第13章 THE DREAM OF FAME.(1)

From my own Apartment,October 14.

There are two kinds of immortality,that which the soul really enjoys after this life,and that imaginary existence by which men live in their fame and reputation.The best and greatest actions have proceeded from the prospect of the one or the other of these;but my design is to treat only of those who have chiefly proposed to themselves the latter as the principal reward of their labours.It was for this reason that I excluded from my Tables of Fame all the great founders and votaries of religion;and it is for this reason also that I am more than ordinarily anxious to do justice to the persons of whom I am now going to speak,for,since fame was the only end of all their enterprises and studies,a man cannot be too scrupulous in allotting them their due proportion of it.It was this consideration which made me call the whole body of the learned to my assistance;to many of whom I must own my obligations for the catalogues of illustrious persons which they have sent me in upon this occasion.I yesterday employed the whole afternoon in comparing them with each other,which made so strong an impression upon my imagination,that they broke my sleep for the first part of the following night,and at length threw me into a very agreeable vision,which I shall beg leave to describe in all its particulars.

I dreamed that I was conveyed into a wide and boundless plain,that was covered with prodigious multitudes of people,which no man could number.In the midst of it there stood a mountain,with its head above the clouds.The sides were extremely steep,and of such a particular structure,that no creature which was not made in a human figure could possibly ascend it.On a sudden there was heard from the top of it a sound like that of a trumpet,but so exceeding sweet and harmonious,that it filled the hearts of those who heard it with raptures,and gave such high and delightful sensations,as seemed to animate and raise human nature above itself.This made me very much amazed to find so very few in that innumerable multitude who had ears fine enough to hear or relish this music with pleasure;but my wonder abated when,upon looking round me,I saw most of them attentive to three Syrens,clothed like goddesses,and distinguished by the names of Sloth,Ignorance,and Pleasure.They were seated on three rocks,amidst a beautiful variety of groves,meadows,and rivulets that lay on the borders of the mountain.While this base and grovelling multitude of different nations,ranks,and ages were listening to these delusive deities,those of a more erect aspect and exalted spirit separated themselves from the rest,and marched in great bodies towards the mountain from whence they heard the sound,which still grew sweeter the more they listened to it.

On a sudden methought this select band sprang forward,with a resolution to climb the ascent,and follow the call of that heavenly music.Every one took something with him that he thought might be of assistance to him in his march.Several had their swords drawn,some carried rolls of paper in their hands,some had compasses,others quadrants,others telescopes,and others pencils.Some had laurels on their heads,and others buskins on their legs;in short,there was scarce any instrument of a mechanic art,or liberal science,which was not made of use on this occasion.My good demon,who stood at my right hand during this course of the whole vision,observing in me a burning desire to join that glorious company,told me,"he highly approved that generous ardour with which I seemed transported;but at the same time advised me to cover my face with a mask all the while I was to labour on the ascent."I took his counsel,without inquiring into his reasons.The whole body now broke into different parties,and began to climb the precipice by ten thousand different paths.Several got into little alleys,which did not reach far up the hill before they ended,and led no further;and I observed that most of the artizans,which considerably diminished our number,fell into these paths.

We left another considerable body of adventurers behind us who thought they had discovered byways up the hill,which proved so very intricate and perplexed,that after having advanced in them a little they were quite lost among the several turns and windings;and though they were as active as any in their motions,they made but little progress in the ascent.These,as my guide informed me,were men of subtle tempers,and puzzled politics,who would supply the place of real wisdom with cunning and artifice.Among those who were far advanced in their way there were some that by one false step fell backward,and lost more ground in a moment,than they had gained for many hours,or could be ever able to recover.We were now advanced very high,and observed that all the different paths which ran about the sides of the mountain began to meet in two great roads,which insensibly gathered the whole multitude of travellers into two great bodies.At a little distance from the entrance of each road there stood a hideous phantom,that opposed our further passage.One of these apparitions had his right hand filled with darts,which he brandished in the face of all who came up that way.