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to me to be likewise awake； I began to make overtures of
conversation； by complaining HOW DARK IT WAS。 〃And extremely
cold too；〃 answered my fellow traveler； 〃though； I thank God； as
I have no body； I feel no inconvenience from it： but you will
believe； sir； that this frosty air must seem very sharp to one
just issued forth out of an oven； for such was the inflamed
habitation I am lately departed from。〃 〃How did you come to your
end； sir？〃 said I。 〃I was murdered； sir；〃 answered the
gentleman。 〃I am surprised then；〃 replied I； 〃that you did not
divert yourself by walking up and down and playing some merry
tricks with the murderer。〃 〃Oh； sir；〃 returned he； 〃I had not
that privilege； I was lawfully put to death。 In short； a
physician set me on fire； by giving me medicines to throw out my
distemper。 I died of a hot regimen； as they call it； in the
small…pox。〃
＇4＇ Those who have read of the gods sleeping in Homer will not
be surprised at this happening to spirits。
One of the spirits at that word started up and cried out； 〃The
small…pox！ bless me！ I hope I am not in company with that
distemper； which I have all my life with such caution avoided；
and have so happily escaped hitherto！〃 This fright set all the
passengers who were awake into a loud laughter； and the
gentleman； recollecting himself； with some confusion； and not
without blushing； asked pardon； crying； 〃I protest I dreamed that
I was alive。〃 〃Perhaps； sir；〃 said I； 〃you died of that
distemper； which therefore made so strong an impression on you。〃
〃No； sir；〃 answered he； 〃I never had it in my life； but the
continual and dreadful apprehension it kept me so long under
cannot； I see； be so immediately eradicated。 You must know；
sir； I avoided coming to London for thirty years together； for
fear of the small…pox； till the most urgent business brought me
thither about five days ago。 I was so dreadfully afraid of this
disease that I refused the second night of my arrival to sup with
a friend whose wife had recovered of it several months before；
and the same evening got a surfeit by eating too many muscles；
which brought me into this good company。〃
〃I will lay a wager；〃 cried the spirit who sat next him； 〃there
is not one in the coach able to guess my distemper。〃 I desired
the favor of him to acquaint us with it； if it was so uncommon。
〃Why； sir；〃 said he； 〃I died of honor。〃 〃Of honor； sir！〃
repeated I； with some surprise。 〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the spirit；
〃of honor； for I was killed in a duel。〃
〃For my part；〃 said a fair spirit； 〃I was inoculated last summer；
and had the good fortune to escape with a very few marks on my
face。 I esteemed myself now perfectly happy； as I imagined I had
no restraint to a full enjoyment of the diversions of the town；
but within a few days after my coming up I caught cold by
overdancing myself at a ball； and last night died of a violent
fever。〃
After a short silence which now ensued； the fair spirit who spoke
last； it being now daylight； addressed herself to a female who
sat next her； and asked her to what chance they owed the
happiness of her company。 She answered； she apprehended to a
consumption； but the physicians were not agreed concerning her
distemper； for she left two of them in a very hot dispute about
it when she came out of her body。 〃And pray； madam；〃 said the
same spirit to the sixth passenger； 〃How came you to leave the
other world？〃 But that female spirit； screwing up her mouth；
answered； she wondered at the curiosity of some people； that
perhaps persons had already heard some reports of her death；
which were far from being true； that； whatever was the occasion
of it； she was glad at being delivered from a world in which she
had no pleasure； and where there was nothing but nonsense and
impertinence； particularly among her own sex； whose loose conduct
she had long been entirely ashamed of。
The beauteous spirit； perceiving her question gave offense；
pursued it no farther。 She had indeed all the sweetness and
good…humor which are so extremely amiable （when found） in that
sex which tenderness most exquisitely becomes。 Her countenance
displayed all the cheerfulness； the good…nature； and the modesty；
which diffuse such brightness round the beauty of Seraphina；＇5＇
awing every beholder with respect； and； at the same time；
ravishing him with admiration。 Had it not been indeed for our
conversation on the small…pox； I should have imagined we had been
honored with her identical presence。 This opinion might have
been heightened by the good sense she uttered whenever she spoke；
by the delicacy of her sentiments； and the complacence of her
behavior； together with a certain dignity which attended every
look； word； and gesture； qualities which could not fail making an
impression on a heart＇6＇ so capable of receiving it as mine； nor
was she long in raising in me a very violent degree of seraphic
love。 I do not intend by this； that sort of love which men are
very properly said to make to women in the lower world； and which
seldom lasts any longer than while it is making。 I mean by
seraphic love an extreme delicacy and tenderness of friendship；
of which； my worthy reader； if thou hast no conception； as it is
probable thou mayest not； my endeavor to instruct thee would be
as fruitless as it would be to explain the most difficult
problems of Sir Isaac Newton to one ignorant of vulgar
arithmetic。
＇5＇ A particular lady of quality is meant here； but every lady
of quality； or no quality； are welcome to apply the character to
themselves。
＇6＇ We have before made an apology for this language； which we
here repeat for the last time； though the heart may； we hope； be
metaphorically used here with more propriety than when we apply
those passions to the body which belong to the soul。
To return therefore to matters comprehensible by all
understandings： the discourse now turned on the vanity； folly；
and misery of the lower world； from which every passenger in the
coach expressed the highest satisfaction in being delivered；
though it was very remarkable that； notwithstanding the joy we
declared at our death； there was not one of us who did not
mention the accident which occasioned it as a thing we would have
avoided if we could。 Nay； the very grave lady herself； who was
the forwardest in testifying her delight； confessed inadvertently
that she left a physician by her bedside； and the gentleman who
died of honor very liberally cursed both his folly and his
fencing。 While we were entertaining ourselves with these
matters； on a sudden a most offensive smell began to invade our
nostrils。 This very much resembled the savor which travelers in
summer perceive at their approach to that beautiful village of
the Hague； arising from those delicious canals which； as they
consist of standing water； do at that time emit odors greatly
agreeable to a Dutch taste； but not so pleas