some of the books which the little imps were tossing in, I saw
the name of--_Rochester_, which showed me the character of those which
were sent into this division of the infernal regions.

Beyond this region rose up a vast chain of mountains, which we were
obliged to clamber over. After toiling for a long time, we reached the
summit, and I looked down upon an immense labyrinth built upon the
plain below, in which I saw a great number of large folios, stalking
about in solemn pomp, each followed by a number of small volumes and
pamphlets, like so many pages or footmen watching the beck of their
master. "You behold here," said the demon, "all the false works upon
theology which have been written since the beginning of the Christian
era. They are condemned to wander about to all eternity in the
hopeless maze of this labyrinth, each folio drawing after it all the
minor works to which it gave origin." A faint light shone from these
ponderous tomes; but it was like the shining of a lamp in a thick
mist, shorn of its rays, and illuminating nothing around it. And if my
companion had not held a torch before me, I should not have discerned
the outlines of this department of the Infernal world. As my eye
became somewhat accustomed to the feeble light, I discovered beyond
the labyrinth a thick mist, which appeared to rise from some river or
lake. "That," said my companion, "is the distinct abode of German
Metaphysical works, and other treatises of a similar unintelligible
character. They are all obliged to pass through a press; and if there
is any sense in them, it is thus separated from the mass of nonsense
in which it is imbedded, and is allowed to escape to a better world.
Very few of the works, however, are found to be materially diminished
by passing through the press." We had now crossed the plain, and stood
near the impenetrable fog, which rose up like a wall before us. In
front of it was the press managed by several ugly little demons, and
surrounded by an immense number of volumes of every size and shape,
waiting for the process which all were obliged to undergo. As I was
watching their operations, I saw two very respectable German folios,
with enormous clasps, extended like arms, carrying between them a
little volume, which they were fondling like a pet child with marks of
doting affection. These folios proved to be two of the most abstruse,
learned, and incomprehensible of the metaphysical productions of
Germany; and the