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Page 37
"We are here, _said he_, in a State of Ease and Happiness, tho' no
way comparable to that we expect at our Dissolution, which we as
earnestly long for, as you Mortals carefully avoid it. We forget
nothing that pass'd while we were cloath'd in Flesh, and Inhabitants
of your Globe, and have no other Uneasiness, than what the
Reflection of our Ingratitude to the Eternal Goodness, while in
Life, creates in us, which the Eternal lessens in proportion to our
Repentance, which is here very sincere. This will cease your Wonder
at hearing the Sublunary Languages.
"We have here no Passions to gratify, no Wants to supply, the Roots
of Vice, which under no Denomination is known among us; consequently
no Laws, nor Governours to execute them, are here necessary.
"Had the _Cacklogallinian_ Prince known thus much, he would have been
sensible how vain were his Expectations of getting from us the Gold
he thirsts after: For were we to meet with the purest Veins of that
Metal, by removing only one Turf, not a _Selenite_ would think it
worth his while.
"This is a Place of Peace and Tranquillity, and this World is exactly
adapted to the Temper of its Inhabitants: Nature here is in an
Eternal Calm; we enjoy an everlasting Spring; the Soil yields
nothing noxious, and we can never want the Necessaries of Life,
since every Herb affords a salubrious Repast to the _Selenites_.
"We pass our Days without Labour, without other Anxiety, than what I
mention'd, and the longing Desire we have for our Dissolution, makes
every coming Day encrease our Happiness.
"We have not here, as in your World, Distinction of Sexes; for know,
all Souls are masculine (if I may be allow'd that Term, after what
I've said) however distinguish'd in the Body; and tho' of late Years
the Number of those which change your World for this (especially of
the _European_ Quarter) is very small; yet we do not apprehend our
World will be left unpeopled."
"You say, _replied I_, that none but the virtuous Soul reaches these
blissfull Seats; what then becomes of the Vicious? and how comes it,
that the Soul, when loosed by Sleep, I suppose without Distinction,
retires hither?"
"The Decrees, _said he_, of the Almighty are inscrutable, and you
ask me Questions are not in my Power to resolve you."
"Have not, _said I_, the _Cacklogallinians_ Souls, think you, since
they're endued with Reason?" "If they have, _said he_, they never
are sent hither."
I repeated this Discourse to the _Cacklogallinians_, which made
_Volatilio_ extreamly melancholly.
Happy Men! _said he,_ to whose Species the divine Goodness has been
so indulgent! Miserable _Cacklogallinians_! if destin'd, after
bearing the Ills of Life, to Annihilation. Let us, _Probusomo_,
never think of returning, but beg we may be allow'd to end our Days
with these Favourites of Heaven.
I interpreted this to the _Selenite_, who shook his Head, and said it
was, he believ'd, impossible. That he did not doubt but Providence would
reward the Virtuous of his Species; that his Mercy and Justice were
without Bound, which ought to keep him from desponding.
The next Day a great Number of _Selenites_ came to see me, and
entertain'd me with abundance of Candour. I seeing no Difference in
Dress, nor any Deference paid to any, as distinguish'd by a superior
Rank, I took Liberty to ask my _English Selenite_, if all the
Inhabitants were upon a Level, and if they had no Servants nor
Artificers?
"We have, _said he_, no Distinctions among us; who in your World
begg'd Alms, with us, has the same Respect as he who govern'd a
Province: Tho', to say Truth, we have but few of your sublunary
Quality among us. We have no Occasion for Servants; we are all
Artificers, and none where Help is necessary, but offers his with
Alacrity. For Example, would I build a House, every one here, and
as many more as were wanting, would take a Pleasure to assist me."
He told me, that the next Day they intended to present me to _Abrahijo_,
the oldest _Selenite_.
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