''Si.*- 



^6 EXCURSION TO THE ItEALMS BELOW. 



which at times, would hare grown dull and tirefome 

 between fuch a number of equally tempered fpirits. 



Who are thofe lofty and venerable forms, faid I to 

 Mm in the familiar tone of an old acquaintance, who 

 lit together on yonder mount furrounded by laurels, 

 zs If they were the amphyctions of all Elynum, and 

 feem to be confulting on fome matter of common con- 

 cernment ? 



That is, replied Menippus, the worthy abode of af- 

 iembled kings ; who, I know not how, are come to 

 the prudent refolution of chufing one from amongrr. 

 them, as formerly the grecian princes made choice of 

 Agamemnon, to be acknowledged as their common 

 fovereign. Probably they are even now deliberating 

 on the mode of election. 



/. I thought that here in the realms below, all the 

 inhabitants were in the full enjoyment of equal rights. 



Menippus. So they are ; each of us who have been 

 kings or princes in the former life, has here no greater 

 command and enjoys no other prerogatives than fuch 

 as axe voluntarily allowed to his perfonal virtues and 

 merits. But fovereigns, it feems, are fo accuftomed 

 to prefide, that, for want of other fubjects, they had 

 rather become fo themfelves, that they may procure at 

 leaft for one of their number the pleafure of ruling. 



L Thou art difpofed to be merry. It is impoilible 

 for fuch great fouls, fo purged from every earthly 

 paffion, to be infected with fo paltry a vanity. Or, 

 fay, has there been only one among them who has not 

 merited the happinefs of being a denizen of Elynum 

 by having been a good king ? 



Me- 



