THE DANGER OF INDULGENCE OF THE

IMAGINATION.

METHOUGHT, as I was sitting at work, a young woman came into the room, clothed in a loose green garment: her long hair fell in ringlets upon her shoulders: her head was crowned with roses and myrtles: a prodigious sweetness appeared in her countenance; and notwithstanding the irregularity of her features, and a certain wildness in her eyes, she seemed to me the most agreeable person I had ever beheld.

When she was entered, she presented me with a little green branch, upon which was a small sort of nut, enclosed in a hard black shell, which, she said, was both wholesome and delicious; and bade me follow her, and be not afraid, for she was going to make me happy.

I did as she commanded me, and immediately a chariot descended, and took us up: it was made of the richest materials, and drawn by four milkwhite turtles. Whilst we were hurried, with a rapid motion, over vast oceans, boundless plains, and barren deserts, she told me that her name was Imagination; that she was carrying me to Parnassus, where she herself lived.

I had scarce time to thank her before we arrived at the top of a very high mountain, covered with very thick woods. Here we alighted; and my guide taking me by the hand, we passed through several beautiful groves of myrtle, bays, and laurel, separated from one another by little green alleys, enamelled with the finest

flowers. Nothing was to be heard but the rustling of leaves, the humming of bees, the warbling of birds, and the purling of streams; and, in short, this spot seemed to be a paradise.

After wandering some time in this delightful place, we came to a long grass walk, at the farther end of which, in a bower of woodbines and jasmines, strewed with flowers, sat a woman of a middle age, but of a pleasing countenance: her hair was finely braided, and she wore a habit of changeable silk.

When we approached her, she was weaving nets of the finest silk, which she immediately threw down, and embraced me. I was surprised at so much civility from a stranger, which she perceiving, bade me not wonder at the kindness she showed for me at first sight, since, besides my being in the company of that lady (pointing to Imagination) which was recommendation enough, my own person would entitle me to the favour of all who saw me. 66 But," added she,“ you have had a long walk, and want rest, come and sit down in my bower."

Though this offer would, at another time, have been very acceptable to me, yet so great was my desire of seeing the Muses, that I begged to be excused, and to have permission to pursue my journey. Being informed by Imagination where we were going, she commended my laudable curiosity, and said she would accompany us. As we went along, she told me her name was Good Will, and she was a great friend to the Muses, and to the lady who brought me hither, whom she had brought up from a child, and had saved her from

being carried away by Severity and Ill Humour, her inveterate enemies.

When she had done speaking, we arrived at the happy place I had so much wished to see. It was a little circular opening, at the upper end of which sat, on a throne of the most fragrant flowers, a young man in a flame coloured garment, of a noble but haughty countenance: he was crowned with laurel, and had a harp in his hand. Round him sat nine beautiful young women, who all played upon musical instruments. These, Imagination told me were Apollo and the Muses. But, above all the rest, there were three that I most admired, and who seemed fondest of me.

One of these was clothed in a loose and careless manner; she was reposed on a bank of flowers, and sang with a sweeter voice than any of the others. The garment of the second was put on with the greatest care and exactness, and richly embroidered with the gayest colours; but it did not seem to fit her. But it was the third whom I most admired: she was crowned with roses and a variety of other flowers; she played upon all the instruments, and never stayed five minutes in a place.

Just as I was going to sit down to a fine repast which they had prepared for me, of the fruits of the mountain, we saw two grave looking men advancing towards us. Immediately Imagination shrieked out, and Good Will said she had great reason, for these were Severity and Ill Humour, who had like to have run away with her when but a child, as she had told me before.

❝ You

66

too," added she, may be in danger; therefore come into the midst of us."

I did so, and by this time the men were come up. One of them was completely armed, and held a mirror in his hand; the other wore a long robe, and held in one hand a mariner's compass, and in the other a lantern. They soon pierced to the centre of our little troop; and the first, with much ado, at length forced me from the only two who still held out against them, and made me hearken to the other, who bade me not be afraid, and told me, though I might be prejudiced against him and his companion by those I had lately been with, yet they had a greater desire of my happiness, and would do more towards it. "But," said he, "if you have eaten any of the fruit which you have in your hand, of which the real name is Obstinacy, all I can say will be ineffectual."

I assured him that I had not tasted this fatal fruit. He said he was very glad of it, and bade me throw it down and follow him; which I did, till by a shorter way we came to the brow of the mountain. When we were there, he told me the only way to deliver myself from the danger I was then in, was to leap down into the plain below. As the mountain seemed very steep, and the plain very barren, I could neither persuade myself to obey, nor had I courage to disobey him.

I thus stood wavering for some time, till the man in armour pushed me down, as Mentor did Telemachus. When I was recovered from the first shock of my fall, how great was my surprise to find this paradise of the world, this delightful

mountain, was raised to that prodigious height by mere empty clouds!

After they had given me some time to wonder, he who held the lantern in his hand told me that the place before me was the Mount of Folly: that Imagination was Romance, Good Will was Flattery, Apollo was Bombast: that the two false Muses, who tried most to keep me from coming with them, were Self Conceit and Idleness; that the others were Inconstancy, False Taste, Ignorance, and Affectation, her daughters; Enthusiasm of Poetry; Credulity, a great promoter of their despotic dominion; and Fantasticalness, who took as many hearts as any of the

rest.

I thanked him for this information, and told him that it would almost equal the joy of my deliverance, to know the names of my deliverers. He told me his own name was Good Advice, and his companion's. Good Sense, his brother, and born at the same time. He added, that, if I liked their company, they would, after having shown me the many thousand wretches whom my false friends had betrayed, conduct me to the abode of Application and Preseverance, the parents of all the Virtues.

I told him that nothing could afford me a more sensible pleasure. 66 "Then," said he, prepare yourself for a scene of horror ;" and immediately, with the help of his brother, he lifted up the mountain, and discovered to my sight a dark and hollow vale, where, under the shade of cypress and yew, lay, in the utmost misery, multitudes of unhappy mortals, mostly young women, run