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parents； of marrying children very young； and without the least
affection between the parties； and concluded by saying that； if
these fashions continued to spread； she doubted not but she
should shortly be the only disease who would ever receive a visit
from any person of considerable rank。
While we were discoursing her three daughters entered the room。
They were all called by hard names； the eldest was named Lepra；
the second Chaeras； and the third Scorbutia。＇8＇ They were all
genteel； but ugly。 I could not help observing the little respect
they paid their parent； which the old lady remarking in my
countenance； as soon as they quitted the room； which soon
happened； acquainted me with her unhappiness in her offspring；
every one of which had the confidence to deny themselves to be
her children； though she said she had been a very indulgent
mother and had plentifully provided for them all。 As family
complaints generally as much tire the hearer as they relieve him
who makes them； when I found her launching farther into this
subject I resolved to put an end to my visit； and； taking my
leave with many thanks for the favor she had done me； I returned
to the inn； where I found my fellow…travelers just mounting into
their vehicle。 I shook hands with my host and accompanied them
into the coach； which immediately after proceeded on its journey。
＇8＇ These ladies； I believe； by their names； presided over the
leprosy； king's…evil； and scurvy。
CHAPTER IV
Discourses on the road； and a description of the palace of Death。
We were all silent for some minutes； till； being well shaken into
our several seats； I opened my mouth first； and related what had
happened to me after our separation in the city we had just left。
The rest of the company； except the grave female spirit whom our
reader may remember to have refused giving an account of the
distemper which occasioned her dissolution； did the same。 It
might be tedious to relate these at large； we shall therefore
only mention a very remarkable inveteracy which the Surfeit
declared to all the other diseases； especially to the Fever； who；
she said； by the roguery of the porters； received acknowledgments
from numberless passengers which were due to herself。 〃Indeed；〃
says she； 〃those cane…headed fellows〃 （for so she called them；
alluding； I suppose； to their ticket） 〃are constantly making such
mistakes； there is no gratitude in those fellows； for I am sure
they have greater obligations to me than to any other disease；
except the Vapors。〃 These relations were no sooner over than one
of the company informed us we were approaching to the most noble
building he had ever beheld； and which we learned from our
coachman was the palace of Death。 Its outside； indeed； appeared
extremely magnificent。 Its structure was of the Gothic order；
vast beyond imagination； the whole pile consisting of black
marble。 Rows of immense yews form an amphitheater round it of
such height and thickness that no ray of the sun ever perforates
this grove； where black eternal darkness would reign was it not
excluded by innumerable lamps which are placed in pyramids round
the grove； so that the distant reflection they cast on the
palace； which is plentifully gilt with gold on the outside； is
inconceivably solemn。 To this I may add the hollow murmur of
winds constantly heard from the grove； and the very remote sound
of roaring waters。 Indeed； every circumstance seems to conspire
to fill the mind with horror and consternation as we approach to
this palace； which we had scarce time to admire before our
vehicle stopped at the gate； and we were desired to alight in
order to pay our respects to his most mortal majesty （this being
the title which it seems he assumes）。 The outward court was full
of soldiers； and； indeed； the whole very much resembled the state
of an earthly monarch； only more magnificent。 We passed through
several courts into a vast hall； which led to a spacious
staircase； at the bottom of which stood two pages； with very
grave countenances； whom I recollected afterwards to have
formerly been very eminent undertakers； and were in reality the
only dismal faces I saw here； for this palace； so awful and
tremendous without； is all gay and sprightly within； so that we
soon lost all those dismal and gloomy ideas we had contracted in
approaching it。 Indeed； the still silence maintained among the
guards and attendants resembled rather the stately pomp of
eastern courts； but there was on every face such symptoms of
content and happiness that diffused an air of cheerfulness all
round。 We ascended the staircase and passed through many noble
apartments whose walls were adorned with various battle…pieces in
tapistry； and which we spent some time in observing。 These
brought to my mind those beautiful ones I had in my lifetime seen
at Blenheim； nor could I prevent my curiosity from inquiring
where the Duke of Marlborough's victories were placed （for I
think they were almost the only battles of any eminence I had
read of which I did not meet with）； when the skeleton of a
beef…eater； shaking his head； told me a certain gentleman； one
Lewis XIV； who had great interest with his most mortal majesty；
had prevented any such from being hung up there。 〃Besides；〃 says
he； 〃his majesty hath no great respect for that duke； for he
never sent him a subject he could keep from him； nor did he ever
get a single subject by his means but he lost 1000 others for
him。〃 We found the presence…chamber at our entrance very full；
and a buzz ran through it； as in all assemblies； before the
principal figure enters； for his majesty was not yet come out。
At the bottom of the room were two persons in close conference；
one with a square black cap on his head； and the other with a
robe embroidered with flames of fire。 These； I was informed；
were a judge long since dead； and an inquisitor…general。 I
overheard them disputing with great eagerness whether the one had
hanged or the other burned the most。 While I was listening to
this dispute； which seemed to be in no likelihood of a speedy
decision； the emperor entered the room and placed himself between
two figures； one of which was remarkable for the roughness； and
the other for the beauty of his appearance。 These were； it
seems； Charles XII of Sweden and Alexander of Macedon。 I was at
too great a distance to hear any of the conversation； so could
only satisfy my curiosity by contemplating the several personages
present； of whose names I informed myself by a page； who looked
as pale and meager as any court…page in the other world； but was
somewhat more modest。 He showed me here two or three Turkish
emperors； to whom his most mortal majesty seemed to express much
civility。 Here were likewise several of the Roman emperors；
among whom none seemed so much caressed as Caligula； on account；
as the page told me； of his pious wish that he could send all the