themselves.

[6] We have before made an apology for this language, which we
here repeat for the last time; though the heart may, we hope, be
metaphorically used here with more propriety than when we apply
those passions to the body which belong to the soul.


To return therefore to matters comprehensible by all
understandings: the discourse now turned on the vanity, folly,
and misery of the lower world, from which every passenger in the
coach expressed the highest satisfaction in being delivered;
though it was very remarkable that, notwithstanding the joy we
declared at our death, there was not one of us who did not
mention the accident which occasioned it as a thing we would have
avoided if we could. Nay, the very grave lady herself, who was
the forwardest in testifying her delight, confessed inadvertently
that she left a physician by her bedside; and the gentleman who
died of honor very liberally cursed both his folly and his
fencing. While we were entertaining ourselves with these
matters, on a sudden a most offensive smell began to invade our
nostrils. This very much resembled the savor which travelers in
summer perceive at their approach to that beautiful village of
the Hague, arising from those delicious canals which, as they
consist of standing water, do at that time emit odors greatly
agreeable to a Dutch taste, but not so pleasant to any other.
Those perfumes, with the assistance of a fair wind, begin to
affect persons of quick olfactory nerves at a league's distance,
and increase gradually as you approach. In the same manner did
the smell I have just mentioned, more and more invade us, till