they informed us they were to be beggars.
The farther we
advanced, the greater numbers we met; and now we
discovered two large roads leading different ways, and of very
different appearance; the one all craggy with rocks, full as it
seemed of boggy grounds, and everywhere beset with briars, so
that it was impossible to pass through it without the utmost
danger and difficulty; the other, the most
delightful imaginable,
leading through the most verdant meadows, painted and perfumed
with all kinds of beautiful flowers; in short, the most wanton
imagination could imagine nothing more lovely. Notwithstanding
which, we were surprised to see great numbers crowding into the
former, and only one or two
solitary spirits choosing the latter.
On
inquiry, we were acquainted that the bad road was the way to
greatness, and the other to
goodness. When we expressed our
surprise at the
preference given to the former we were acquainted
that it was chosen for the sake of the music of drums and
trumpets, and the
perpetual acclamations of the mob, with which
those who
traveled this way were
constantly saluted. We were
told
likewise that there were several noble palaces to be seen,
and lodged in, on this road, by those who had passed through the
difficulties of it (which indeed many were not able to surmount),
and great quantities of all sorts of treasure to be found in it;
whereas the other had little
inviting more than the beauty of the
way,
scarce a handsome building, save one greatly resembling a
certain house by the Bath, to be seen during that whole journey;
and,
lastly, that it was thought very scandalous and
mean-spirited to travel through this, and as highly honorable and
noble to pass by the other. We now heard a
violent noise, when,
casting our eyes forwards, we perceived a vast number of spirits
advancing in
pursuit of one whom they mocked and insulted with
all kinds of scorn. I cannot give my reader a more
adequate idea
of this scene than by comparing it to an English mob conducting a
pickpocket to the water; or by supposing that an incensed
audience at a playhouse had unhappily possessed themselves of the
miserabledamned poet. Some laughed, some hissed, some squalled,
some groaned, some bawled, some spit at him, some threw dirt at
him. It was impossible not to ask who or what the wretched
spirit was whom they treated in this
barbarous manner; when, to
our great surprise, we were informed that it was a king: we were
likewise told that this manner of
behavior was usual among the
spirits to those who drew the lots of
emperors, kings, and other
great men, not from envy or anger, but mere
derision and contempt
of
earthlygrandeur; that nothing was more common than for those
who had drawn these great prizes (as to us they seemed) to
exchange them with tailors and cobblers; and that Alexander the
Great and Diogenes had
formerly done so; he that was afterwards
Diogenes having
originally fallen on the lot of Alexander. And
now, on a sudden, the
mockery ceased, and the king-spirit, having
obtained a
hearing, began to speak as follows; for we were now
near enough to hear him distinctly:--
"GENTLEMEN,--I am
justly surprised at your treating me in this
manner, since
whatever lot I have drawn, I did not choose: if,
therefore, it be
worthy of
derision, you should
compassionate me,
for it might have fallen to any of your shares. I know in how
low a light the station to which fate hath assigned me is
considered here, and that, when
ambition doth not support it, it
becomes generally so
intolerable, that there is
scarce any other
condition for which it is not
gladly exchanged: for what
portion, in the world to which we are going, is so
miserable as
that of care? Should I
therefore consider myself as become by
this lot
essentially your superior, and of a higher order of
being than the rest of my fellow-creatures; should I foolishly
imagine myself without
wisdom superior to the wise, without