designed for no other:  Such it continued to be in the Reign of Saturn, when none entered here but holy Priests, Deliverers of their Country from Oppression and Tyranny, who repos’d themselves here after their Labours, and those whom the Study and Love of Wisdom had fitted for divine Conversation.  But now it is become no less dangerous than it was before desirable:  Vice has learned so to mimick Virtue, that it often creeps in hither under its Disguise.  See there! just before you, Revenge stalking by, habited in the Robe of Honour.  Observe not far from him Ambition standing alone; if you ask him his Name, he will tell you it is Emulation or Glory.  But the most frequent Intruder we have is Lust, who succeeds now the Deity to whom in better Days this Grove was entirely devoted. Virtuous Love, with Hymen, and the Graces attending him, once reign’d over this happy Place; a whole Train of Virtues waited on him, and no dishonourable Thought durst presume for Admittance:  But now! how is the whole Prospect changed? and how seldom renewed by some few who dare despise sordid Wealth, and imagine themselves fit Companions for so charming a Divinity?

’The Goddess had no sooner said thus, but we were arriv’d at the utmost Boundaries of the Wood, which lay contiguous to a Plain that ended at the Foot of the Mountain.  Here I kept close to my Guide, being sollicited by several Phantomes, who assured me they would shew me a nearer Way to the Mountain of the Muses.  Among the rest Vanity was extremely importunate, having deluded infinite Numbers, whom I saw wandering at the Foot of the Hill.  I turned away from this despicable Troop with Disdain, and addressing my self to my Guide, told her, that as I had some Hopes I should be able to reach up part of the Ascent, so I despaired of having Strength enough to attain the Plain on the Top.  But being informed by her that it was impossible to stand upon the Sides, and that if I did not proceed onwards, I should irrecoverably fall down to the lowest Verge, I resolved to hazard any Labour and Hardship in the Attempt:  So great a desire had I of enjoying the Satisfaction I hoped to meet with at the End of my Enterprize!

’There were two Paths, which led up by different Ways to the Summit of the Mountain; the one was guarded by the Genius which presides over the Moment of our Births.  He had it in charge to examine the several Pretensions of those who desired a Pass that Way, but to admit none excepting those only on whom Melpomene had look’d with a propitious Eye at the Hour of their Nativity.  The other Way was guarded by Diligence, to whom many of those Persons apply’d who had met with a Denial the other Way; but he was so tedious in granting their Request, and indeed after Admittance the Way was so very intricate and laborious, that many after they had made some Progress, chose rather