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from this world to the next-第12章

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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 
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