escaped had they not been thus forced upon them.

"The genius, seeing me indulge myself on this melancholy prospect, told
me I had dwelt long enough upon it. 'Take thine eyes off the bridge,'
said he, 'and tell me if thou yet seest anything thou dost not
comprehend.' Upon looking up, 'What mean,' said I, 'those great flights
of birds that are perpetually hovering about the bridge, and settling
upon it from time to time? I see vultures, harpies, ravens, cormorants,
and among many other feathered creatures, several little winged 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 human life.'

"I here fetched a deep sigh. 'Alas,' said I, 'man was made in vain! how
is he given away to misery and mortality! tortured in life, and swallowed
up in death!' The genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bade
me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. 'Look no more,' said he, 'on man in
the first stage of his existence, in his setting out for Eternity; but
cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several
generations 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 ocean, 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 ocean planted
with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and
interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among them. I
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 beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing
birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness
grew in me upon the discovery of so delightful a scene. 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 gates of
death that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge. 'The islands,'