d, and prevent their dispersion; so
that the mind is guarded against wandering and dissipation, and the
imbibing of false lusts, which with their enchanting delusions flow in
from the body and the world through the senses, whereby the truths of
religion and morality, with all that is good in either, become the sport
of every wind; but the application of the mind to use binds and unites
those truths, and disposes the mind to become a form receptible of the
wisdom thence derived; and in this case it extirpates the idle sports
and pastimes of falsity and vanity, banishing them from its centre
towards the circumference. But you will hear more on this subject from
the wise ones of our society, when I will send to you in the afternoon."
So saying, the prince arose, and the new guests along with him, and
bidding them farewell, he charged the conducting angel to lead them back
to their private apartments, and there to show them every token of
civility and respect, and also to invite some courteous and agreeable
company to entertain them with conversation respecting the various joys
of this society.

17. The angel executed the prince's charge; and when they were turned to
their private apartments, the company, invited from the city to inform
them respecting the various joys of the society, arrived, and after the
usual compliments entered into conversation with them as they walked
along in a strain at once entertaining and elegant. But the conducting
angel said, "These ten men were invited into this heaven to see its
joys, and to receive thereby a new idea concerning eternal happiness.
Acquaint us therefore with some of its joys which affect the bodily
senses; and afterwards, some wise ones will arrive, who will acquaint us
with what renders those joys satisfactory and happy." Then the company
who were invited from the city related the following particulars:--"1.
There are here days of festivity appointed by the prince, that the mind,
by due relaxation, may recover from the weariness which an emulative
desire may occasion in particular cases. On such days we have concerts
of music and singing in the public places, and out of the city are
exhibited games and shows: in the public places at such times are raised
orchestras surrounded with balusters formed of vines wreathed together,
from which hang bunches of ripe grapes; within these balusters in three
rows, one above another, sit the musicians, with their wind and stringed
instrum