I could from the place. I had not gone far when I was met by a good old man, who gives directions to all travellers that are willing to be directed, and who was called the Genius of Education. Perceiving me penfive, he inquired into the caufe. I told him where I had been, and what I had obferved; and added, that being myself a young traveller in queft of Happiness, I was uncertain which way to take. He looked at me with generous compaffion, and bade me follow him. He conducted me along a winding path up a hill, on the top of which we found an open pavilion, which commanded a profpect of the whole country round. As we approached, we perceived an old man fitting in a mufing pofture, on a chair of polished metal, which calt an uncommon luftre about him, and reflected the images of furrounding objects. He held in his hand a telescope; and my guide informed me, that his name was Contemplation; that he was one of the eldest fons of Wisdom ; and that he was placed on that hill by Virtue, the fovereign of a great adjoining empire, to direct thofe who were travelling towards her temple.

As we entered his pavilion, he rofe, and came forward to receive us. Being truck with reverence, I was at firft filent. But at length I told him where I had been, and whither I was going. Contemplation faid, that if I would truft myfelf to his care, he would conduct me. Having joyfully accepted his offer, and being warmly recommended to him by my first guide, he led me to the brow of the hill, from whence we could defcry a wide extent of country below, and innumerable travellers croffing it by a thousand different roads. That large tract," faid he, "which you fee to the left, fo variegated with hills, and dales. and groves, and ftreams, and fo full of inhabitants and travellers, is the dominion of a powerful forcerefs, who affects to be called Pleasure, but whofe true hame is Vice. You fee her palace, and to confirm you in your opinion of her character, you may obferve," defiring me to look through a telescope, "how fome of her votaries are loft in the mazes

..

of the neighbouring wood; how others wander up and down from one bower of the garden to another, forlorn and diftracted; whilst many of them are dragged away to a dirty cave, which is concealed from those who enter into her palace, called the Cave of Poverty. Not far from thence, you may perceive a ftrong prifon, the House of Difcipline. It is kept by two frightful beings, called Punishment and Terror, who inflict toil, and pain, and difgrace, on fuch malefactors as are delivered into their hands.

"But now, caft you eye again over the country. It is divided into fundry diftricts, lying in a circle round the palace of Pleafure. In their refpective cen tres ftand the feats of her principal minifters. On one fide you fee the manfion of Luxury, adorned with all the extravagance of art." And here he defired me to mark with particular care an outlet from the gardens leading directly to the Cave of Poverty.

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Then turning the telescope to another fide, Yonder," faid he, "is the abode of Intemperance. It refembles a great inn, to which paffengers are continually crouding. You may obferve, that hardly any come out with the fame counte nance or fhape with which they went in, but are transformed into the likeness of different beats. At a little distance is a large hofpital, into which the poor wretches are thrown from time to time, and condemned to fickness, pain, and putrefaction."

you be.

He next fhewed me the tower of Am bition, built on the top of a very high hill. "Thither," faid he, “ hold multitudes climbing from different quarters, ftruggling who fhall get foremoft, and pushing down thofe before them. On one fide of it is a steep and flippery precipice, from which the most part, after having with infinite toil and contention gained it, tumble headlong into a bottomlefs gulf, and are never heard of more. On the other fide is a fecret path, which grows broader by degrees, at the entrance of which stands a fmooth artful villain called Corruption. The path, after winding up the hill, leads down again by a fraight defcent,

till it terminates in the Dungeon of Infamy. "The valley below is poffeffed by Vanity, whose district is ftill better peopled than the others. She allures most travellers, by promifing to lead them to the palace of her mistress through the temple of Fame. Those who are decoy ed by her, are generally configned over to the fcoffs of Ridicule, who derides their folly, and then shuts them up in the Cell of Contempt."

After this, Contemplation pointed out to me, in a remote corner of the country, that looked as if it had been difjoined from all the reft, a caftle, which he faid was inhabited by an old ufurer named Avarice, who though a chief retainer to Vice, yet refused to acknow ledge her by the name of Pleafure. An iron gate is the only entrance. It is fecured within by many frong bolts, and guarded without by Hunger and Anxiety, who let none pafs into the caftle, till they have served a fufficient time in an outer yard, where fome are digging, fome hewing ftones, and others carry ing heavy burdens. It is remarkable, that from the loweft cellar of the houfe there is a longe fubterraneous paffage to the Cave of Poverty."

