ay92- — the mountain and grottocs, @ vision: 273 
.ed with concealed morafses and covered thorns ; and 
whoever approaches towards them, is soon en- 
tangled, and his ruin inevitable.” 
. Here the paused, and desired me to consider them 
again. 1 did so, and found, with still greater 
amazement, that they had put on the most hideous 
forms; and I could perceive, that every glance the 
threw upon them, seemed to fhrink up their very 
efsence, and to render them still more disgusting 
and. horrible. 
. We had now reached the middle of the mountain, 
when the spiritof Wisdom, turning towards me, 
spoke in the following manner : 
‘*¢ You are now arrived at the end of the first stage 
ef human life. The path*to the top of the moun- 
tain is infested with creatures, as well as with ob- 
structions and dangers, much the same as those you 
have already seen ; but in proportion as you de- 
scend on the opposite side, the birds of prey gra- 
Aually disappear, and the dens and caverns increase, 
till you reach the bottom, which is one continued 
gulph, covered with such an impenetrable vapour, 
that it is altogether impafsable even by myself. 
We bhall not, therefore, ascend any farther ; especi- - 
ally as by the sceptre which I hold in,my right 
hand, I am empowered to perform things out of my 
own sphere, and fhall now make use of it, to dis- 
close another scene for your improvement and in-- 
struction.” 
She now waved her wand; J looked around, and 
to my utter astonifhment, found that ] was in the 
VOL, Xl, MM t 
