uffer us to ask any questions. At length we arrived at the gate of
Elysium. Here was a prodigious crowd of spirits waiting for admittance,
some of whom were admitted, and some were rejected; for all were
strictly examined by the porter, whom I soon discovered to be the
celebrated judge Minos.

CHAPTER VII

The proceedings of judge Minos at the gate of Elysium.

I now got near enough to the gate to hear the several claims of those
who endeavored to pass. The first among other pretensions, set forth
that he had been very liberal to an hospital; but Minos answered,
"Ostentation," and repulsed him. The second exhibited that he had
constantly frequented his church, been a rigid observer of fast-days: he
likewise represented the great animosity he had shown to vice in others,
which never escaped his severest censure; and as to his own behavior, he
had never been once guilty of whoring, drinking, gluttony, or any other
excess. He said he had disinherited his son for getting a bastard. "Have
you so?" said Minos; "then pray return into the other world and beget
another; for such an unnatural rascal shall never pass this gate." A
dozen others, who had advanced with very confident countenances, seeing
him rejected, turned about of their own accord, declaring, if he could
not pass, they had no expectation, and accordingly they followed him
back to earth; which was the fate of all who were repulsed, they being
obliged to take a further purification, unless those who were guilty
of some very heinous crimes, who were hustled in at a little back gate,
whence they tumbled immediately into the bottomless pit.

The next spirit that came up declared he had done neither good nor evil
in the world; for that since his arrival at man's estate he had spent
his whole time in search of curiosities; and particularly in the study
of butterflies, of which he had collected an immense number. Minos made
him no answer, but with great scorn pushed him back. There now advanced
a very beautiful spirit indeed. She began to ogle Minos the moment she
saw him. She said she hoped there was some merit in refusing a great
number of lovers, and dying a maid, though she had had the choice of
a hundred. Minos told her she had not refused enow yet, and turned her
back.

She was succeeded by a spirit who told the judge he believed his works
would speak for him. "What works?" answered Minos. "My dramatic works,"
replied the other, "which have done so m