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Then directing my eye to the right fide of the hill, he fhewed me a country fpacious and noble, but hilly, and of difficult accefs. I perceived fewer travellers in it than in the other, which I had just been viewing: yet there were more than at first appeared. At the farther end of it, I defcried a magnificent temple. That country," faid my guide," is the dominion of Virtue; in which the inhabitants are inured to labour, but reap the fruits of it in health of body, and tranquillity of mind. Thefe roughneffes and precipices which you fee, are chiefly in the entrance. As you advance it grows more smooth. The temple which you defcry is that of the goddefs, where the receives and rewards her faithful votaries, who enjoy, beyond the power of time and forrow, that Happiness which you purfue.' "Oh bleffed votaries!" cried I; "oh glorious temple; this moment let us haften thither, for I long to

be there." My guide approved of my ardour; but, to prevent prefumption, told me that I fhould ftill meet with confiderable difficulties in the road; and then led me down the hill.

We were no fooner got to the foot of it, than I began to find his predictions true. For after forcing our way through thickets with no little trouble, we came to a road that lay all up-hill, and appeared abrupt and craggy. These ing conveniencies, though I had been warned of them, difcouraged me; fo that, being impatient to get clear of them, hurried on before my guide. But the fafter I went, the more I was perplexed. And indeed the path was fo narrow, that I eafily deviated into by-roads which I was the more tempted to do by the approach of fome perfons of a grave appearance, who told me they were going the fame way, and were retainers to the goddess to whofe temple I was travelling.

The firft I met was dreffed in a plain garb. He had a blunt demure afpect, fomewhat inclining to the fullen, inveighed ftrongly against the manners of the country from which I came, fpoke of the folly and knavery of mankind with great acrimony, and told me that many were profeffed, but few or none real friends to Virtue. He called himfelf Honefly, and bade me follow him, offering to conduct me the shortest way to her temple. I was glad to accept his offer; but quickly repented; for he led me through worfe thickets than thofe I had already paffed, where I was torn with the briers on every fide. This made me refolve to follow him no long er. His true name I found afterwards was Cynical Sournefs.

Upon his leaving me, there advanced a ftill more homely figure. He had a mortified vifage, with a matted beard which reached down to his middle, was clad in fackcloath girt with a rope, and was bare-footed. The name he affumed was Temperance, though I understood afterwards that he was Monki Aufierity. Notwithstanding his form and air were in many refpects none of the most engaging, yet as he profeffed 3

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ing themselves with anguish and defpair. I turned away with horror and difguft, and intreated my guide to lead on.

As we advanced, we were accofted by a youth, who seemed to be remarkably vigorous and robuft. His complexion was of that kind which is acquired by toil. He had a steady look, not with out fome mixture of fternnefs. He grafped in his hand a club, and walked with great compofure and firmness. "This youth," faid my guide," is a near ally of my family: he is the child of Contemplation by Liberty. He is called Refolution, and has a temper compounded of the fire of the mother, and the coolness of the father." His prefence infpired me with new spirit, and I preffed on with fresh alacrity.

Indeed I quickly found I should want it all. For I obferved at fome diftance a vast mishapen rock, which I underfood I must neceffarily climb. It proved fo exceeding arduous and flippery, that I fell back almost as faft as I afcended. There lodged too, as my guide informed me, in one of its cavities, a monster, whom we must needs fubdue before we could reach the top. Scarce had the done speaking, when a creature of a moft hideous form rushed out upon us. He had indeed the face of a man: but it was more fierce and terrible than that of a lion. His eyes darted fire. Out of his noftrils iffued a baleful stream that poisoned the air; and his roaring was like the found of many waters. He was armed with fcales almoft impenetrable, and instead of hands had fharp claws, which tore whatever came in their way. His name was Self-will. He was attended by a figure of a pale and fallow visage, whofe eyes were funk in her head, and rolled round with wildnefs and fury.

Her

treffes hung loofe about her fhoulders, and she had in all her looks and gestures an air of distraction. In one hand the carried a string of beads, which he feemed to tell with great earneftness; and in the other a bloody scourge. She muttered an unintelligible fort of jargon, and had a key hung at her girdle, with which, as my guide told me after

wards, the pretended to open or shut the temple of Virtue, and the abode of Happiness. Her name was Bigotry. On fight of this fhocking pair, I was feized with a dreadful panic. But Refolution inftantly fell upon the monster with his club, and dealt his blows with great force, calling to me in the mean time not to be afraid. Yet I could not help trembling for the event. Indeed my companion was preffed fo hard by the monster, that he muft foon have fallen a prey to his rage, had not our provident guide brought to our aid a feafonable reinforcement.

