ten by the saints on earth! I,
the sceptic, the blasphemer, the scoffer at all things sacred, who had
laughed at the legends and dogmas of Christianism as though they were
incredible and effete as the myths of Olympus! And I thought to myself,
"Better I had gone straight to Hell, for here in the New Jerusalem they
will no doubt punish me worse than there." But my angelic guide, who
read my thought, smiled benignly and said, "Fear not, no harm shall
happen to you. I have exacted a promise of safety for you, and here
no promise can be broken." "But why," I asked, "have you brought me
hither, and how did you obtain my guarantee of safety?" And my guide
answered, "It is our privilege each year to demand one favor which may
not be refused; I requested that I might bring you here; but I did not
mention your name, and if you do nothing outrageous you will not be
noticed, for no one here meddles with another's business, and our rulers
are too much occupied with foreign affairs to trouble about our domestic
concerns." "Yet," I rejoined, "I shall surely be detected, for I wear
no heavenly robe." Then my guide produced one from a little packet,
and having donned it, I felt safe from the fate of him who was expelled
because he had not on a wedding-garment at the marriage feast.

As we moved along, I inquired of my guide why he took such interest in
me; and he replied, looking sadly, "I was a sceptic on earth centuries
ago, but I stood alone, and at last on my death-bed, weakened by
sickness, I again embraced the creed of my youth and died in the
Christian faith. Hence my presence in Heaven. But gladly would I
renounce Paradise even for Hell, for those figures so lovely without
are not all lovely within, and I would rather consort with the choicer
spirits who abide with Satan and hold high revel of heart and head in
his court. Yet wishes are fruitless; as the tree falls it lies, and my
lot is cast for ever." Whereupon I laid my hand in his, being speechless
with grief!

We soon approached the magnificent temple, and entering it we mixed
with the mighty crowd of angels who were witnessing the rites of worship
performed by the elders and beasts before the great white throne. All
happened exactly as Saint John describes. The angels rent the air with
their acclamations, after the inner circle had concluded, and then the
throne was deserted by its occupants.

My dear guide then led me through some narrow passages until we emerged
into