brought us together. Then we heard our flories, we compared them, we mutually gave and received pity, and fo by degrees became tolerable company. A confiderable part of the troublesome road was thus deceived; at length the openings among the trees grew larger, the air feemed thinner, it lay with lefs oppreffion upon us, and we could now and then difcern tracts in it of a lighter greynefs, like the breakings of day, fhort in duration, much enlivening, and called in that Country GLEAMS OF AMUSEMENT. Within a short while thefe gleams began to appear more frequent, and then brighter and of longer continuance; the SIGHS that hitherto filled the air with fo much dolefulness, altered to the found of common breezes, and in general the horrors of the island were abated. When we had arrived at last at the ford by which we were to pafs out, we met with those fashionable mourners who had been ferried over along with us, and who being unwilling to go as far as we,had coasted by the shore, to find the place, where they waited our coming; that by fhewing themselves to the world only at that time when we did, they might seem also to have been among the troubles of the grotto. Here the waters, that rolled on the other side so deep and filent, were much dried up, and it was an easier matter for us to wade over. the The river being crossed, we were received upon further bank by our friends and acquaintance, whom COMFORT had brought out to congratulate our appearance in the world again. Some of these blamed us for ftaying fo long away from them, others advised us against all temptations of going back again; every one was cautious not to renew our trouble, by asking any particulars of the journey; and all concluded, that in a case of so much affliction, we could not have made choice of a fitter companion than PATIENCE. Here PATIENCE, appearing ferene at her praises, delivered us over to COMFORT. COMFORT fmiled at his receiving the charge; immediately the sky purpled on that fide to which he turned, and double day at once broke in upon me. VISION III. GUARDIAN. No 56. Quid mentem traxiffe polo, quid profuit altum CLAUD. I Was confidering last night, when I could not fleep, how noble a part of the creation Man was defign'd to be, and how distinguished in all his actions above other earthly creatures. From whence I fell to take a view of the change and corruption which he has introduced into his own condition, the groveling appetites, the mean characters of fenfe, and wild courses of paffions, that cast him from the degree in which Providence had placed him, the debasing himself with qualifications not his own, and his degenerating into a lower sphere of action. This inspired me with a mixture of contempt and anger; which, however, was not fo violent as to hinder the return of fleep, but grew confused as that came upon me, and made me end my reflections with giving mankind the opprobrious names of inconfiderate, mad and foolish. Here methought, where my waking reafon left the fubject, my fancy pursued it in a dream; and I imagined myself in a loud foliloquy of paffion, railing at my fpecies, and walking hard to get rid of the company I defpifed; when two men who had over-heard me made up on either hand. Thefe I obferved had many features in common, which might occafion the mistake of the one for the other in those to whom they appear fingle, but I, who faw them together, could eafily perceive, that tho' there was an air of severity in each, it was tempered with a natural sweetness in the one, and by turns constrained or ruffled by the defigns of malice in the other. I was at a lofs to know the reason of their joining me fo brifkly, when he whofe appearance difpleafed me moft, thus addreffed his companion. Pray, brother, let him alone, and we fhall immediately fee him tranfformed into a Tyger. This ftruck me with horror, which the other perceived, and pitying my disorder, bid me be of good courage, for tho' I had been favage in my treatment of mankind, (whom I should rather reform than rail against) he would, however, endeavour to rescue me from my danger. At this I looked a little more chearful, and while I teftified my refignation to him, we saw the angry brother fling away from us in a pasfion for his disappointment. Being now left to my tfiend, I went back with him at his desire, that I might know the meaning of those words which fo affrighted me. As we went along, to inform you, says he, with whom you have this adventure, my name is REPROOF and his REPROACH, both born of the fame mother, but of different fathers. TRUTH is our common parent. FRIENDSHIP, who faw her, fell in love with her, and fhe being pleafed with him, he begat me upon her; but a while after ENMITY lying in ambush for her, became the father of him whom you faw along with me. The temper of our mother inclines us to the fame fort of business, the informing mankind of their faults; but the differing complexions of our fathers make us differ in our designs and company. I have a natural be nevolence in my mind which engages me with friends, and he a natural impetuofity in his, which cafts him among enemies. As he thus difcourfed he came to a place where there were three entrances into as many several walks, which lay beside one another. We passed into the middlemost, a plain, strait, regular walk, set with trees, which added to the beauty of the place, but did not so close their boughs over head as to exclude the light from it. Here as we walked I was made to observe, how the road on one hand was full of rocks and precipices, over which REPROACH (who had already gotten thither) was furiously driving unhappy wretches; the other fide |