my eyes, of which I had for fome time complained, was removed, and I discerned every object at a greater distance, and with more diftinctness, than before.

My Benefactress defired me to look back on the palace of PLEASURE, which lay in the valley below. But how was I furprised to find all its magnificence vanished, and to see itself suspended in the air, with a tremulous motion that feemed to announce its fall; and the adjacent fields, formerly fo fruitful and well watered in appearance, withered at once into a frightful wafte! The boastful GODDESS was herfelf fhriveled and transformed to a hag, fitting in a darkfome corner, pale and trembling, accompanied only by a few of her doleful attendants and votaries, who appeared like fo many furies reproaching her and one another, and tearing themselves with anguish and remorfe. I turned away difgufted at fo loathfome a spectacle, and befought my Guide to lead on.

He

As we advanced, we were met by one of a youthful form, and of extraordinary vigour. His complexion was of that kind which is contracted by toil. had a steady look, not without fome mixture of fternnefs, to which the rest of his make correfponded, being rough and hardy. He grasped in his hand a club, and walked with uncommon compofure, and firmness. "This youth," faid my Guardian," is a near ally of my family, "whom CONTEMPLATION had by fair "Liberty. He is called Refolution, and has "a temper compounded of the characters "of both parents; for in him the fire of "the mother is tempered by the coolness

of the father." His prefence gave me new fpirit, fo that I was disposed to press on through the remaining difficulties of the way with an alacrity which I had not felt before.

I foon indeed found, that I fhould want it all; for I obferved at fome distance a

tremendous rock, which I understood I muft neceffarily climb. It grew not lefs formidable on a nearer approach; and proved, on my attempting it, fo steep and flippery, that I fell back almost as fast as I afcended. There lodged too, as my Conductress informed me, in one of its cavities, a monftrous being, whom we must needs fubdue before we could gain the fummit. "But," faid fhe, " be of good:

chear, for Heaven will fend to our relief "a mightier power." She had fcarcely: fpoken, when out rushed a most hideous form, of whom the very fight chilled me with horrour. He had, indeed, the face of a man; but it was more fiercer and terrible than that of a lion. His eyes

darted fire. Out of his noftrils iffued a baleful fteam, that poisoned the air;ands his roaring was like the found of many "waters." He was armed with fcales

almost impenetrable by human weapons, and inftead of hands was furnished with

claws which tore whatever came within their reach. His name was Self Will.

He was attended by a figure of a pale and fallow vifage, whofe eyes were funk deep in their fockets, and rolled about with wildness and wrath. Her treffes flew loofe. upon her shoulders, and fhe had in all her looks and gestures an air of distraction. In one hand the carried a ftring of beads, which the feemed to tell with great earneftnefs; and in the other a bloody fcourge. At the fame time fhe muttered an unintelligible jargon. By her girdle hung a key, with which, I was afterwards told, the pretended to admit into, or shut out from, the Temple of VIRTUE, and the Abode of HAPPINESS. I perceived that the fondly cherifhed the monftrous fhape. Her naine was Bigotry,

At the difcovery of this fhocking pair I was feized with double terrour: but Refolution inftantly attacked the mis-shapen

power with his mighty weapon, calling to me in the mean time not to be afraid; yet I could not refrain from trembling for the event. My companion was indeed preffed so hard by his antagonist, that he muft foon have fallen a prey to his fury, had not our Protectrefs, who remained a while fpectator of the unequal combat, brought to our aid a feafonable reinforcement. Oh the Godlike power that interpofed!

There was in her whole appearance fomewhat more divinely attractive than aught I had ever beheld: her forehead was polished like ivory, and radiant with fplendour: her hair was like burnished gold her eyes effufed ineffable mildnefs, mingled with modeft triumph: her regards were chiefly fixed on the fkies, to which they were raifed with fuch fublime devotion as feemed to lift the

:

fpirit of the beholder thither. Her garment, which hung freely from her fhoulders, and reached down to her feet, was white as the driven fnow: her motions were