THE PATHETIC POTION, to be taken just before you are born. This
potion is a mixture of all the passions, but in no exact
proportion, so that sometimes one predominates, and sometimes
another; nay, often in the hurry of making up, one particular
ingredient is, as we were informed, left out. The spirit
receiveth at the same time another medicine called the NOUSPHORIC
DECOCTION, of which he is to drink ad libitum. This decoction is
an extract from the faculties of the mind, sometimes extremely
strong and spirituous, and sometimes altogether as weak; for very
little care is taken in the preparation. This decoction is so
extremely bitter and unpleasant, that, notwithstanding its
wholesomeness, several spirits will not be persuaded to swallow a
drop of it, but throw it away, or give it to any other who will
receive it; by which means some who were not disgusted by the
nauseousness drank double and treble portions. I observed a
beautiful young female, who, tasting it immediately from
curiosity, screwed up her face and cast it from her with great
disdain, whence advancing presently to the wheel, she drew a
coronet, which she clapped up so eagerly that I could not
distinguish the degree; and indeed I observed several of the same
sex, after a very small sip, throw the bottles away. As soon as
the spirit is dismissed by the operator, or apothecary, he is at
liberty to approach the wheel, where he hath a right to extract a
single lot: but those whom Fortune favors she permits sometimes
secretly to draw three or four. I observed a comical kind of
figure who drew forth a handful, which, when he opened, were a
bishop, a general, a privy-counselor, a player, and a poet-
laureate, and, returning the three first, he walked off, smiling,
with the two last. Every single lot contained two more articles,
which were generally disposed so as to render the lots as equal