In the appearance of the power that interpofed there was fomewhat more majestic and divine than any thing I hád ever seen. Her eyes effufed ineffable mildnefs, mingled with modest triumph. They were moftly fixed on heaven, with fuch a spirit of unaffected, but fublime devotion, as almost lifted the beholder thither. Her garment, which hung loofe from her thoulders, and reached down to her feet, was white as fnow. All her motions were at once ferene and awful. The name of this radiant power, was Religion; and Bigotry vanished at her approach. In her hand the carried a box of frankincense; and having caft fome of it on a little altar that flood by, it raised a cloud of fmoke, which fo affrighted the monster that he ran bellowing away. The fmoke was fucceeded by a celeftial odour, that foon difperfed the noifome vapour which he had caused.

The confternation I was in, and the fplendor of Religion, had hitherto prevented me from taking notice of three blooming figures that attended her. She told me they were her daughters, Faith, Humility, and Hope. The first had her head invefted with a circle of rays, which threw a chearful light on all around her. Her eyes were chiefly turned towards her parent, who beheld her with reciprocal and fuperior delight. She car ried before her a fhield of divine workmanship, and went foremost. Humility, clothed in a vesture of a dark fober hue, which trailed on the ground, walked flowly with a downçaft look. Hope had

in her hand an opening bud, fresh and fragrant as the morning rofe. She heedfully marked the motions of her eldest fifter, and wore in her countenance a pleafant tranquillity, which feemed a mixture of gravity and chearfulness, bordering upon rapture.

As we walked onwards, we were joined by an elderly perfonage, who appeared ftill fresh and vigorous. He was clad in a plain ruffet cloak, had a meek and contented afpect, and carried in his hand a staff, on which he fometimes leaned. He was provided with a box of ointment, to drefs the wounds of thofe travellers who had been hurt by the afperities of the road. His name was Patience. This gracious power going before, lent me his hand; and by his affiftance I climbed to the top of the rock with ease. I perceived indeed, after he joined us, that the way became more fmooth, and more agreeable in all refpects. We ftill afcended, but the afcent diminished. The fun, but lately rifen, gilded the horizon, and illumina ted the fairest country I ever beheld. Beauteous profpects opened on every fide. To the barren wilds and frightful precipices we had paffed, fucceeded green meadows, flowery lawns, and tranflucent ftreams of living water.

The temple, in full fight of which we were now come, ftood on the fummit of the hill. It was built of a transparent ftone, that admitted light from every quarter. It was of a quadrangular form, and had at top a magnificent dome. Its portal was fupported by a double row of pillars of the Doric order. The entry was guarded by two centinels, who had fomething in their looks fo awful, that feveral travellers recoiled at fight of them Their names were, Temperance and Fortitude. The former held a bridle, and the latter a fpear. Though their first appearance was rather ftern and forbidding, it foftened on ús, as foon as they obferved the company we were in. The gates stood wide open. Afcending by easy steps, we entered. I was tranfported with the beauty and greatness of the place. The height and circumference of the dome both filled

and delighted the eyes. The manner of the whole was fimple and folemn. There was no need of adventitious decorations, and there were none.

At the upper end of the temple, on a throne of ftate, appeared the goddess. Her complexion was clear, healthful, and animated; her features were regu lar, and well proportioned; but had a kind of mafculine air. Her eyes were blue, beautiful, and piercing. In all her mien there was a happy mixture of dignity and modefty. A fprig of laurel was wreathed round her temples. She wore a robe of the purest purple, which was girt with a zone about her waift; fhe held in her hand an imperial fword, the emblem of power and authority. Before the throne, which was of alabaster, were placed various enfigns of dominion, and the feveral fymbols of the polite arts.

The prefence of the goddess overwhelmed me with veneration and rapture, and I stood for fome time immoveable. When I was a little recovered from my ecftafy, my guide pointing to the throne, faid, "There fits the Divinity of the place, the daughter of Wif dom and Love. She was brought forth at a birth with Happiness, her fifter, and infeparable companion; and fent down from above, as the best friend of men, and the fureft directress of life; the guardian of youth, the glory of manhood, and the comforter of old age. By her instructions and laws human fociety is formed and maintained; and human nature, by converfe with her, grows truly godlike."

The votaries, as they approached, were 'introduced to the prefence by a young virgin of the 'moft lovely appearance, who could not perform her task without blufhing. Her name was Modefty. The goddefs ordered her recorder, who fat on a bench below her, to read their feveral ftories. The recorder's name was Confcience. There was fpread before him a huge volume, in which were registered the actions of men, as well the moft difguifed and fecret, as the most open and avowed. Nor did any ever contradict the teftimony of Confcience, without being felf-condemned,