ever the plainest and most evidently striking; and when two
meanings of a passage can in the least balance our judgments
which to prefer, I hold it matter of unquestionable certainty
that neither of them is worth a farthing." From his works our
conversation turned on his monument; upon which, Shakespeare,
shaking his sides, and addressing himself to Milton, cried out,
"On my word, brother Milton, they have brought a noble set of
poets together; they would have been hanged erst have [ere they
had] convened such a company at their tables when alive." "True,
brother," answered Milton, "unless we had been as incapable of
eating then as we are now."


CHAPTER IX

More adventures in Elysium.

A crowd of spirits now joined us, whom I soon perceived to be the
heroes, who here frequently pay their respects to the several
bards the recorders of their actions. I now saw Achilles and
Ulysses addressing themselves to Homer, and Aeneas and Julius
Caesar to Virgil: Adam went up to Milton, upon which I whispered
Mr. Dryden that I thought the devil should have paid his
compliments there, according to his opinion. Dryden only
answered, "I believe the devil was in me when I said so."
Several applied themselves to Shakespeare, amongst whom Henry V
made a very distinguishing appearance. While my eyes were fixed
on that monarch a very small spirit came up to me, shook me
heartily by the hand, and told me his name was THOMAS THUMB. I
expressed great satisfaction in seeing him, nor could I help