We now came to the banks of the great river Cocytus, where we quitted our vehicle, and passed the water in a boat, after which we were obliged to travel on foot the rest of our journey; and now we met, for the first time, several passengers traveling to the world we had left, who informed us they were souls going into the flesh.
The two first we met were walking arm-inarm, in very close and friendly conference; 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 the place where we were to deposit our passions, we were all surprised at the familiarity which subsisted1 between persons of such different degrees; nor could the grave lady help expressing her astonishment2 at it. The future coachman then replied, with a laugh, that they had exchanged lots; for that the duke had with his dukedom drawn3 a shrew for a wife, and the coachman only a single state.
As we proceeded on our journey we met a solemn spirit walking alone with great gravity in his countenance4: 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 L100,000 in his pocket, and was practicing the solemnity which he was to act in the other world. A little farther we met a company of very merry spirits, whom we imagined by their mirth to have drawn some mighty5 lot, but, on inquiry6, 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 boggy7 grounds, and everywhere beset8 with briars, so that it was impossible to pass through it without the utmost danger and difficulty; the other, the most delightful9 imaginable, leading through the most verdant10 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 solitary11 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 trumpets12, and the perpetual acclamations of the mob, with which those who traveled this way were constantly saluted13. We were told likewise that there were several noble palaces to be seen, and lodged14 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 inviting15 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 pickpocket16 to the water; or by supposing that an incensed17 audience at a playhouse had unhappily possessed18 themselves of the miserable19 damned poet. Some laughed, some hissed20, some squalled, some groaned21, some bawled22, 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 mere23 derision and contempt of earthly grandeur24; 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 formerly25 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 worthy26 of derision, you should compassionate27 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 essentially28 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 knowledge to the learned, without courage to the brave, and without goodness and virtue29 to the good and virtuous30; surely so preposterous31, so absurd a pride, would justly render me the object of ridicule32. But far be it from me to entertain it. And yet, gentlemen, I prize the lot I have drawn, nor would I exchange it with any of yours, seeing it is in my eye so much greater than the rest. Ambition, which I own myself possessed of, teaches me this; ambition, which makes me covet33 praise, assures me that I shall enjoy a much larger proportion of it than can fall within your power either to deserve or obtain. 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, the guardian34 to the orphan35, 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 a patron. Not one evening in my long reign36 (for so it is to be) will I repose37 myself to rest without the glorious, the heart-warming consideration, that thousands that night owe their sweetest rest to me. What a delicious fortune is it to him whose strongest appetite is doing good, 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 on high, that every act blazes abroad, and attracts to him praises tainted38 with neither sarcasm40 nor adulation, but such as the nicest and most delicate mind may relish41! Thus, therefore, while you derive42 your good from me, I am your superior. If to my strict distribution of justice you owe the safety of your property from domestic enemies; if by my vigilance and valor43 you are protected from foreign foes44; if by my encouragement of genuine industry, every science, every art which can embellish45 or sweeten life, is produced and flourishes among you; will any of you be so insensible or ungrateful as to deny praise and respect to him by whose care and conduct you enjoy these blessings46? I wonder not at the censure47 which so frequently falls on those in my station; but I wonder that those in my station so frequently deserve it. What strange perverseness48 of nature! What wanton delight in mischief49 must taint39 his composition, who prefers dangers, difficulty, and disgrace, by doing evil, to safety, ease, and honor, by doing good! who refuses happiness in the other world, and heaven in this, for misery50 there and hell here! But, be assured, my intentions are different. I shall always endeavor the ease, the happiness, and the glory of my people, being confident that, by so doing, I take the most certain method of procuring51 them all to myself.” — He then struck directly into the road of goodness, and received such a shout of applause as I never remember to have heard equaled. He was gone a little way when a spirit limped after him, swearing he would fetch him back.
This spirit, I was presently informed, was one who had drawn the lot of his prime minister.
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1
subsisted
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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3
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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4
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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5
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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6
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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7
boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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8
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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9
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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10
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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11
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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12
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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13
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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14
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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15
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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16
pickpocket
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| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
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17
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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18
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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19
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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20
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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21
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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22
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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23
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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24
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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25
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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26
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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27
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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28
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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29
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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30
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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31
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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32
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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33
covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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34
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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35
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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36
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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37
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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38
tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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39
taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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40
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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41
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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42
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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43
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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44
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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45
embellish
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| v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰 | |
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46
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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47
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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48
perverseness
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| n. 乖张, 倔强, 顽固 | |
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49
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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50
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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51
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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