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From This World to the Next
by Henry Fielding
INTRODUCTION
BOOK I
CHAPTER I。
The author dies； meets with Mercury； and is by him conducted to
the stage which sets out for the other world
CHAPTER II。
In which the author first refutes some idle opinions concerning
spirits； and then the passengers relate their several deaths 。
CHAPTER III。
The adventures we met with in the City of Diseases
CHAPTER IV。
Discourses on the road； and a description of the palace of Death
CHAPTER V。
The travelers proceed on their journey； and meet several spirits
who are coming into the flesh
CHAPTER VI。
An account of the wheel of fortune； with a method of preparing a
spirit for this world
CHAPTER VII。
The proceedings of judge Minos at the gate of Elysium
CHAPTER VIII。
The adventures which the author met on his first entrance into Elysium
CHAPTER IX。
More adventures in Elysium
CHAPTER X。
The author is surprised at meeting Julian the apostate in Elysium；
but is satisfied by him by what means he procured his entrance there。
Julian relates his adventures in the character of a slave
CHAPTER XI。
In which Julian relates his adventures in the character of an avaricious Jew
CHAPTER XII。
What happened to Julian in the characters of a general； an heir；
a carpenter； and a beau
CHAPTER XIII。
Julian passes into a fop
CHAPTER XIV。
Adventures in the person of a monk
CHAPTER XV。
Julian passes into the character of a fiddler
CHAPTER XVI。
The history of the wise man
CHAPTER XVII。
Julian enters into the person of a king
CHAPTER XVIII。
Julian passes into a fool
CHAPTER XIX。
Julian appears in the character of a beggar
CHAPTER XX。
Julian performs the part of a statesman
CHAPTER XXI。
Julian's adventures in the post of a soldier
CHAPTER XXII。
What happened to Julian in the person of a tailor
CHAPTER XXIII。
The life of alderman Julian
CHAPTER XXIV。
Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet
CHAPTER XXV。
Julian performs the parts of a knight and a dancing…master
BOOK XIX
CHAPTER VII。
Wherein Anna Boleyn relates the history of her life
A JOURNEY FROM THIS WORLD TO THE NEXT
INTRODUCTION
Whether the ensuing pages were really the dream or vision of some
very pious and holy person； or whether they were really written
in the other world； and sent back to this； which is the opinion
of many （though I think too much inclining to superstition）； or
lastly； whether； as infinitely the greatest part imagine； they
were really the production of some choice inhabitant of New
Bethlehem； is not necessary nor easy to determine。 It will be
abundantly sufficient if I give the reader an account by what
means they came into my possession。 Mr。 Robert Powney；
stationer； who dwells opposite to Catherine…street in the Strand；
a very honest man and of great gravity of countenance； who； among
other excellent stationery commodities； is particularly eminent
for his pens； which I am abundantly bound to acknowledge； as I
owe to their peculiar goodness that my manuscripts have by any
means been legible： this gentleman； I say； furnished me some
time since with a bundle of those pens； wrapped up with great
care and caution； in a very large sheet of paper full of
characters； written as it seemed in a very bad hand。 Now； I have
a surprising curiosity to read everything which is almost
illegible； partly perhaps from the sweet remembrance of the dear
Scrawls； Skrawls； or Skrales （for the word is variously spelled）；
which I have in my youth received from that lovely part of the
creation for which I have the tenderest regard； and partly from
that temper of mind which makes men set an immense value on old
manuscripts so effaced； bustoes so maimed； and pictures so black
that no one can tell what to make of them。 I therefore perused
this sheet with wonderful application； and in about a day's time
discovered that I could not understand it。 I immediately
repaired to Mr。 Powney； and inquired very eagerly whether he had
not more of the same manuscript？ He produced about one hundred
pages； acquainting me that he had saved no more； but that the
book was originally a huge folio； had been left in his garret by
a gentleman who lodged there； and who had left him no other
satisfaction for nine months' lodging。 He proceeded to inform me
that the manuscript had been hawked about （as he phrased it）
among all the booksellers； who refused to meddle； some alleged
that they could not read； others that they could not understand
it。 Some would haze it to be an atheistical book； and some that
it was a libel on the government； for one or other of which
reasons they all refused to print it。 That it had been likewise
shown to the Rl Society； but they shook their heads； saying；
there was nothing in it wonderful enough for them。 That； hearing
the gentleman was gone to the West…Indies； and believing it to be
good for nothing else； he had used it as waste paper。 He said I
was welcome to what remained； and he was heartily sorry for what
was missing； as I seemed to set some value on it。
I desired him much to name a price： but he would receive no
consideration farther than the payment of a small bill I owed
him； which at that time he said he looked on as so much money
given him。
I presently communicated this manuscript to my friend parson
Abraham Adams； who； after a long and careful perusal； returned it
me with his opinion that there was more in it than at first
appeared； that the author seemed not entirely unacquainted with
the writings of Plato； but he wished he had quoted him sometimes
in his margin； that I might be sure （said he） he had read him in
the original： for nothing； continued the parson； is commoner
than for men now…a…days to pretend to have read Greek authors；
who have met with them only in translations； and cannot conjugate
a verb in mi。
To deliver my own sentiments on the occasion； I think the author
discovers a philosophical turn of thinking； with some little
knowledge of the world； and no very inadequate value of it。
There are some indeed who； from the vivacity of their temper and
the happiness of their station； are willing to consider its
blessings as more substantial； and the whole to be a scene of
more consequence than it is here represented： but； without
controverting their opinions at present； the number of wise and
good men who have thought with our author are sufficient to keep
him in countenance： nor can this be attended with any ill
inference； since he everywhere teaches this moral： That the
greatest and truest happiness which this world affords； is to be
found only in the possession of goodness and virtue； a doctrine
which； as it is undoubtedly true； so hath it so noble and
practical a tendency； that it can never be too often or too
strongly inculcated on the minds of men。
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
The author dies； meets with Mercury； and is by him conducted to
the stage which sets out for the other world。
On the first day of December 1741＇1＇ I departed this life at my
lodgings in Cheapside。 My body had been some time dead before I
was at liberty to quit it； lest it should by any accident return
to life： this is an injunction imposed on all souls by the
eternal law of fate； to prevent the inconveniences which would
follow。 As soon as the destined period was expired （being no
longer than till the body is become perfectly cold and stiff） I
began to move； but found myself under a difficulty of making my
escape； for the mouth or door was shut； so that it was impossible
for me to go out at it； and the windows； vulgarly called the
eyes； were so closely pulled down by the fingers of a nurse； that
I could by no means open them。 At last I perceived a beam of
light glimmering at the top of the house （for such I may call the
body I had been inclosed in）； whither ascending； I gently let
myself down through a kind of chimney； and issued out at the
nostrils。
＇1＇ Some doubt whether this should not be rather 1641； which is
a date more agreeable to the account given of it in the
introduction： but then there are some passages which seem to
relate to transactions infinitely later； even within this year or
two。 To say the truth there are difficulties attending either
conjecture； so the reader may take which he pleases。
No prisoner discharged from a long confinement ever tasted the
sweets of liberty with a more exquisite relish than I enjoyed in
this delivery from a dungeon wherein I had been detained upwards
of forty years； and with much the same kind of regard I cast my
eyes＇2＇ backwards upon it。
＇2＇ Eyes are not perhaps so properly adapted t