said before) there are not very many that stand in fear of these
things, they being but the tenets of old women and the fabulous
stories of mothers and nurses,--and even they that do fear them yet
believe that certain rites of initiation and purgation will relieve
them, by which after they are cleansed they shall play and dance in
hell forever, in company with those that have the privilege of a
bright light, clear air, and the use of speech,--yet to be deprived
of living disturbs all both young and old. We

Impatient love the light that shines on earth,
(Euripides, "Hippolytus," 193)

as Euripides saith. Nor are we easy or without regret when we
hear this:--

Him speaking thus th' eternal brightness leaves,
Where night the wearied steeds of day receives.

And therefore it is very plain that with the belief of immortality
they take away the sweetest and greatest hopes the vulgar sort
have. And what shall we then think they take away from the good
and those that have led pious and just lives, who expect no ill
after dying, but on the contrary most glorious and divine things?
For, in the first place, athletes are not used to receive the
garland before they have performed their exercises, but after they
have contested and proved victorious; in like manner is it with
those that are persuaded that good men have the prize of their
conquests after this life is ended; it is marvellous to think to
what a pitch of grandeur their virtue raises their spirits upon the
contemplation of those hopes, among the which this is one, that