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about him, on which were wrought some mysterious figures that I did not understand.

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As we entered his pavilion, he rose up with an erect and awful mein, and came forward to receive us with a remarkable composure and grace in his motions. Being struck with reverence, I beheld him at first with respectful silence. But growing more confident by his encouraging looks, I told him, that having been lately in the palace of that vile enchantress, Pleasure, I was so sensible of her destructive wiles, that I had speedily made my escape, and was now in search of Happiness. Contemplation said, that he was the professed friend and guardian of Youth, if I would trust myself to his care, he would undertake to conduct me. Having joyfully accepted his offer, and being warmly recommended to him by my former guide, he took me gently by the hand, and led me to the brow of the hill, from whence we could descry a wide extended country below, and travellers innumerable crossing it by a thousand different roads. "That large tract, said he, "which you see towards the left hand, so variegated with hills and dales, and groves, and streams, and so full of inhabitants and travellers, is the dominion of that powerful sorceress, Vice: for so she is properly called, though she assumes to herself the more honourable name of Pleasure.

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In that seemingly delicious bottom, which lies in the heart of the country, you see her palace, where you lately was. To confirm you in your opinion of her character, you may observe," said he, desiring me to look through the telescope, "how some of those miserable wretches, her votaries, are lost in the mazes of the wood which grows hard by; how others of them wander up and down from one bower of the garden to another, forlorn and distracted; whilst many of them are dragged away to a dirty cave, concealed from those who enter into her palace, at the farther end of a long lane behind it, and called the Cave of poverty: a horrid place, the mistress

whereof sits in gloomy state, on a large rough stone, clad in rags, shivering with cold, pining with hunger, and environed with a set of dismal figures, looking at her and one another with amazement. Some of their names are Dejection, Lamentation, Meanspiritedness, Suspicion, Greediness, Dishonesty, Despair. Not far from thence, you may perceive a strong prison, which is styled the House of Discipline. It is kept by two fierce and frightful fellows called Punishment and Terror, who are furnished with various instruments of toil, of pain, and of disgrace, for the chastisement of such malefactors as are delivered into their hands.

"But now," proceeded he, "cast your eyes again over the country which I showed you. It is divided into sundry districts, lying in a circle round the Palace of Pleasure. In their respective centres stand the seats of her principal ministers, who are always subject to her will, subservient to her interests, and ready to attend her court. On one side," to which he point ed the glass, you see," said he," the mansion of Luxury, exceedingly magnificent and splendid, raised with a profusion of expence, and adorned on every hand with all the extravagance of art." And here he desired me to mark with particular care an outlet from the gardens leading directly to the cave of Poverty.

Then turning the telescope to another side, " Yonder," said he, "is the abode of Intemperance. It resembles, you see, a great inn, the gate thereof stands always open, and into which passengers are continually crowding. You may observe, that haraly any come out with the same countenance or shape with which they went in, but are transformed into the likeness of different beasts. A little way off is a large Hospital or Lazar-house, into which the poor wretch. es are flung from time to time, loaded with all manner of diseases, and condemned to sickness, pain and putrefaction."

Directing the glass another way, he next showed me the Tower of Ambition, built on the top of a very

high hill, "Thither," said he, "you behold multitudes climbing from different quarters, struggling who should get foremost, and pushing down those before them. On one side of it, is a steep and slippery precipice, from which the most part, after having with infinite toil and contention gained it, tumble headlong into a bottomless gulf, and are never heard of more. On the other side, is a secret path which grows broader by degrees. At the entry to it, stands a smooth and artful villian, called Corruption, holding in one hand ribbons, and in the other bags of money, which under many specious pretexts, he presents to travellers, according to their several tastes. The path, after winding up the hill, leads down again by a straight descent, till it terminates in a dark dungeon, styled the Dungeon of Infamy. You observe what numbers are drawn into it. And of these there are not a few, who not only rejected for a long time the offers of Corruption, but exclaimed loudly against all who em braced them.

