The Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 11

  Chapter v.

  _The travellers proceed on their journey, and meet several spirits whoare coming into the flesh._

  We now came to the banks of the great river Cocytus, where we quittedour vehicle, and past the water in a boat, after which we were obligedto travel on foot the rest of our journey; and now we met, for the firsttime, several passengers travelling to the world we had left, whoinformed us they were souls going into the flesh.

  The two first we met were walking arm-in-arm, in very close and friendlyconference; they informed us that one of them was intended for a duke,and the other for a hackney-coachman. As we had not yet arrived at theplace where we were to deposit our passions, we were all surprized atthe familiarity which subsisted between persons of such differentdegrees; nor could the grave lady help expressing her astonishment atit. The future coachman then replied, with a laugh, that they hadexchanged lots; for that the duke had with his dukedom drawn a shrew fora wife, and the coachman only a single state.

  As we proceeded on our journey we met a solemn spirit walking alone withgreat gravity in his countenance: our curiosity invited us,notwithstanding his reserve, to ask what lot he had drawn. He answered,with a smile, he was to have the reputation of a wise man with L100,000in his pocket, and was practising the solemnity which he was to act inthe other world.

  A little farther we met a company of very merry spirits, whom weimagined by their mirth to have drawn some mighty lot, but, on enquiry,they informed us they were to be beggars.

  The farther we advanced, the greater numbers we met; and now wediscovered two large roads leading different ways, and of very differentappearance; the one all craggy with rocks, full as it seemed of boggygrounds, and everywhere beset with briars, so that it was impossible topass through it without the utmost danger and difficulty; the other, themost delightful imaginable, leading through the most verdant meadows,painted and perfumed with all kinds of beautiful flowers; in short, themost wanton imagination could imagine nothing more lovely.Notwithstanding which, we were surprized to see great numbers crowdinginto the former, and only one or two solitary spirits chusing thelatter. On enquiry, we were acquainted that the bad road was the way togreatness, and the other to goodness. When we expressed our surprize atthe preference given to the former we were acquainted that it was chosenfor the sake of the music of drums and trumpets, and the perpetualacclamations of the mob, with which those who travelled this way wereconstantly saluted. We were told likewise that there were several noblepalaces to be seen, and lodged in, on this road, by those who had pastthrough the difficulties of it (which indeed many were not able tosurmount), and great quantities of all sorts of treasure to be found init; whereas the other had little inviting more than the beauty of theway, scarce a handsome building, save one greatly resembling a certainhouse by the Bath, to be seen during that whole journey; and, lastly,that it was thought very scandalous and mean-spirited to travel throughthis, and as highly honourable and noble to pass by the other.

  We now heard a violent noise, when, casting our eyes forwards, weperceived a vast number of spirits advancing in pursuit of one whom theymocked and insulted with all kinds of scorn. I cannot give my reader amore adequate idea of this scene than by comparing it to an English mobconducting a pickpocket to the water; or by supposing that an incensedaudience at a playhouse had unhappily possessed themselves of themiserable damned poet. Some laughed, some hissed, some squawled, somegroaned, some bawled, some spit at him, some threw dirt at him. It wasimpossible not to ask who or what the wretched spirit was whom theytreated in this barbarous manner; when, to our great surprize, we wereinformed that it was a king: we were likewise told that this manner ofbehaviour was usual among the spirits to those who drew the lots ofemperors, kings, and other great men, not from envy or anger, but merederision and contempt of earthly grandeur; that nothing was more commonthan for those who had drawn these great prizes (as to us they seemed)to exchange them with taylors and coblers; and that Alexander the Greatand Diogenes had formerly done so; he that was afterwards Diogeneshaving originally fallen on the lot of Alexander.

  And now, on a sudden, the mockery ceased, and the king-spirit, havingobtained a hearing, began to speak as follows; for we were now nearenough to hear him distinctly:--

  "GENTLEMEN,--I am justly surprized at your treating me in this manner,since whatever lot I have drawn, I did not chuse: if, therefore, it beworthy of derision, you should compassionate me, for it might havefallen to any of your shares. I know in how low a light the station towhich fate hath assigned me is considered here, and that, when ambitiondoth not support it, it becomes generally so intollerable, that there isscarce any other condition for which it is not gladly exchanged: forwhat portion, in the world to which we are going, is so miserable asthat of care? Should I therefore consider myself as become by this lotessentially your superior, and of a higher order of being than the restof my fellow-creatures; should I foolishly imagine myself without wisdomsuperior to the wise, without knowledge to the learned, without courageto the brave, and without goodness and virtue to the good and virtuous;surely so preposterous, so absurd a pride, would justly render me theobject of ridicule. But far be it from me to entertain it. And yet,gentlemen, I prize the lot I have drawn, nor would I exchange it withany of yours, seeing it is in my eye so much greater than the rest.Ambition, which I own myself possest of, teaches me this; ambition,which makes me covet praise, assures me that I shall enjoy a much largerproportion of it than can fall within your power either to deserve orobtain. I am then superior to you all, when I am able to do more good,and when I execute that power. What the father is to the son, theguardian to the orphan, or the patron to his client, that am I to you.You are my children, to whom I will be a father, a guardian, and apatron. Not one evening in my long reign (for so it is to be) will Irepose myself to rest without the glorious, the heartwarmingconsideration, that thousands that night owe their sweetest rest to me.What a delicious fortune is it to him whose strongest appetite is doinggood, to have every day the opportunity and the power of satisfying it!If such a man hath ambition, how happy is it for him to be seated so onhigh, that every act blazes abroad, and attracts to him praises taintedwith neither sarcasm nor adulation, but such as the nicest and mostdelicate mind may relish! Thus, therefore, while you derive your goodfrom me, I am your superior. If to my strict distribution of justice youowe the safety of your property from domestic enemies; if by myvigilance and valour you are protected from foreign foes; if by myencouragement of genuine industry, every science, every art which canembellish or sweeten life, is produced and flourishes among you; willany of you be so insensible or ungrateful as to deny praise and respectto him by whose care and conduct you enjoy these blessings? I wonder notat the censure which so frequently falls on those in my station; but Iwonder that those in my station so frequently deserve it. What strangeperverseness of nature! What wanton delight in mischief must taint hiscomposition, who prefers dangers, difficulty, and disgrace, by doingevil, to safety, ease, and honour, by doing good! who refuses happinessin the other world, and heaven in this, for misery there and hell here!But, be assured, my intentions are different. I shall always endeavourthe ease, the happiness, and the glory of my people, being confidentthat, by so doing, I take the most certain method of procuring them allto myself."--He then struck directly into the road of goodness, andreceived such a shout of applause as I never remember to have heardequalled.

  He was gone a little way when a spirit limped after him, swearing hewould fetch him back. This spirit, I was presently informed, was one whohad drawn the lot of his prime minister.