red one in the Habit of a
Shepherd, with a little Musical Instrument in his Hand. As I looked upon
him he applied it to his Lips, and began to play upon it. The sound of
it was exceeding sweet, and wrought into a Variety of Tunes that were
inexpressibly melodious, and altogether different from any thing I had
ever heard. They put me in mind of those heavenly Airs that are played
to the departed Souls of good Men upon their first Arrival in Paradise,
to wear out the Impressions of the last Agonies, and qualify them for
the Pleasures of that happy Place. My Heart melted away in
secret Raptures.

I had been often told that the Rock before me was the Haunt of a Genius;
and that several had been entertained with Musick who had passed by it,
but never heard that the Musician had before made himself visible. When
he had raised my Thoughts by those transporting Airs which he played, to
taste the Pleasures of his Conversation, as I looked upon him like one
astonished, he beckoned to me, and by the waving of his Hand directed me
to approach the Place where he sat. I drew near with that Reverence
which is due to a superior Nature; and as my heart was entirely subdued
by the captivating Strains I heard, I fell down at his Feet and wept.
The Genius smiled upon me with a Look of Compassion and Affability that
familiarized him to my Imagination, and at once dispelled all the Fears
and Apprehensions with which I approached him. He lifted me from the
Ground, and taking me by the hand, _Mirzah,_ said he, I have heard thee
in thy Soliloquies; follow me.

He then led me to the highest Pinnacle of the Rock, and placing me on
the Top of it, Cast thy Eyes Eastward, said he, and tell me what thou
seest. I see, said I, a huge Valley, and a prodigious Tide of Water
rolling through it. The Valley that thou seest, said he, is the Vale of
Misery, and the Tide of Water that thou seest is part of the great Tide
of Eternity. What is the Reason, said I, that the Tide I see rises out
of a thick Mist at one End, and again loses itself in a thick Mist at
the other? What thou seest, said he, is that Portion of Eternity which
is called Time, measured out by the Sun, and reaching from the Beginning
of the World to its Consummation. Examine now, said he, this Sea that is
bounded with darkness at both Ends, and tell me what thou discoverest
in it. I see a Bridge, said I, standing in the Midst of the Tide. The
Bridge thou seest, said he, is human Life, conside