently falls on those in my station; but I
wonder that those in my station so frequently deserve it. What strange
perverseness of nature! What wanton delight in mischief must taint his
composition, who prefers dangers, difficulty, and disgrace, by doing
evil, to safety, ease, and honor, by doing good! who refuses happiness
in the other world, and heaven in this, for misery there and hell here!
But, be assured, my intentions are different. I shall always endeavor
the ease, the happiness, and the glory of my people, being confident
that, by so doing, I take the most certain method of procuring them
all to myself.”--He then struck directly into the road of goodness,
and received such a shout of applause as I never remember to have
heard equaled. He was gone a little way when a spirit limped after him,
swearing he would fetch him back.
This spirit, I was presently informed, was one who had drawn the lot of
his prime minister.