gift of flying (owing probably to
my having neither feathers nor wings), I was capable of hopping such a
prodigious way at once, that it served my turn almost as well. I had
not hopped far before I perceived a tall young gentleman in a silk
waistcoat, with a wing on his left heel, a garland on his head, and a
caduceus in his right hand. [3] I thought I had seen this person before,
but had not time to recollect where, when he called out to me and asked
me how long I had been departed. I answered I was just come forth. "You
must not stay here," replied he, "unless you had been murdered: in which
case, indeed, you might have been suffered to walk some time; but if you
died a natural death you must set out for the other world immediately."
I desired to know the way. "O," cried the gentleman, "I will show you
to the inn whence the stage proceeds; for I am the porter. Perhaps you
never heard of me--my name is Mercury." "Sure, sir," said I, "I
have seen you at the play-house." Upon which he smiled, and, without
satisfying me as to that point, walked directly forward, bidding me hop
after him. I obeyed him, and soon found myself in Warwick-lane; where
Mercury, making a full stop, pointed at a particular house, where he
bade me enquire for the stage, and, wishing me a good journey, took his
leave, saying he must go seek after other customers.

I arrived just as the coach was setting out, and found I had no reason
for inquiry; for every person seemed to know my business the moment I
appeared at the door: the coachman told me his horses were to, but
that he had no place left; however, though there were already six, the
passengers offered to make room for me. I thanked them, and ascended
without much ceremony. We immediately began our journey, being seven in
number; for, as the women wore no hoops, three of them were but equal to
two men. Perhaps, reader, thou mayest be pleased with an account of
this whole equipage, as peradventure thou wilt not, while alive, see any
such. The coach was made by an eminent toyman, who is well known to
deal in immaterial substance, that being the matter of which it was
compounded. The work was so extremely fine, that it was entirely
invisible to the human eye. The horses which drew this extraordinary
vehicle were all spiritual, as well as the passengers. They had,
indeed, all died in the service of a certain postmaster; and as for the
coachman, who was a very thin piece of immaterial substance, he ha