ace, as they are old acquaintances, and
cast them into the land of Darkness, and let each be a torment to the
other, until the day of judgment." They were then snatched away, with
their heads downwards.

Next to these there came seven recorders. Having been commanded to raise
their hands to the bar, they would by no means obey, as the rails were
greasy. One began to wrangle boisterously; "we ought to obtain a fair
citation to prepare our answer;" said he, "instead of being rushed upon
unawares."

"But are we bound to give you that same specific citation," answered
Death, "since you obtain in every place, and at every period of your
life, warning of my coming. How many sermons have you not heard upon the
mortality of man? How many books have you not seen? How many graves,
how many sculls, how many diseases, how many messages and signs have you
not had? What is your Sleep, but my own brother? What are sculls, but
my visage? What does your daily food consist of but dead creatures? Seek
not to cast your neglect upon me. Speak not of summons, when you have
obtained it a hundred times." "Pray," said one red recorder, "what have
you to advance against us?" "What?" said Death. "Drinking the sweat and
blood of the poor, and levying double your wages." "Here is an honest
man," replied the recorder, pointing to a pettifogger behind him, "who
knows that we have never done any thing but what was fair; and it is not
fair of you to detain us here, without a specific crime to prove against
us." "Hey, hey!" said Death, "you shall prove against yourselves. Place
these people," said he, "on the verge of the _precipice_ before the
tribunal of _Justice_, they shall obtain equity there though they never
practiced it."

There were still seven other prisoners remaining, and these kept up a
prodigious bustle and noise. Some were flattering, others quarrelling,
some blustering, some counselling, &c. Scarcely had they been called to
the bar, when lo! the entire palace became seven times more horribly dark
than before, and there was a shivering and a great agitation about the
throne, and Death became paler than ever. Upon enquiring what was the
matter, one of the messengers of Lucifer stepped forward with a letter
for Death, concerning these seven prisoners, and Fate presently caused
the letter to be read publicly, and these were the words, as far as I can
remember.

"_Lucifer_, _King of the kings of the world_, _prince