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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 spent a few miserable years; he died half…starved
and broken…hearted。 He then revisited Minos; who;
compassionating his sufferings by means of that family; to whom
he had been in his former capacity so bitter an enemy; suffered
him to enter here。
My curiosity would not refrain asking him one question; i。 e。;
whether in reality he had any desire to obtain the crown? He
smiled; and said; 〃No more than an ecclesiastic hath to the
miter; when he cries Nolo episcopari。〃 Indeed; he seemed to
express some contempt at the question; and presently turned away。
A venerable spirit appeared next; whom I found to be the great
historian Livy。 Alexander the Great; who was just arrived from
the palace of death; passed by him with a frown。 The historian;
observing it; said; 〃Ay; you may frown; but those troops which
conquered the base Asiatic slaves would have made no figure
against the Romans。〃 We then privately lamented the loss of the
most valuable part of his history; after which he took occasion
to commend the judicious collection made by Mr。 Hook; which; he
said; was infinitely preferable to all others; and at my
mentioning Echard's he gave a bounce; not unlike the going off of
a squib; and was departing from me; when I begged him to satisfy
my curiosity in one pointwhether he was really superstitious or
no? For I had always believed he was till Mr。 Leibnitz had
assured me to the contrary。 He answered sullenly; 〃Doth Mr。
Leibnitz know my mind better than myself?〃 and then walked away。
CHAPTER X
The author is surprised at meeting Julian the apostate in
Elysium; but is satisfied by him by what means he procured his
entrance there。 Julian relates his adventures in the character
of a slave。
As he was departing I heard him salute a spirit by the name of
Mr。 Julian the apostate。 This exceedingly amazed me; for I had
concluded that no man ever had a better title to the bottomless
pit than he。 But I soon found that this same Julian the apostate
was also the very individual archbishop Latimer。 He told me that
several lies had been raised on him in his former capacity; nor
was he so bad a man as he had been represented。 However; he had
been denied admittance; and forced to undergo several subsequent
pilgrimages on earth; and to act in the different characters of a
slave; a Jew; a general; an heir; a carpenter; a beau; a monk; a
fiddler; a wise man; a king; a fool; a beggar; a prince; a
statesman; a soldier; a tailor; an alderman; a poet; a knight; a
dancing…master; and three times a bishop; before his martyrdom;
which; together with his other behavior in this last character;
satisfied the judge; and procured him a passage to the blessed
regions。
I told him such various characters must have produced incidents
extremely entertaining; and if he remembered all; as I supposed
he did; and had leisure; I should be obliged to him for the
recital。 He answered he perfectly recollected every
circumstance; and as to leisure; the only business of that happy
place was to contribute to the happiness of each other。 He
therefore thanked me for adding to his; in proposing to him a
method of increasing mine。 I then took my little darling in one
hand; and my favorite fellow…traveler in the other; and; going
with him to a sunny bank of flowers; we all sat down; and he
began as follows: 〃I suppose you are sufficiently acquainted
with my story during the time I acted the part of the emperor
Julian; though I assure you all which hath been related of me is
not true; particularly with regard to the many prodigies
forerunning my death。 However; they are now very little worth
disputing; and if they can serve any purpose of the historian
they are extremely at his service。 〃My next entrance into the
world was at Laodicea; in Syria; in a Roman family of no great
note; and; being of a roving disposition; I came at the age of
seventeen to Constantinople; where; after about a year's stay; I
set out for Thrace; at the time when the emperor Valens admitted
the Goths into that country。 I was there so captivated with the
beauty of a Gothic lady; the wife of one Rodoric; a captain;
whose name; out of the most delicate tenderness for her lovely
sex; I shall even at this distance conceal; since her behavior to
me was more consistent with good…nature than with that virtue
which women are obliged to preserve against every assailant。 In
order to procure an intimacy with this woman I sold myself a
slave to her husband; who; being of a nation not over…inclined to
jealousy; presented me to his wife; for those very reasons which
would have induced one of a jealous complexion to have withheld
me from her; namely; for that I was young and handsome。
〃Matters succeeded so far according to my wish; and the sequel
answered those hopes which this beginning had raised。 I soon
perceived my service was very acceptable to her; I often met her
eyes; nor did she withdraw them without a confusion which is
scarce consistent with entire purity of heart。 Indeed; she gave
me every day fresh encouragement; but the unhappy distance which
circumstances had placed between us deterred me long from making
any direct attack; and she was too strict an observer of decorum
to violate the severe rules of modesty by advancing first; but
passion at last got the better of my respect; and I resolved to
make one bold attempt; whatever was the consequence。
Accordingly; laying hold of the first kind opportunity; when she
was alone and my master abroad; I stoutly assailed the citadel
and carried it by storm。 Well may I say by storm; for the
resistance I met was extremely resolute; and indeed as much as
the most perfect decency would require。 She swore often she
would cry out for help; but I answered it was in vain; seeing
there was no person near to assist her; and probably she believed
me; for she did not once actually cry out; which if she had; I
might very likely have been prevented。
〃When she found her virtue thus subdued against her will she
patiently submitted to her fate; and quietly suffered me a long
time to enjoy the most delicious fruits of my victory; but
envious fortune resolved to make me pay a dear price for my
pleasure。 One day in the midst of our happiness we were suddenly
surprised by the unexpected return of her husband; who; coming
directly into his wife's apartment; just allowed me time to creep
under the bed。 The disorder in which he found his wife might
have surprised a jealous temper; but his was so far otherwise;
that possibly no mischief might have happened had he not by a
cross accident discovered my legs; which were not well hid。 He
immediately drew me out by them; and then; turning to his wife
with a stern countenance; began to handle a weapon he wore by his
side; with which I