flowers and herbage were perpetually renewed. A thousand rills
wandered through these scenes of delight, and refreshed the soil
with a gentle and unpolluted wave; the song of innumerable birds
echoed in the groves. Spring strewed the ground with her flowers,
while at the same time autumn loaded the trees with her fruit. In
this place the burning heat of the dog-star was never felt, and the
stormy north was forbidden to scatter over it the frosts of winter.
Neither War that thirsts for blood, nor Envy that bites with an
envenomed tooth, like the vipers that are wreathed around her arms,
and fostered in her bosom, nor Jealousy, nor Distrust, nor Fears,
nor vain Desires, invade these sacred domains of peace. The day is
here without end, and the shades of night are unknown. Here the
bodies of the blessed are clothed with a pure and lambent light,
as with a garment. This light does not resemble that vouchsafed to
mortals upon earth, which is rather darkness visible; it is rather
a celestial glory than a light--an emanation that penetrates the
grossest body with more subtilety than the rays of the sun
penetrate the purest crystal, which rather strengthens than dazzles
the sight, and diffuses through the soul a serenity which no
language can express. By this ethereal essence the blessed are
sustained in everlasting life; it pervades them; it is incorporated
with them, as food with the mortal body; they see it, they feel it,
they breathe it, and it produces in them an inexhaustible source of
serenity and joy. It is a fountain of delight, in which they are
absorbed as fishes are absorbed in the sea; they wish for nothing,
and, having nothing, they possess all things. This celestial light
satiates the hunger of the soul; every desire is precluded; and
they have a fulness of joy which sets them above all that mortals
seek with such restless ardor, to fill the vacuity that aches
forever in their breast. All the delightful objects that surround
them are disregarded; for their felicity springs up within, and,
being perfect, can derive nothing from without. So the gods,
satiated with nectar and ambrosia, disdain, as gross and impure,
all the dainties of the most luxurious table upon earth. From these
seats of tranquillity all evils fly far away; death, disease,