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whatever we are commanded； or we should be a disgrace to the
army； and very little deserve our pay。〃 〃You are brave fellows
indeed；〃 said Minos； 〃but be pleased to face about； and obey my
command for once； in returning back to the other world： for what
should such fellows as you do where there are no cities to be
burned； nor people to be destroyed？ But let me advise you to have
a stricter regard to truth for the future； and not call the
depopulating other countries the service of your own。〃 The
captain answered； in a rage； 〃Dn me！ do you give me the lie？〃
and was going to take Minos by the nose had not his guards
prevented him； and immediately turned him and all his followers
back the same road they came。
Four spirits informed the judge that they had been starved to
death through povertybeing the father； mother； and two
children； that they had been honest and as industrious as
possible； till sickness had prevented the man from labor。 〃All
that is very true；〃 cried a grave spirit who stood by。 〃I know
the fact； for these poor people were under my cure。〃 〃You was； I
suppose； the parson of the parish；〃 cries Minos； 〃I hope you had
a good living； sir。〃 〃That was but a small one；〃 replied the
spirit； 〃but I had another a little better。〃〃Very well；〃 said
Minos； 〃let the poor people pass。〃 At which the parson was
stepping forwards with a stately gait before them； but Minos
caught hold of him and pulled him back； saying； 〃Not so fast；
doctoryou must take one step more into the other world first；
for no man enters that gate without charity。〃 A very stately
figure now presented himself； and； informing Minos he was a
patriot； began a very florid harangue on public virtue and the
liberties of his country。 Upon which Minos showed him the utmost
respect； and ordered the gate to be opened。 The patriot was not
contented with this applause； he said he had behaved as well in
place as he had done in the opposition； and that； though he was
now obliged to embrace the court measures； yet he had behaved
very honestly to his friends； and brought as many in as was
possible。 〃Hold a moment；〃 says Minos： 〃on second
consideration； Mr。 Patriot； I think a man of your great virtue
and abilities will be so much missed by your country； that； if I
might advise you； you should take a journey back again。 I am
sure you will not decline it； for I am certain you will； with
great readiness； sacrifice your own happiness to the public
good。〃 The patriot smiled； and told Minos he believed he was in
jest； and was offering to enter the gate； but the judge laid fast
hold of him and insisted on his return； which the patriot still
declining； he at last ordered his guards to seize him and conduct
him back。
A spirit now advanced； and the gate was immediately thrown open
to him before he had spoken a word。 I heard some whisper； 〃That
is our last lord mayor。〃
It now came to our company's turn。 The fair spirit which I
mentioned with so much applause in the beginning of my journey
passed through very easily； but the grave lady was rejected on
her first appearance； Minos declaring there was not a single
prude in Elysium。
The judge then addressed himself to me； who little expected to
pass this fiery trial。 I confessed I had indulged myself very
freely with wine and women in my youth； but had never done an
injury to any man living； nor avoided an opportunity of doing
good； that I pretended to very little virtue more than general
philanthrophy and private friendship。 I was proceeding； when
Minos bade me enter the gate； and not indulge myself with
trumpeting forth my virtues。 I accordingly passed forward with
my lovely companion； and； embracing her with vast eagerness； but
spiritual innocence； she returned my embrace in the same manner；
and we both congratulated ourselves on our arrival in this happy
region； whose beauty no painting of the imagination can describe。
CHAPTER VIII
The adventures which the author met on his first entrance into
Elysium。
We pursued our way through a delicious grove of orange…trees；
where I saw infinite numbers of spirits； every one of whom I
knew； and was known by them （for spirits here know one another by
intuition）。 I presently met a little daughter whom I had lost
several years before。 Good gods！ what words can describe the
raptures； the melting passionate tenderness； with which we kissed
each other； continuing in our embrace； with the most ecstatic
joy； a space which； if time had been measured here as on earth；
could not be less than half a year。
The first spirit with whom I entered into discourse was the
famous Leonidas of Sparta。 I acquainted him with the honors
which had been done him by a celebrated poet of our nation； to
which he answered he was very much obliged to him。 We were
presently afterwards entertained with the most delicious voice I
had ever heard； accompanied by a violin； equal to Signior
Piantinida。 I presently discovered the musician and songster to
be Orpheus and Sappho。
Old Homer was present at this concert （if I may so call it）； and
Madam Dacier sat in his lap。 He asked much after Mr。 Pope； and
said he was very desirous of seeing him； for that he had read his
Iliad in his translation with almost as much delight as he
believed he had given others in the original。 I had the
curiosity to inquire whether he had really writ that poem in
detached pieces； and sung it about as ballads all over Greece；
according to the report which went of him。 He smiled at my
question； and asked me whether there appeared any connection in
the poem； for if there did he thought I might answer myself。 I
then importuned him to acquaint me in which of the cities which
contended for the honor of his birth he was really born？ To
which he answered； 〃Upon my soul I can't tell。〃
Virgil then came up to me； with Mr。 Addison under his arm。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃how many translations have these few last
years produced of my Aeneid？〃 I told him I believed several； but
I could not possibly remember； for that I had never read any but
Dr。 Trapp's。 〃Ay；〃 said he； 〃that is a curious piece indeed！〃 I
then acquainted him with the discovery made by Mr。 Warburton of
the Elusinian mysteries couched in his sixth book。 〃What
mysteries？〃 said Mr。 Addison。 〃The Elusinian；〃 answered Virgil；
〃which I have disclosed in my sixth book。〃 〃How！〃 replied
Addison。 〃You never mentioned a word of any such mysteries to me
in all our acquaintance。〃 〃I thought it was unnecessary；〃 cried
the other； 〃to a man of your infinite learning： besides； you
always told me you perfectly understood my meaning。〃 Upon this I
thought the critic looked a little out of countenance； and turned
aside to a very merry spirit； one Dick Steele； who embraced him；
and told him he had been the greatest man upon earth； that he
readily resigned up all the merit of his own works to him。 Upon
which Addison ga