the Heap with a larger Cargo than ordinary upon his Back, I found upon his near Approach, that it was only a natural Hump, which he disposed of with great Joy of Heart among this Collection of humane Miseries.  There were likewise Distempers of all Sorts, tho’ I could not but observe, that there were many more Imaginary than real.  One little Packet I could not but take Notice of, which was a Complication of all the Diseases incident to humane Nature, and was in the Hand of a great many fine People:  This was called the Spleen.  But what most of all surprized me, was a Remark I made, that there was not a single [illegible] Folly thrown into the whole Heap:  At which I was very much astonished, having concluded within my self, that every one would take this Opportunity of getting rid of his Passions, Prejudices, and Frailties.

I took Notice in particular of a very profligate Fellow, who I did not Question came loaden with his Crimes, but upon searching into his Bundle, I found that instead of throwing his Guilt from him, he had only laid down his Memory.  He was followed by another worthless Rogue who flung away his Modesty instead of his Ignorance.

When the whole Race of Mankind had thus cast their Burthens, the Phantome which had been so busie on this Occasion, seeing me an idle Spectator of what passed, approached towards me.  I grew uneasy at her Presence, when of a sudden she held her magnifying Glass full before my Eyes.  I no sooner saw my Face in it, but was startled at the Shortness of it, which now appeared to me in its utmost Aggravation.  The immoderate Breadth of the Features made me very much out of Humour with my own Countenance, upon which I threw it from me like a Mask.  It happened very luckily, that one who stood by me had just before thrown down his Visage, which, it seems, was too long for him.  It was indeed extended to a most shameful length; I believe the very Chin was, modestly speaking, as long as my whole Face.  We had both of us an Opportunity of mending our selves, and all the Contributions being now brought in, every Man was at Liberty to exchange his Misfortune for those of another Person.  But as there arose many new Incidents in the Sequel of my Vision, I shall reserve them for the Subject of my next Paper.

* * * * *

No. 559.  Friday, June 25, 1714.  Addison.

  ’Quid causae est, merito quin illis Jupiter ambas
  Iratus buccas inflet:  neque se fore posthac
  Tam facilem dicat, votis ut praebeat aurem?’

  Hor.

In my last Paper, I gave my Reader a Sight of that Mountain of Miseries, which was made up of those several Calamities that afflict the Minds of Men.  I saw, with unspeakable Pleasure, the whole Species thus delivered from its Sorrows:  though at the same time, as we stood round the Heap, and surveyed the several Materials of which it was composed, there was scarce a Mortal in this vast Multitude who did not discover what he thought Pleasures and Blessings of Life; and wondered how the Owners of them ever came to look upon them as Burthens and Grievances.