Part 18 (1/2)

”There were indeed some persons, but their nu h one after another, being quite tired and spent with so long a walk

”I passed some tireat variety of objects which it presented My heart was filled with a deepunexpectedly in thethat stood by the up towards the heavens in a thoughtful posture, and, in the ht

Multitudes were very busy in the pursuit of bubbles that glittered in their eyes and danced before theht the failed and down they sunk

”In this confusion of objects, I observed some with scye, thrusting several persons on trap-doors which did not seeht have escaped had they not been thus forced upon thee myself on this h upon it: 'Take thine eyes off the bridge,' said he, 'and tellthou dost not coreat flights of birds that are perpetually hovering about the bridge and settling upon it from time to ti ed boys that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches' 'These,' said the Genius, 'are envy, avarice, superstition, despair, love, with the like cares and passions that infest huh, 'Alas,' said I, 'iven away to misery and mortality! tortured in life, and sed up in death'

”The Genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect: 'Look no e of his existence, in his setting out for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick enerations of ht as I was ordered, and (whether or no the good Genius strengthened it with any supernatural force, or dissipated part of the mist that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw the valley opening at the farther end and spreading forth into an ih theit into two equal parts

”The clouds still rested on one half of it, inso in it; but the other appeared to me a vast ocean, planted with innumerable islands that were covered with fruits and flowers and interwoven with a thousand little shi+ning seas that ran alorious habits with garlands upon their heads, passing a down by the side of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused har waters, hurew in htful a scene I wished for the wings of an eagle, that I ht fly away to those happy seats; but the Genius told ates of Death, which I saw opening every e

”'The islands,' said he, 'that lie so fresh and green before thee, and hich the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see, are more in number than the sands on the sea-shore: there are myriads of islands behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching farther than thine eye or even thine iination can extend itself

These are the ree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed a these several islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled in them: every island is a paradise accommodated to its respective inhabitants Are not these, O Mirzah, habitations worth contending for? Does life appearsuch a reward? Is death to be feared, that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who has such an eternity reserved for hiazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands At length, I said: 'Show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of ada me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second tiain to the Vision which I had been so long contee, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long, hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and ca upon the sides of it”

Addison: ”The Spectator, No 159”

FORBEARANCE

Hast thou naun?

Loved the wood-rose, and left it on its stalk?

At rich er with a heart of trust?

And loved so well a high behaviour, In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained, nobility more nobly to repay?

O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine!

Emerson

MERCY TO ANIMALS

I would not enter on raced with polishedsensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm

An inadvertent stepin the public path; But he that has humanity, forewarned, Will tread aside, and let the reptile live

The creeping vered perhaps with venom, that intrudes A visitor unwelcome into scenes Sacred to neatness and repose, the alcove, The chamber, or refectory, may die