There were yet seven other prisoners, who kept up such commotion and clamour—­some blandishing, gnashing the teeth and uttering threats, others giving advice and so on.  Scarcely had they been summoned to the bar than the whole court darkened sevenfold more hideously than before, a murmuring and great confusion arose around the throne, and Death became more livid than ever.  Upon enquiry it seemed that one of Lucifer’s envoys had arrived, bearing a letter to Death, concerning these seven prisoners; and shortly, Fate called for silence to read the letter which, as far as I can recollect, was as follows:-

“Lucifer, King of the Kings of Earth, Prince of Perdition and Archruler of the Deep, To our natural son, mightiest and most terrible King Death, greeting, wishing you supremacy and booty without end: 

“Whereas some of our swift messengers, who are always out espying, have informed us that there lately came into your royal court seven prisoners of the seven most worthless and dangerous species in the world, and that you are about to hurl them over the precipice into my realm:  our advice is, that you endeavour, by every possible way, to let them return to the earth; there they will be more serviceable—­to you, in the matter of food, to me, for supplying better company.  We had too much trouble with their partners in days gone by, and our kingdom is, even now, unsettled.  Wherefore, turn them back or retain them yourself; for, by the infernal crown, if thou cast them hither, I will undermine the foundations of thy kingdom, until it fall and become one with mine own great realm.

“From our Court, on the miry Swamp in the glowing Evildom, in the year of our reign, 5425.”

King Death, his visage green and livid, stood for a time undecided.  But while he was meditating, Fate turned upon him such a grim frown that he trembled.  “Sire,” said Fate, “consider well what you are about to do.  I dare not allow anyone to repass the bounds of Eternity—­the insurmountable ramparts, nor deign you harbour any here, wherefore, send them on to their doom, spite of the great Evil One.  He has been able to array in a moment many a haul of a thousand or ten thousand souls, and allot each one his place, and what difficulty will he have with these seven now, however dangerous they may be?  Whatever happen, even if they overturn the infernal government, send them thither instantly, lest I be commanded to crush thee to untimely nothingness.  As for his menaces, they are false, and although thy doom, and that of yon ancient (looking at Time), are not many pages hence, yet, thou need have no fear of sinking down to Lucifer, for however glad everybody there would be to have thee, they never will; for the eternal rocks of steel and adamant, which roof Hell, are somewhat too firm to be shattered.”  Whereupon Death, in great agitation, called for someone to indite thus his reply:-

“Death, King of Terrors, Conqueror of Conquerors, To our most revered kinsman and neighbour, Lucifer, Monarch of the Endless Night, and Emperor of the Sheer Vortex, Salutation: