CHAPITRE IV. ADDISON
« gîeux courant de mer qui roule à travers elle. —
< Considère maintenant, me dit-il, cette mer, qui à
« ses deux extrémités est bornée par des ténèbres, et
X dis-moi ce que tu y découvres. — Je vois, reprisc. je, un pont qui s'élève au milieu du courant. — Le
^ pont que tu vois, me dit-il, est la vie humaine :
« considère-le attentivement. — L'ayant regardé plus
« à loisir, je vis qu'il consistait en soixante-dix ar-
« ches entières et en plusieurs arches rompues qui,
« avec les autres, faisaient environ cent. Comme je
I hère fetched a deep sigh. Alas , said I, man was made in vaini How is he given away to misery and mortality ! tortured in life, and swallowed up in deathl — The genius being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect : look no more, said he, on man in the fîrst stage of bis existence, in bis setting ont for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several générations of mortals that fall into it.— I directed my sight 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 further end, and spreading forth into an immense océan that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts. The clouds still rested on one half of it, insomuch that I could discover nothing in it : But the other appeared to me a vast océan planted with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among thtm. 1 could see persons dressed in glorious habits with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on bedsof flowers; and could hear a confused harniony of singing birds, falling waters, human voie es, and musical instruments. Gladness grew in me upon the discovery of so delightful a scène. I wished for the wings of an eagle, that I might fly away to those happy seats ; but the genius told me there was no passage to them, except through the gâtes of death that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge. The islands, said he, ihnt lie so fresh and green before thee, anë with which the whole
416 uvRE m. L'Age classique.
« les comptais, le Génie me dit que ce pont était
« d'abord de mille arches, mais qu'une grande inon-
* dation avait balayé le reste, et l'avait laissé ruiné « comme je le voyais maintenant. —Dis-moi encore,
* reprit-il, ce que tu y découvres. — Je vois, ré- « pondis-je, une multitude de gens qui le traversent, « et un nuage noir suspendu sur cliacune de ses deux « issues. — Puis, regardant plus attentivement, je vis « plusieurs des voyageurs tomber au travers dans la « grande marée qui conduit au-dessous, et je décou- « vris bientôt qu'il y avait dans ce pont d'innom- « brables trappes cachées, où Ton ne mettait le pied « que pour s'enfoncer et disparaître à l'instant. Ces
face of the océan eppears spotted as far as tboù canst see^ are more in number than the sands on the sea shore; there are myriads of islands behind those which thon hère discoverest, reaching farther than thine eye, or even thÏDe imagination can extend itself. Thèse are the mansions of good men after death, who according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed among thèse several islands, which abound with pleasures of différent kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled in them; every island is aparadise accommodated to its respective inhabitants. Are not thèse, Mirza, habitations worth contending fort Does life appear misérable, that gives the opportunities of earning such a reward? Is death to be feared, that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who bas such an eternity reserved for him.— I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on thèse happy islands. At length, said I, show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the océan on the other side of the rock of adamant. The genius making me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time, but I found that he had left me ; I then turned again to the vision which I had been so long contemplating; but instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long hoUow valIey of Bagdad, with oxen, sheep, and camels grazing upon the sides of iu
