fcattered lamps, whofe blueifh flames arofe and funk in their urns, discovered to our eyes with increase. Some of us fell down, overcome and spent with what they fuffered in the way, and were given over to thofe Tormentors that stood on either hand of the prefence; others, galled and mortified with pain, recovered the entrance, where Patience, whom we had left behind, was ftill waiting to receive us. With her (whofe company was now become more grateful to us by the want we had found of her) we winded round the grotto, and afcended at the back of it, out of the mournful dale in whose bottom it lay. On this eminence we halted, by her advice, to pant for breath, and lifting our eyes, which till then were fixed downwards, felt a fullen fort of fatisfaction, in obferving thro' the fhades what numbers had entered the ifland. This fatisfaction, which appears to have ill-nature in it, was excufable, because it happened at a time when we were too much taken up with our own concern, to have refpect to that of others; and therefore we did not confider them as fuffering, but ourselves as not fuffering in the moft forlorn eftate. It had alfo the ground-work of humanity and compaffion in it, tho' the mind was then too deeply engaged to perceive it; but as we proceeded onwards it began to discover itself, and from obferving that others were unhappy, we came to queftion one another, when it was that we met, and what were the fad occafions that brought us together. Then we heard our ftories, ftories, we compared them, we mutually gave and received pity, and fo by degrees became tolerable company. A confiderable part of the troublesome road was thus deceived; at length the openings among the trees grew larger, the air seemed thinner, it lay with lefs oppreffion upon us, and we could now and then difcern tracts in it of a lighter greynefs, like the breakings of day, fhort in duration, much enlivening, and called in that country, Gleams of Amufcment. Within a fhort while these gleams began to appear more frequent, and then brighter and of a longer continuance; the fighs that hithertto filled the air with fo much dolefulness, altered to the found of common breezes, and in general the horrors of the ifland were abated. When we had arrived at last at the ford by which we were to pass out, we met with those fashionable mourners who had been ferried over along with us, and who being unwilling to go as far as we, had coafted by the fhore to find the place, where they waited our coming; that by fhewing themfelves to the world only at that time when we did, they might feem alfo to have been among the troubles of the grotto. Here the waters, that rolled on the other fide fo deep and filent, were much dried up, and it was an easier matter for us to wade over. The river being croffed, we were received upon the further bank by our friends and acquaintance, whom Comfort had brought out to congratulate our I 4 appear appearance in the world again. Some of these blamed us for ftaying fo long away from them, others advised us against all temptations of going back again; every one was cautious not to renew our trouble, by afking any particulars of the journey; and all concluded, that in a cafe of fo much affiction, we could not have made choice of a fitter companion than Patience. Here Patience, appearing ferene at her praifes, delivered us over to Comfort. Comfort fmiled at his receiving the charge; immediately the fky purpled on that fide to which he turned, and double day at once broke in upon me. VISION VISION III. GUARDIAN. N° 56. Quid mentem traxiffe polo, quid profuit altum I WAS confidering laft night, when I could not fleep, how noble a part of the creation man was defigned to be, and how distinguished in all his actions above other earthly creatures. From whence I fell to take a view of the change and corruption which he has introduced into his own condition, the groveling appetites, the mean characters of fenfe, and wild courses of paffions, that caft him from the degree in which providence had placed him, the debafing himself with qualifications not his own, and his degenerating into a lower fphere of action. This infpired me with a mixture of contempt and anger; which however, was not fo violent as to hinder the return of fleep, but grew confused as that came upon me, and made me end my reflections with giving mankind the opprobrious names of inconfiderate, mad and foolish, Here, methought, where my waking reafon left the fubject, my fancy purfued it in a dream; and I imagined 1 5 · I imagined myself in a loud foliloquy of paffion, railing at my fpecies, and walking hard to get rid of the company I defpifed; when two men who had over-heard me made up on either hand. These I obferved had many features in common, which might occafion the mistake of the one for the other in those to whom they appear fingle; but I, who faw them together, could easily perceive, that tho there was an air of feverity in each, it was tempered with a natural fweetnefs in the one, and by turns constrained or ruffled by the defigns of malice in the other. I was at a loss to know the reason of their joining me fo brifkly, when he, whofe appearance displeased me most, thus addreffed his companion. Pray, brother, let him alone, and we fhall immediately fee him transformed into a tyger. This ftruck me with horror, which the other perceived, and pitying my diforder, bid me be of good courage, for tho' I had been favage in my treatment of mankind) whom I fhould rather reform than rail againft) he would, however, endeavour to refcue me from my danger. At this I looked a little more chearful, and while I teftified my refignation to him, we saw the angry brother fling away from us in a paffion for his difappointment. Being now left to my friend, I went back with him at his defire, that I might know the meaning of those words which so affrighted me. As |