tide of eternity.' 'What is the reason,' said I, 'that the tide I see rises out of a thick mist at one end, and again loses itself in a thick mist at the other?' 'What thou seest,' said he,' is that portion of eternity which is called time, measured out by the 5 sun, and reaching from the beginning of the world to its consummation. Examine now,' said he,

this sea that is thus bounded with darkness at both ends, and tell me what thou discoverest in it.' 'I see a bridge,' said I, 'standing in the midst of 10 the tide.' 'The bridge thou seest,' said he, 'is human life; consider it attentively.' Upon a more leisurely survey of it, I found that it consisted of threescore and ten entire arches, with several broken arches, which added to those that were entire, made 15 up the number about an hundred. As I was counting the arches the genius told me that this bridge consisted at first of a thousand arches; but that a great flood swept away the rest, and left the bridge. in the ruinous condition I now beheld it. But tell 20 me further,' said he, 'what thou discoverest on it.'

"I see multitudes of people passing over it,' said I, 'and a black cloud hanging on each end of it.' As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge, into the 25 great tide that flowed underneath it; and upon further examination, perceived there were innumerable trap-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no sooner trod upon, but they fell through them into the tide and immediately disap- 30 peared. These hidden pit-falls were set very thick at the entrance of the bridge, so that throngs of people no sooner broke through the cloud, but many of them fell into them. They grew thinner towards

the middle, but multiplied and lay closer together towards the end of the arches that were entire.

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There were indeed some persons, but their number was very small, that continued a kind of hobbl5ing march on the broken arches, but fell through one after another, being quite tired and spent with so long a walk.

"I passed some time in the contemplation of this wonderful structure, and the great variety of objects 10 which it presented. My heart was filled with a deep melancholy to see several dropping unexpectedly in the midst of mirth and jollity, and catching at every thing that stood by them to save themselves. Some were looking up towards the heavens in a 15 thoughtful posture, and in the midst of a speculation stumbled and fell out of sight. Multitudes were very busy in the pursuit of bubbles that glittered in their eyes and danced before them, but often when they thought themselves within the 20 reach of them, their footing failed and down they

sunk. In this confusion of objects, I observed some with scimitars in their hands, and others with urinals, who ran to and fro upon the bridge, thrusting several persons on trap-doors which did not seem 25 to lie in their way, and which they might have escaped, had they not been thus forced upon them.

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3

The genius seeing me indulge myself in this melancholy prospect, told me I had dwelt long enough upon it: 'Take thine eyes off the bridge,' 30 said he, and tell me if thou seest anything thou dost not comprehend.' Upon looking up, 'What mean,' said I those great flights of birds that are

3

4

1711, which did not seem to have been laid for them. Changed in No. 162, [1711] to the reading in the text.

4 1711, if thou yet seest.

perpetually hovering about the bridge, and settling upon it from time to time? I see vultures, harpies, ravens, cormorants; and among many other feathered creatures several little winged boys, that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches.' 5 These,' said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, despair, love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.'

"I here fetched a deep sigh; 'Alas,' said I, 'man was made in vain! how is he given away to misery 10 and mortality! tortured in life, and swallowed up in death!' The genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. 'Look no more,' said he, on man in the first stage of his existence, in his setting out 15 for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it.' I directed my sight as I was ordered, and (whether or no the good genius strengthened it with any supernatural force, 20 or dissipated part of the mist that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw the valley opening at the further end, and spreading forth into an immense ocean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it 25 into two equal parts. The clouds still rested on one half of it, insomuch that I could discover nothing in it but the other appeared to me a vast ocean planted with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a 30 thousand little shining seas that ran among them. I could see persons dressed in glorious habits with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, Б 1711, two equal halfs. Corrected in No. 162 [1711] to two equal parts."

5

lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness grew in me 5 upon the discovery of so delightful a scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle, that I might fly away to those happy seats; but the genius told me there was no passage to them, except through the gates of death that I saw opening every moment 10 upon the bridge. The islands,' said he, that lie so fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see, are more in number than the sands on the sea-shore; there are myriads of islands 15 behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching further than thine eye or even thine imagination can extend itself. These are the mansions of good men after death, who according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed 20 among these several islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled in them; every island is a paradise accommodated to its respective inhabitants. Are not these, 25 O Mirzah, habitations worth contending for? Does life appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities of earning such a reward? is death to be feared that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who has such 30 an eternity reserved for him.' I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands. At

length said I,Show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which

cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant.' The genius making me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time, but I found that he had left me; I then turned again to the vision which I had been so long contemplat- 5 ing, but instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and camels, grazing upon the sides of it.'

The end of the first vision of Mirzah.

No. 165.1 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. [1711.]

Si forte necesse est,

Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis,

Continget: dabiturque licentia sumpta pudenter.-HOR.

I HAVE often wished, that as in our constitution 10 there are several persons whose business it is to watch over our laws, our liberties and commerce, certain 2 men might be set apart as superintendents of our language, to hinder any words of a foreign coin from passing among us; and in particular to 15 prohibit any French phrases from becoming current in this kingdom, when those of our own stamp are altogether as valuable. The present war has so adulterated our tongue with strange words that it would be impossible for one of our great grand- 20 fathers to know what his posterity have been doing, were he to read their exploits in a modern news

1 In 1711, this is wrongly numbered 166, with following motto: Semivirumque bovem semibovemque virum.-OVID.

2 1711, that certain.