CHAPTER V

The travelers proceed on their journey, and meet several spirits
who are coming into the flesh.

We now came to the banks of the great river Cocytus, where we
quitted our vehicle, and passed the water in a boat, after which
we were obliged to travel on foot the rest of our journey; and
now we met, for the first time, several passengers traveling to
the world we had left, who informed us they were souls going into
the flesh.

The two first we met were walking arm-in-arm, in very close and
friendly conference; they informed us that one of them was
intended for a duke, and the other for a hackney-coachman. As we
had not yet arrived at the place where we were to deposit our
passions, we were all surprised at the familiarity which
subsisted between persons of such different degrees; nor could
the grave lady help expressing her astonishment at it. The
future coachman then replied, with a laugh, that they had
exchanged lots; for that the duke had with his dukedom drawn a
shrew for a wife, and the coachman only a single state.

As we proceeded on our journey we met a solemn spirit walking
alone with great gravity in his countenance: our curiosity
invited us, notwithstanding his reserve, to ask what lot he had
drawn.