b--ch, he addressed
himself to a spirit who, with fear and trembling, begged he might not
go to the bottomless pit: he said he hoped Minos would consider that,
though he had gone astray, he had suffered for it--that it was necessity
which drove him to the robbery of eighteenpence, which he had committed,
and for which he was hanged--that he had done some good actions in his
life--that he had supported an aged parent with his labor--that he had
been a very tender husband and a kind father--and that he had ruined
himself by being bail for his friend. At which words the gate opened,
and Minos bade him enter, giving him a slap on the back as he passed by
him. A great number of spirits now came forwards, who all declared
they had the same claim, and that the captain should speak for them.
He acquainted the judge that they had been all slain in the service of
their country. Minos was going to admit them, but had the curiosity to
ask who had been the invader, in order, as he said, to prepare the
back gate for him. The captain answered they had been the invaders
themselves--that they had entered the enemy's country, and burned and
plundered several cities. "And for what reason?" said Minos. "By the
command of him who paid us," said the captain; "that is the reason of a
soldier. We are to execute whatever we are commanded, or we should be a
disgrace to the army, and very little deserve our pay." "You are brave
fellows indeed," said Minos; "but be pleased to face about, and obey my
command for once, in returning back to the other world: for what should
such fellows as you do where there are no cities to be burned, nor
people to be destroyed? But let me advise you to have a stricter regard
to truth for the future, and not call the depopulating other countries
the service of your own." The captain answered, in a rage, "D--n me! do
you give me the lie?" and was going to take Minos by the nose had
not his guards prevented him, and immediately turned him and all his
followers back the same road they came.

Four spirits informed the judge that they had been starved to death
through poverty--being the father, mother, and two children; that
they had been honest and as industrious as possible, till sickness had
prevented the man from labor. "All that is very true," cried a grave
spirit who stood by. "I know the fact; for these poor people were under
my cure." "You was, I suppose, the parson of the parish," cries Minos;
"I hope you had a