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From This World to the Next-Part5_HENRY FIELDING(1707-1754)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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observer of fast-days: he likewise represented the great

animosity he had shown to vice in others, which never escaped his



severest censure; and as to his own behavior, he had never been

once guilty of whoring, drinking, gluttony, or any other excess.



He said he had disinherited his son for getting a bastard. "Have

you so?" said Minos; "then pray return into the other world and



beget another; for such an unnaturalrascal shall never pass this

gate." A dozen others, who had advanced with very confident



countenances, seeing him rejected, turned about of their own

accord, declaring, if he could not pass, they had no expectation,



and accordingly they followed him back to earth; which was the

fate of all who were repulsed, they being obliged to take a



further purification, unless those who were guilty of some very

heinous crimes, who were hustled in at a little back gate, whence



they tumbled immediately into the bottomless pit.

The next spirit that came up declared he had done neither good



nor evil in the world; for that since his arrival at man's estate

he had spent his whole time in search of curiosities; and



particularly in the study of butterflies, of which he had

collected an immense number. Minos made him no answer, but with



great scorn pushed him back. There now advanced a very beautiful

spirit indeed. She began to ogle Minos the moment she saw him.



She said she hoped there was some merit in refusing a great

number of lovers, and dying a maid, though she had had the choice



of a hundred. Minos told her she had not refused enow yet, and

turned her back.



She was succeeded by a spirit who told the judge he believed his

works would speak for him. "What works?" answered Minos. "My



dramatic works," replied the other, "which have done so much good

in recommending virtue and punishing vice." "Very well," said



the judge; "if you please to stand by, the first person who

passes the gate by your means shall carry you in with him; but,



if you will take my advice, I think, for expedition sake, you had

better return, and live another life upon earth." The bard



grumbled at this, and replied that, besides his poetical works,

he had done some other good things: for that he had once lent



the whole profits of a benefit-night to a friend, and by that

means had saved him and his family from destruction. Upon this



the gate flew open, and Minos desired him to walk in, telling

him, if he had mentioned this at first, he might have spared the



remembrance of his plays. The poet answered, he believed, if

Minos had read his works, he would set a higher value on them.



He was then beginning to repeat, but Minos pushed him forward,

and, turning his back to him, applied himself to the next



passenger, a very genteel spirit, who made a very low bow to

Minos, and then threw himself into an erect attitude, and



imitated the motion of taking snuff with his right hand. Minos

asked him what he had to say for himself. He answered, he would



dance a minuet with any spirit in Elysium: that he could

likewise perform all his other exercises very well, and hoped he



had in his life deserved the character of a perfect fine

gentleman. Minos replied it would be great pity to rob the world



of so fine a gentleman, and therefore desired him to take the

other trip. The beau bowed, thanked the judge, and said he



desired no better.

Several spirits expressed much astonishment at this his



satisfaction; but we were afterwards informed he had not taken

the emetic above mentioned.



A miserable old spirit now crawled forwards, whose face I thought

I had formerly seen near Westminster Abbey. He entertained Minos



with a long harangue of what he had done when in the HOUSE; and

then proceeded to inform him how much he was worth, without



attempting to produce a single instance of any one good action.

Minos stopped the career of his discourse, and acquainted him he






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