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[1908
Addison in the Spectator (No. 159, September 1st, 1711), gave to the world
that incomparable story of " The Vision of Mirzah," wherein this bridge of
life is so graphically and truthfully described. The story is as follows:-—•
"'Examine now,' said he, ' this sea that is bounded with darkness at
both ends, and tell me what thou discoverest in it.' ' I see a bridge,' said
I, ' standing in the midst of the tide.' ' The bridge thou seest,' said he, ' is
humane life; consider it attentatively.' Upon a more leisurely survey of it
I found that it consisted of threescore and ten entire arches, with several
broken arches, which, added to those that were entire, made up the number
about an hundred. As I was counting the arches the Genius told me that
this bridge consisted at first of a thousand arches; but that a great flood
swept away the rest, and left the bridge in the ruinous condition I now
beheld it. ' But tell me further,' said he, ' what thou discoverest on it ?' 'I
see multitudes of people passing over it,' said I, ' and a black cloud hanging
on each end of it.' As I looked more attentively I saw several of the
passengers dropping through the bridge, into the great tide that flowed
underneath it; and upon further examination, perceived there were innumerable
trap-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no
sooner trod upon, but they fell through them into the tide and immediately
disappeared. These hidden pit-falls were set very thick at the entrance of
the bridge, so that throngs of people no sooner broke through the cloud, but
many of them fell into them. They grew thinner towards the middle, but
multiplied and lay closer together towards the end of the arches that were
entire.
" I passed some time in the contemplation of this wonderful structure,
and the great variety of objects which it presented. My heart was filled
with a deep melancholy to see several dropping unexpectedly in the midst
of mirth and jollity, and catching at every thing that stood by them to
save themselves. Some were looking up towards the heavens in a thoughtful
posture, and in the midst of a speculation stumbled and fell out of sight.
Multitudes were very busy in the pursuit of bubbles that glittered in their
eyes and danced before them, but often when they thought themselves within
the reach of them their footing failed and down they sunk. In this confusion
of objects, I observed some with scymetars in their hands, and others
with urinals, who ran to and fro upon the bridge, thrusting several persons
on trap-doors which did not seem to lie in their way, and which they might
have escaped had they not been thus forced upon them. The Genius
c