Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
The Delay <strong>of</strong> the Deity<br />
distances from one another, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
radiance proceed<br />
ing from them, surprising in its brilliancy<br />
<strong>and</strong> color,<br />
in which his soul moved about with facility just as a<br />
man in a calm moves a ship in any direction, easily<br />
<strong>and</strong> quickly. Though he omitted most <strong>of</strong> what he<br />
saw, he said that the souls <strong>of</strong> the dead, rising from<br />
below, made flame4ike bubbles as they displaced the<br />
air before them ; then, as each bubble noiselessly burst,<br />
the souls came forth, human in form but <strong>of</strong> a smaller<br />
size. Their movements, however, were not alike,<br />
for some started forth with surprising fleetness <strong>and</strong><br />
darted straight up, while others whirled round in a<br />
circle just like spindles, <strong>and</strong> whisking, now upward,<br />
now downward, with a kind <strong>of</strong> confused <strong>and</strong> aimless<br />
motion, they came to rest only after a long<br />
time <strong>and</strong><br />
with great difficulty. Respecting most <strong>of</strong> the souls,<br />
however, he was in ignorance as to who they were; but<br />
recognizing two or three <strong>of</strong> his acquaintances, he tried<br />
to approach <strong>and</strong> address them, yet they neither heard<br />
him nor were in their right mind, but beside them<br />
selves <strong>and</strong> dazed, trying to avoid all notice <strong>and</strong> in<br />
tercourse, moving aimlessly about, at first alone by<br />
themselves, then encountering many who were in a<br />
like condition, they joined themselves to<br />
tossed about in a disorderly manner in all<br />
they uttered unintelligible<br />
these, <strong>and</strong>,<br />
directions,<br />
cries that sounded like<br />
mingled screams <strong>of</strong> lamentation <strong>and</strong> fear. Others,<br />
again, were seen at the very summit <strong>of</strong> the upper air,<br />
radiant with joy, frequently approaching each<br />
other<br />
with signs <strong>of</strong> affection, but avoiding the disorderly<br />
203