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disease that I refused the second night of my arrival to sup with
a friend whose wife had recovered of it several months before；
and the same evening got a surfeit by eating too many muscles；
which brought me into this good company。〃
〃I will lay a wager；〃 cried the spirit who sat next him； 〃there
is not one in the coach able to guess my distemper。〃 I desired
the favor of him to acquaint us with it； if it was so uncommon。
〃Why； sir；〃 said he； 〃I died of honor。〃 〃Of honor； sir！〃
repeated I； with some surprise。 〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the spirit；
〃of honor； for I was killed in a duel。〃
〃For my part；〃 said a fair spirit； 〃I was inoculated last summer；
and had the good fortune to escape with a very few marks on my
face。 I esteemed myself now perfectly happy； as I imagined I had
no restraint to a full enjoyment of the diversions of the town；
but within a few days after my coming up I caught cold by
overdancing myself at a ball； and last night died of a violent
fever。〃
After a short silence which now ensued； the fair spirit who spoke
last； it being now daylight； addressed herself to a female who
sat next her； and asked her to what chance they owed the
happiness of her company。 She answered； she apprehended to a
consumption； but the physicians were not agreed concerning her
distemper； for she left two of them in a very hot dispute about
it when she came out of her body。 〃And pray； madam；〃 said the
same spirit to the sixth passenger； 〃How came you to leave the
other world？〃 But that female spirit； screwing up her mouth；
answered； she wondered at the curiosity of some people； that
perhaps persons had already heard some reports of her death；
which were far from being true； that； whatever was the occasion
of it； she was glad at being delivered from a world in which she
had no pleasure； and where there was nothing but nonsense and
impertinence； particularly among her own sex； whose loose conduct
she had long been entirely ashamed of。
The beauteous spirit； perceiving her question gave offense；
pursued it no farther。 She had indeed all the sweetness and
good…humor which are so extremely amiable （when found） in that
sex which tenderness most exquisitely becomes。 Her countenance
displayed all the cheerfulness； the good…nature； and the modesty；
which diffuse such brightness round the beauty of Seraphina；＇5＇
awing every beholder with respect； and； at the same time；
ravishing him with admiration。 Had it not been indeed for our
conversation on the small…pox； I should have imagined we had been
honored with her identical presence。 This opinion might have
been heightened by the good sense she uttered whenever she spoke；
by the delicacy of her sentiments； and the complacence of her
behavior； together with a certain dignity which attended every
look； word； and gesture； qualities which could not fail making an
impression on a heart＇6＇ so capable of receiving it as mine； nor
was she long in raising in me a very violent degree of seraphic
love。 I do not intend by this； that sort of love which men are
very properly said to make to women in the lower world； and which
seldom lasts any longer than while it is making。 I mean by
seraphic love an extreme delicacy and tenderness of friendship；
of which； my worthy reader； if thou hast no conception； as it is
probable thou mayest not； my endeavor to instruct thee would be
as fruitless as it would be to explain the most difficult
problems of Sir Isaac Newton to one ignorant of vulgar
arithmetic。
＇5＇ A particular lady of quality is meant here； but every lady
of quality； or no quality； are welcome to apply the character to
themselves。
＇6＇ We have before made an apology for this language； which we
here repeat for the last time； though the heart may； we hope； be
metaphorically used here with more propriety than when we apply
those passions to the body which belong to the soul。
To return therefore to matters comprehensible by all
understandings： the discourse now turned on the vanity； folly；
and misery of the lower world； from which every passenger in the
coach expressed the highest satisfaction in being delivered；
though it was very remarkable that； notwithstanding the joy we
declared at our death； there was not one of us who did not
mention the accident which occasioned it as a thing we would have
avoided if we could。 Nay； the very grave lady herself； who was
the forwardest in testifying her delight； confessed inadvertently
that she left a physician by her bedside； and the gentleman who
died of honor very liberally cursed both his folly and his
fencing。 While we were entertaining ourselves with these
matters； on a sudden a most offensive smell began to invade our
nostrils。 This very much resembled the savor which travelers in
summer perceive at their approach to that beautiful village of
the Hague； arising from those delicious canals which； as they
consist of standing water； do at that time emit odors greatly
agreeable to a Dutch taste； but not so pleasant to any other。
Those perfumes； with the assistance of a fair wind； begin to
affect persons of quick olfactory nerves at a league's distance；
and increase gradually as you approach。 In the same manner did
the smell I have just mentioned； more and more invade us； till
one of the spirits； looking out of the coach…window； declared we
were just arrived at a very large city； and indeed he had scarce
said so before we found ourselves in the suburbs； and； at the
same time； the coachman； being asked by another； informed us that
the name of this place was the City of Diseases。 The road to it
was extremely smooth； and； excepting the above…mentioned savor；
delightfully pleasant。 The streets of the suburbs were lined
with bagnios； taverns； and cooks' shops： in the first we saw
several beautiful women； but in tawdry dresses； looking out at
the windows； and in the latter were visibly exposed all kinds of
the richest dainties； but on our entering the city we found；
contrary to all we had seen in the other world； that the suburbs
were infinitely pleasanter than the city itself。 It was indeed a
very dull； dark； and melancholy place。 Few people appeared in
the streets； and these； for the most part； were old women； and
here and there a formal grave gentleman； who seemed
to be thinking； with large tie…wigs on； and amber…headed canes in
their hands。 We were all in hopes that our vehicle would not
stop here； but； to our sorrow； the coach soon drove into an inn；
and we were obliged to alight。
CHAPTER III
The adventures we met with in the City of Diseases。
We had not been long arrived in our inn； where it seems we were
to spend the remainder of the day； before our host acquainted us
that it was customary for all spirits； in their passage through
that city； to pay their respects to that lady Disease； to whose
assistance they had owed their deliverance from the lower world。
We answered we should not fail in any complacence which was usual
to others； upon which our host replied he would immediately send
porters to conduct us。 He had not long quitted the room before
we were attended by some of those grave persons whom I have
before described in large tie…wigs with amber…headed canes。
These gentlemen are the ticket…porters in the city； and their
canes are the insignia； or tickets； denoting their office。 We
informed them of the several ladies to whom we were obliged； and
were preparing to follow them； when on a sudden they all stared
at one another； and left us in a hurry； with a frown on every
countenance。 We were surprised at this behavior； and presently
summoned the host； who was no sooner acquainted with it than he
burst into an hearty laugh； and told us the reason was； because
we did not fee the gentlemen the moment they came in； according
to the custom of the place。 We answered； with some confusion； we
had brought nothing with us from the