r it attentively. Upon
a more leisurely Survey of it, I found that it consisted of threescore
and ten entire Arches, with several broken Arches, which added to those
that were entire, made up the Number about an hundred. As I was counting
the Arches, the Genius told me that this Bridge consisted at first of a
thousand Arches; but that a great Flood swept away the rest, and left
the Bridge in the ruinous Condition I now beheld it: But tell me
further, said he, what thou discoverest on it. I see Multitudes of
People passing over it, said I, and a black Cloud hanging on each End of
it. As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the Passengers
dropping thro' the Bridge, into the great Tide that flowed underneath
it; and upon farther Examination, perceived there were innumerable
Trap-doors that lay concealed in the Bridge, which the Passengers no
sooner trod upon, but they fell thro' them into the Tide and immediately
disappeared. These hidden Pit-falls were set very thick at the Entrance
of the Bridge, so that the Throngs of People no sooner broke through the
Cloud, but many of them fell into them. They grew thinner towards the
Middle, but multiplied and lay closer together toward the End of the
Arches that were entire. There were indeed some Persons, but their
number was very small, that continued a kind of a hobbling March on the
broken Arches, but fell through one after another, being quite tired and
spent with so long a Walk.

I passed some Time in the Contemplation of this wonderful Structure, and
the great Variety of Objects which it presented. My heart was filled
with a deep Melancholy to see several dropping unexpectedly in the midst
of Mirth and Jollity, and catching at every thing that stood by them to
save themselves. Some were looking up towards the Heavens in a
thoughtful Posture, and in the midst of a Speculation stumbled and fell
out of Sight. Multitudes were very busy in the Pursuit of Bubbles that
glittered in their Eyes and danced before them; but often when they
thought themselves within the reach of them their Footing failed and
down they sunk. In this Confusion of Objects, I observed some with
Scymetars in their Hands, and others with Urinals, who ran to and fro
upon the Bridge, thrusting several Persons on Trap-doors which did not
seem to lie in their way, and which they might have escaped had they not
been forced upon them.

The Genius seeing me indulge my self in this melancholy Prospect, told