"The valley below," continued my guide, bending down the telescope, "is possessed by Vanity, whose district you may perceive, is still better peopled than those of the other retainers to pleasure, which you have already seen. She allures into her gaudy mansion, most travellers, by promising to lead them to the palace of her mistress through the temple of Fame, which she pretends is just in the neighbourhood, and only to be come at by passing through her dwelling, although indeed the right road to it lies through the Temple of Virtue, hard by which it stands. Those who are so foolish as to be decoyed by her, are generally consigned over to the scoffs of Ridicule, a formidable figure, who wears on his face a perpetual sneer, and, who after treating them with proper marks of scorn, shuts them up in an obscure cell, called the Cell of Contempt.

After this, Contemplation pointed out to me, in a remote corner of the country, that looked as if it had been disjoined from all the rest, a castle, which he

said was inhabited by an old usurer, named Avarice, who sat starving amid heaps of gold, and who, though in reality a chief retainer of Vice, refused to acknowledge her under the form of pleasure, and would never come near the court of that jolly goddess. "His castle, you see, is situated in the centre of a deep wood, and defended with high walls, and strongly fortified. That iron gate, which you perceive with the assistance of the glass, is the only entrance. It is secured within by many strong bolts. Without, stand two sharp eyed guards, with visages emaciated and keen, called Hunger and Anxiety, who let none pass into the castle, till they have manifested their good affection to the master of it, by serving a sufficient time in an outer yard, where some are digging, some hewing stones, others carrying on their shoulders heavy burdens, and many filling great chests with earth. remarkable," added he, " that from the lowest cellar in the house, there is a long subterraneous passage, which communicates with the Cave of Poverty."

Section VIII.

THE TEMPLE OF VIRTUE.

It is

The Temple, in full sight of which we were now come, stood on the summit of the hill. My guide perceiving me captivated with the view of so glorious a structure, said, pointing to it, "That, sir, is the Temple of Virtue, and the abode of Happiness. There the monster who so lately frightened you, Self-will and his gloomy partner Bigotry, dare not venture. Spleen never spreads her sable wings there. From thence are for ever excluded Corroding Cares, and fearful forebodings, with those infernal furies, bitter Strife, blind Passion, brutal Revenge, Jealousy of jaundiced eye, fell Hate, pining Envy, rapacious Appetite, and pale Remorse. Neither the indolent nor

the busy adherents to Pleasure, can breathe in so pure an air. Her dependants, who are at the same time inhabitants, pass the festal hours in a perpetual round of pleasing exercises divided into different social bands, loving and beloved, improving and improved by onc another, without any contention but this, who shall pay the highest homage, and do the most acceptable service to their common Sovereign, who is always sure to dispense her noblest boons to the most active and deserving."

Meanwhile we approached nigh to the sacred mansion, which was built of a transparent stone, that admitted light from every quarter. It was of a quadrangular form, and had at top a magnificent dome. Its portal was supported by a double row of pillars of the Doric order. The entry was guarded by two sentinels, who had something in their looks so awful, that several travellers recoiled at the sight of them. Their names were, Temperance and Fortitude. The former held in his hand a bridle, and the latter a spear in her's. Though their first appearance was rather stern and forbidding, methought it softened on us, as soon as they observed the company we were in. The gates stood wide open, as I was told they always do. Ascending by easy steps, we entered. I was transported with the beauty and greatness of the place.. The height and circumference of the dome, both filled and delighted the eye. The manner of the whole was simple and solemn. There was no need of adventitious decorations, and there were none.

At the upper end of the temple, on a throne of state, appeared the goddess. But how describe her wondrous form! Her complexion was clear, healthful, and animated with a native glow more bright than art can confer. Her features were regular, and well proportioned, but had withal a kind of masculine air. Her eyes were blue, beautiful, and piercing as light itself. In all her mein there was a happy mixture of dignity and modesty. No ornaments. about her person, but what were decent and natural.

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