III.--A BRIEF SUMMARY.


I. VISION OF THE WORLD.


One summer's day, the Bard ascends one of the mountains of Wales, and
gazing a long while at the beautiful scene, falls asleep. He dreams and
finds himself among the fairies, whom he approaches and requests
permission to join. They snatch him up forthwith and fly off with him
over cities and realms, lands and seas, until he begins to fear for his
life. They come to a huge castle--Castle Delusive, where an Angel of
light appears and rescues him from their hands. The Angel, after
questioning him as to himself, who he was and where he came from, bids
him go with him, and resting in the empyrean, he beholds the earth far
away beneath them. He sees an immense City made up of three streets; at
the end of which are three gates and upon each gate a tower and in each
tower a fair woman. This is the City of Destruction and its streets are
named after the daughters of Belial--Pride, Lucre and Pleasure. The
Angel tells him of the might and craftiness of Belial and the alluring
witchery of his daughters, and also of another city on higher ground--the
City of Emmanuel--whereto all may fly from Destruction. They descend and
alight in the Street of Pride amidst the ruined and desolate mansions of
absentee landlords. They see there kings, princes, and noblemen,
coquettes and fops; there is a city, too, on seven hills, and another
opposite, with a crescent on a golden banner above it, and near the gate
stands the Court of Lewis XIV. Much traffic is going on between these
courts, for the Pope, the Sultan and the King of France are rivals for
the Princesses' hands.