[3] This is the dress in which the god appears to mortals at the
theaters. One of the offices attributed to this god by the
ancients, was to collect the ghosts as a shepherd doth a flock of
sheep, and drive them with his wand into the other world.


I arrived just as the coach was setting out, and found I had no
reason for inquiry; for every person seemed to know my business
the moment I appeared at the door: the coachman told me his
horses were to, but that he had no place left; however, though
there were already six, the passengers offered to make room for
me. I thanked them, and ascended without much ceremony. We
immediately began our journey, being seven in number; for, as the
women wore no hoops, three of them were but equal to two men.
Perhaps, reader, thou mayest be pleased with an account of this
whole equipage, as peradventure thou wilt not, while alive, see
any such. The coach was made by an eminent toyman, who is well
known to deal in immaterial substance, that being the matter of
which it was compounded. The work was so extremely fine, that it
was entirely invisible to the human eye. The horses which drew
this extraordinary vehicle were all spiritual, as well as the
passengers. They had, indeed, all died in the service of a
certain postmaster; and as for the coachman, who was a very thin
piece of immaterial substance, he had the honor while alive of
driving the Great Peter, or Peter the Great, in whose service his
soul, as well as body, was almost starved to death. Such was the
vehicle in which I set out, and now, those who are not willing to
travel on with me may, if they please, stop here; those who are,
must proceed to the subsequent chapters, in which this journey is
continued.