A Journey from This World to the Next — John Shaqi
A Journey from This World to the NextFielding, Henry
General
A Journey from This World to the Next
Fielding, Henry
English fiction; Paranormal fiction; Supernatural -- Fiction
We set out several ways, as we were all to pay our respects to different
ladies. I directed my porter to show me to the Fever on the Spirits,
being the disease which had delivered me from the flesh. My guide and I
traversed many streets, and knocked at several doors, but to no purpose.
At one, we were told, lived the Consumption; at another, the Maladie
Alamode, a French lady; at the third, the Dropsy; at the fourth, the
Rheumatism; at the fifth, Intemperance; at the sixth, Misfortune. I was
tired, and had exhausted my patience, and almost my purse; for I gave my
porter a new fee at every blunder he made: when my guide, with a solemn
countenance, told me he could do no more; and marched off without any
farther ceremony.
He was no sooner gone than I met another gentleman with a ticket, i. e.,
an amber-headed cane in his hand. I first fee’d him, and then acquainted
him with the name of the disease. He cast himself for two or three
minutes into a thoughtful posture, then pulled a piece of paper out
of his pocket, on which he wrote something in one of the Oriental
languages, I believe, for I could not read a syllable: he bade me carry
it to such a particular shop, and, telling me it would do my business,
he took his leave.
Secure, as I now thought myself, of my direction, I went to the shop,
which very much resembled an apothecary’s. The person who officiated,
having read the paper, took down about twenty different jars, and,
pouring something out of every one of them, made a mixture, which he
delivered to me in a bottle, having first tied a paper round the neck
of it, on which were written three or four words, the last containing
eleven syllables. I mentioned the name of the disease I wanted to
find out, but received no other answer than that he had done as he was
ordered, and the drugs were excellent. I began now to be enraged, and,
quitting the shop with some anger in my countenance, I intended to find
out my inn, but, meeting in the way a porter whose countenance had in it
something more pleasing than ordinary, I resolved to try once more, and
clapped a fee into his hand. As soon as I mentioned the disease to him
he laughed heartily, and told me I had been imposed on, for in reality
no such disease was to be found in that city. He then inquired into the
particulars of my case, and was no sooner acquainted with them than he
informed me that the Maladie Alamode was the lady to whom I was obliged.
I thanked him, and immediately went to pay my respects to her. The
house, or rather palace, of this lady was one of the most beautiful
and magnificent in the city. The avenue to it was planted with sycamore
trees, with beds of flowers on each side; it was extremely pleasant but
short. I was conducted through a magnificent hall, adorned with several
statues and bustoes, most of them maimed, whence I concluded them all
to be true antiques; but was informed they were the figures of several
modern heroes, who had died martyrs to her ladyship’s cause.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account