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readily resigned up all the merit of his own works to him。 Upon
which Addison gave him a gracious smile； and； clapping him on the
back with much solemnity； cried out； 〃Well said； Dick！〃
I then observed Shakespeare standing between Betterton and Booth；
and deciding a difference between those two great actors
concerning the placing an accent in one of his lines： this was
disputed on both sides with a warmth which surprised me in
Elysium； till I discovered by intuition that every soul retained
its principal characteristic； being； indeed； its very essence。
The line was that celebrated one in Othello
PUT OUT THE LIGHT； AND THEN PUT OUT THE LIGHT。 according to
Betterton。 Mr。 Booth contended to have it thus：
Put out the light； and then put out THE light。 I could not help
offering my conjecture on this occasion； and suggested it might
perhaps be
Put out the light； and then put out THY light。 Another hinted a
reading very sophisticated in my opinion
Put out the light； and then put out THEE； light； making
light to be the vocative case。 Another would have altered the
last word； and read
PUT OUT THY LIGHT； AND THEN PUT OUT THY SIGHT。 But
Betterton said； if the text was to be disturbed； he saw no reason
why a word might not be changed as well as a letter； and； instead
of 〃put out thy light；〃 you may read 〃put out thy eyes。〃 At last
it was agreed on all sides to refer the matter to the decision of
Shakespeare himself； who delivered his sentiments as follows：
〃Faith； gentlemen； it is so long since I wrote the line； I have
forgot my meaning。 This I know； could I have dreamed so much
nonsense would have been talked and writ about it； I would have
blotted it out of my works； for I am sure； if any of these be my
meaning； it doth me very little honor。〃
He was then interrogated concerning some other ambiguous passages
in his works； but he declined any satisfactory answer； saying； if
Mr。 Theobald had not writ about it sufficiently； there were three
or four more new editions of his plays coming out； which he hoped
would satisfy every one： concluding； 〃I marvel nothing so much
as that men will gird themselves at discovering obscure beauties
in an author。 Certes the greatest and most pregnant beauties are
ever the plainest and most evidently striking； and when two
meanings of a passage can in the least balance our judgments
which to prefer； I hold it matter of unquestionable certainty
that neither of them is worth a farthing。〃 From his works our
conversation turned on his monument； upon which； Shakespeare；
shaking his sides； and addressing himself to Milton； cried out；
〃On my word； brother Milton； they have brought a noble set of
poets together； they would have been hanged erst have ＇ere they
had＇ convened such a company at their tables when alive。〃 〃True；
brother；〃 answered Milton； 〃unless we had been as incapable of
eating then as we are now。〃
CHAPTER IX
More adventures in Elysium。
A crowd of spirits now joined us； whom I soon perceived to be the
heroes； who here frequently pay their respects to the several
bards the recorders of their actions。 I now saw Achilles and
Ulysses addressing themselves to Homer； and Aeneas and Julius
Caesar to Virgil： Adam went up to Milton； upon which I whispered
Mr。 Dryden that I thought the devil should have paid his
compliments there； according to his opinion。 Dryden only
answered； 〃I believe the devil was in me when I said so。〃
Several applied themselves to Shakespeare； amongst whom Henry V
made a very distinguishing appearance。 While my eyes were fixed
on that monarch a very small spirit came up to me； shook me
heartily by the hand； and told me his name was THOMAS THUMB。 I
expressed great satisfaction in seeing him； nor could I help
speaking my resentment against the historian； who had done such
injustice to the stature of this great little man； which he
represented to be no bigger than a span； whereas I plainly
perceived at first sight he was full a foot and a half （and the
37th part of an inch more； as he himself informed me）； being
indeed little shorter than some considerable beaux of the present
age。 I asked this little hero concerning the truth of those
stories related of him； viz。； of the pudding； and the cow's
belly。 As to the former； he said it was a ridiculous legend；
worthy to be laughed at； but as to the latter； he could not help
owning there was some truth in it： nor had he any reason to be
ashamed of it； as he was swallowed by surprise； adding； with
great fierceness； that if he had had any weapon in his hand the
cow should have as soon swallowed the devil。
He spoke the last word with so much fury； and seemed so
confounded； that； perceiving the effect it had on him； I
immediately waived the story； and； passing to other matters； we
had much conversation touching giants。 He said； so far from
killing any； he had never seen one alive； that he believed those
actions were by mistake recorded of him； instead of Jack the
giant…killer； whom he knew very well； and who had； he fancied；
extirpated the race。 I assured him to the contrary； and told him
I had myself seen a huge tame giant； who very complacently stayed
in London a whole winter； at the special request of several
gentlemen and ladies； though the affairs of his family called him
home to Sweden。
I now beheld a stern…looking spirit leaning on the shoulder of
another spirit； and presently discerned the former to be Oliver
Cromwell； and the latter Charles Martel。 I own I was a little
surprised at seeing Cromwell here； for I had been taught by my
grandmother that he was carried away by the devil himself in a
tempest； but he assured me； on his honor； there was not the least
truth in that story。 However； he confessed he had narrowly
escaped the bottomless pit； and； if the former part of his
conduct had not been more to his honor than the latter； he had
been certainly soused into it。 He was； nevertheless； sent back
to the upper world with this lot：ARMY； CAVALIER； DISTRESS。
He was born； for the second time； the day of Charles II's
restoration； into a family which had lost a very considerable
fortune in the service of that prince and his father； for which
they received the reward very often conferred by princes on real
merit； viz。000。 At 16 his father bought a small commission for
him in the army； in which he served without any promotion all the
reigns of Charles II and of his brother。 At the Revolution he
quitted his regiment； and followed the fortunes of his former
master； and was in his service dangerously wounded at the famous
battle of the Boyne； where he fought in the capacity of a private
soldier。 He recovered of this wound； and retired after the
unfortunate king to Paris； where he was reduced to support a wife
and seven children （for his lot had horns in it） by cleaning
shoes and snuffing candles at the opera。 In which situation；
after he had