No. XXXVII. In vultu color est sine sanguine; lumina mœstis Her cheeks still redd'ning, but their colour dead; Her arms and neck their usual gestures lose : CROXALL. A FRIEND came yesterday evening to visit me, very firm in the belief of that stone city, whereof a certain ambassador has lately given an account to the virtuosi. I told him, that I had read a story somewhat like it in the Arabian Tales formerly, and was mightily surprised to find what had all along been judged a fable should 'be so easily received for truth; and that too in an age of scepticism, and at the same time when the miracles of Christ himself, which, for many centuries, had been held as unquestioned truths, were boldly charged with being fabulous! He answered, that the book I mentioned was no ob jection, but rather might be made an argument in his favour, since it seemed to prove that the author had heard something of this story, though, for want of learning the particulars, he might, perhaps, himself believe it to be a fiction, as all his readers hitherto had done; but that now the matter was cleared up, and would scarce admit a doubt. He began to be so positive, I did not think it proper to dispute with him; and he went on to tell me, that, many ages past, the people of this city (who were all pagans), as a punishment for their sins, had suffered a general petrifaction, in the same manner as Lot's wife did formerly, and still remained in the same place and posture as they were when this judgment fell upon them: that not the human species only, but likewise the animals, the trees, the houses, and the very clothes upon their backs, were turned to stone. That the ambassador had several of these curiosities brought from thence; and, in particular, a dog, which being opened to prevent any cheat or imposition, the heart, the lungs, the blood-vessels, and all the bowels, were found in their exact order and true colour: that he had likewise some of the fruits and plants; and also several pieces of their coin, with strange characters thereon, not to be understood. He assured me this city is not above fourteen days' journey from Tripoli, but in a sandy desert now, though formerly it was the metropolis of a populous and fruitful country: that the dif ficulty and danger of coming at it makes it so little known; but, however, several people had been there at different times, who all agree in their account; and that the members of our Royal Society intend to collect a handsome purse among themselves, to be employed in making a full discovery. Withal he told me, that at Tripoli the truth of it was never doubted: that it is generally believed, a time will come when their former state shall be restored; when the stone will, in an instant, soften and be flesh again, the blood flow through its vessels as before, new life return, and all the people go on to finish whatever they were about when first they became statues. But whatever injuries they receive during this petrifaction, by cutting or defacing them, will remain when they live again; and those who are maimed or wounded in such a manner as would be mortal in a living body, at the general thaw will be found dead carcases. I told my friend, that if the people of Tripoli were of this opinion, I thought, out of common humanity, the government ought to place a guard, and prevent any body's going thither, lest much mischief, and even murder, might be committed by unthinking people. For example, it would be an irreparable damage to a beautiful lady, when she lives again, to see a deep scar in her forehead, by the scratch of a rustic's stick, while he was awkwardly admiring her in her petrified condition; and how unhappy must others be to find themselves deprived of legs and arms, who have no way of getting a subsistence but by the use of them; nor would others be better satisfied to have the beauty and gracefulness of their persons spoiled and destroyed by blows; not to mention, that every hollow place, every break in any part of the body, must, when they breathe again, be pain, ful gashes and ragged wounds. My friend was pleased with thinking me brought over to his opinion, and took his leave. He had not long been gone, e'er I went to bed, ruminating on his discourse. I closed my eyes; fancy began to operate, and I dreamed as follows. I thought myself travelling in search of this strange city, and that I saw it just before me. I found the avenues all guarded: but, applying to the chief commander, I obtained permission to take a view of it, and had an officer appointed to conduct me, and interpret all its wonders. When we had passed the gates, along the high street I saw every thing that answered the hurry of a great town, but motion. People seemed ready to throng and pass by each other, although they stood stock still. The haste of business appeared in most of them; and people of all ages and conditions expressed in their faces their different cares and manners; which, methought, I observed with the same pleasure as I often have from a window in Cheapside. It is impossible to tell the different postures of the statues: I took notice of two particularly, very earnest, the one speaking, the other attending. He that spoke stroked his beard with one hand; which, as my guide informed me, was to signify the great truth of what he said, according to the custom of that country. Several of the poorer sort were carrying burdens, which they were doomed to labour under till the instantaneous thaw of this hard state, when the blood again will circulate, and they may go unload themselves. Being desirous to see what was in the houses, we entered one; and I found it fared within doors, as in the streets, and that every thing remained just as the petrifying quality found it; for my guide told me the whole city was metamor |