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who makes them； when I found her launching farther into this
subject I resolved to put an end to my visit； and； taking my
leave with many thanks for the favor she had done me； I returned
to the inn； where I found my fellow…travelers just mounting into
their vehicle。 I shook hands with my host and accompanied them
into the coach； which immediately after proceeded on its journey。
＇8＇ These ladies； I believe； by their names； presided over the
leprosy； king's…evil； and scurvy。
CHAPTER IV
Discourses on the road； and a description of the palace of Death。
We were all silent for some minutes； till； being well shaken into
our several seats； I opened my mouth first； and related what had
happened to me after our separation in the city we had just left。
The rest of the company； except the grave female spirit whom our
reader may remember to have refused giving an account of the
distemper which occasioned her dissolution； did the same。 It
might be tedious to relate these at large； we shall therefore
only mention a very remarkable inveteracy which the Surfeit
declared to all the other diseases； especially to the Fever； who；
she said； by the roguery of the porters； received acknowledgments
from numberless passengers which were due to herself。 〃Indeed；〃
says she； 〃those cane…headed fellows〃 （for so she called them；
alluding； I suppose； to their ticket） 〃are constantly making such
mistakes； there is no gratitude in those fellows； for I am sure
they have greater obligations to me than to any other disease；
except the Vapors。〃 These relations were no sooner over than one
of the company informed us we were approaching to the most noble
building he had ever beheld； and which we learned from our
coachman was the palace of Death。 Its outside； indeed； appeared
extremely magnificent。 Its structure was of the Gothic order；
vast beyond imagination； the whole pile consisting of black
marble。 Rows of immense yews form an amphitheater round it of
such height and thickness that no ray of the sun ever perforates
this grove； where black eternal darkness would reign was it not
excluded by innumerable lamps which are placed in pyramids round
the grove； so that the distant reflection they cast on the
palace； which is plentifully gilt with gold on the outside； is
inconceivably solemn。 To this I may add the hollow murmur of
winds constantly heard from the grove； and the very remote sound
of roaring waters。 Indeed； every circumstance seems to conspire
to fill the mind with horror and consternation as we approach to
this palace； which we had scarce time to admire before our
vehicle stopped at the gate； and we were desired to alight in
order to pay our respects to his most mortal majesty （this being
the title which it seems he assumes）。 The outward court was full
of soldiers； and； indeed； the whole very much resembled the state
of an earthly monarch； only more magnificent。 We passed through
several courts into a vast hall； which led to a spacious
staircase； at the bottom of which stood two pages； with very
grave countenances； whom I recollected afterwards to have
formerly been very eminent undertakers； and were in reality the
only dismal faces I saw here； for this palace； so awful and
tremendous without； is all gay and sprightly within； so that we
soon lost all those dismal and gloomy ideas we had contracted in
approaching it。 Indeed； the still silence maintained among the
guards and attendants resembled rather the stately pomp of
eastern courts； but there was on every face such symptoms of
content and happiness that diffused an air of cheerfulness all
round。 We ascended the staircase and passed through many noble
apartments whose walls were adorned with various battle…pieces in
tapistry； and which we spent some time in observing。 These
brought to my mind those beautiful ones I had in my lifetime seen
at Blenheim； nor could I prevent my curiosity from inquiring
where the Duke of Marlborough's victories were placed （for I
think they were almost the only battles of any eminence I had
read of which I did not meet with）； when the skeleton of a
beef…eater； shaking his head； told me a certain gentleman； one
Lewis XIV； who had great interest with his most mortal majesty；
had prevented any such from being hung up there。 〃Besides；〃 says
he； 〃his majesty hath no great respect for that duke； for he
never sent him a subject he could keep from him； nor did he ever
get a single subject by his means but he lost 1000 others for
him。〃 We found the presence…chamber at our entrance very full；
and a buzz ran through it； as in all assemblies； before the
principal figure enters； for his majesty was not yet come out。
At the bottom of the room were two persons in close conference；
one with a square black cap on his head； and the other with a
robe embroidered with flames of fire。 These； I was informed；
were a judge long since dead； and an inquisitor…general。 I
overheard them disputing with great eagerness whether the one had
hanged or the other burned the most。 While I was listening to
this dispute； which seemed to be in no likelihood of a speedy
decision； the emperor entered the room and placed himself between
two figures； one of which was remarkable for the roughness； and
the other for the beauty of his appearance。 These were； it
seems； Charles XII of Sweden and Alexander of Macedon。 I was at
too great a distance to hear any of the conversation； so could
only satisfy my curiosity by contemplating the several personages
present； of whose names I informed myself by a page； who looked
as pale and meager as any court…page in the other world； but was
somewhat more modest。 He showed me here two or three Turkish
emperors； to whom his most mortal majesty seemed to express much
civility。 Here were likewise several of the Roman emperors；
among whom none seemed so much caressed as Caligula； on account；
as the page told me； of his pious wish that he could send all the
Romans hither at one blow。 The reader may be perhaps surprised
that I saw no physicians here； as indeed I was myself； till
informed that they were all departed to the city of Diseases；
where they were busy in an experiment to purge away the
immortality of the soul。
It would be tedious to recollect the many individuals I saw here；
but I cannot omit a fat figure； well dressed in the French
fashion； who was received with extraordinary complacence by the
emperor； and whom I imagined to be Lewis XIV himself； but the
page acquainted me he was a celebrated French cook。 We were at
length introduced to the royal presence； and had the honor to
kiss hands。 His majesty asked us a few questions； not very
material to relate； and soon after retired。 When we returned
into the yard we found our caravan ready to set out； at which we
all declared ourselves well pleased； for we were sufficiently
tired with the formality of a court； notwithstanding its outward
splendor and magnificence。
CHAPTER V
The travelers proceed on their journey； and meet several spirits
who are coming into the flesh。
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…in…arm； 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
subsisted between persons of such different degrees； nor could
the grave lady help expressing her astonishment at it。 The
future coachman then replied； with a laugh； that they had
exchanged lots； for that the duke had with his dukedom drawn 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 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；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 mighty lot； but； on inquiry；
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 boggy grounds； and everywhere beset with briars； so
that it was impossible to pass through it without the utmo