745# 他们回来以后，事情便照这样成了；那些从城中被召来、要用关于这群体各种喜乐的谈话来使他们欢悦的人，也来了。他们彼此问候之后，一面行走，一面同他们谈论雅致的事。
但引导他们的天使说，这十个人被邀请到这天堂来，是为了观看这里的喜乐，并由此获得关于永远幸福的新观念；“所以，请你们先述说一些这里的喜乐，就是那些能感动身体感官的喜乐；以后还会有智慧者前来，述说一些使这些喜乐成为幸运并幸福之事的内容。”
从城中被召来的人听见这话，便述说如下：
一、这里有由首领宣告的节庆之日，为要使心灵从疲倦中得以舒缓；这种疲倦，是某些人因竞胜的欲望而招致的。在这些日子里，广场上有和谐的音乐与歌唱，城外则有游戏和演出。那时，广场上搭起高台，周围环以由葡萄藤交织而成的栏栅，其上垂挂着葡萄串；在栏内，乐师们分三层坐着，手持弦乐器和各种发声乐器，有高音与低音，有雄壮之声与柔和之声；两侧则有男女歌者。他们以极其悦人的欢呼和歌唱，或合唱，或独唱，并在间隔中按不同种类加以变化，使市民欢悦。在这些节庆日，这些活动从早晨持续到正午，此后又持续到傍晚。
【2】二、此外，每天清晨，从广场周围的房屋中，都可听见童女和少女极其甜美的歌声，全城因之回响。每天早晨所歌唱的，是属灵之爱的某一种情感；也就是说，这情感通过歌声的变化，或通过旋律而发出声音；并且这情感在歌唱中被觉知，仿佛它本身就在其中。它流入听者的灵魂，并激发他们进入与之相对应的状态；这就是天堂的歌唱。女歌者们说，她们歌唱的声音仿佛从内在受到灵感与激发，并且照着听者的接受而令人愉悦地被提升。歌唱结束以后，广场房屋的窗户，同时街道房屋的窗户，也连同门户一起关闭；这时全城寂静，任何地方都听不见喧哗，也看不见游荡的人；众人都束装就绪，各自履行其职分的事务。
【3】三、到了正午，门户打开；午后，有些地方的窗户也打开；这时可见男孩和女孩在街上游戏，由坐在房屋廊下的保育者和教师照看并引导。
【4】四、在城市两侧的边缘地带，有少年和青年各种各样的游戏：有赛跑的游戏，有球类游戏；有用球拍击回小球的游戏，也就是所谓球拍游戏；还有少年之间的竞技比赛，看谁在说话、行动和理解上更为敏捷，谁较为迟缓；较敏捷者会得到几片月桂叶作为奖赏。此外还有许多其他游戏，用以激发少年里面潜藏的才能。
【5】五、另外，城外还有演员在剧场上演出的戏剧，表现道德生活中各种正直之事和德行；其中也有伶人，为的是呈现相对关系。”
十人中有一人问：“什么叫‘为的是呈现相对关系’？”
他们回答说：“任何德行，连同其正直与合宜之处，都不能被生动呈现，除非借着相对之物，从其最大者直到最小者来表现；伶人所表现的，正是这些德行的最小之物，直到它们趋于无有为止。但律法规定，他们不可展示任何相反之物，也就是所谓不正直和不合宜之物，除非以象征方式，并且仿佛从远处来呈现。之所以这样规定，是因为任何德行中的正直与善，并不会经由连续的进程转入不正直与恶，而只会走向其自身的最小者，直到消失；当它消失时，相反之物才开始。因此，天堂中一切都是正直与善，与地狱中一切不正直与恶毫无共同之处。”
745# 君主的指示得到了执行；当他们从宴会上回来时，从城里邀请来的人被要求招待他们，与他们谈论这个社群的各种喜乐。当他们到达时，例行问候之后，他们边走边愉快地交谈。但他们的天使向导说：“这十个人已经被邀请进入这个天堂，看到了它的喜乐，从而对永恒的幸福获得了新的观念。因此，请向他们讲述一些影响身体感官的喜乐；稍后会有一些智者来，他们会讲述这些喜乐如何成为祝福和幸福的喜乐。”听到这话，从城里邀请来的人提到了以下例子：
（1）在这个社群里，君主会安排一些节日，以缓解竞争的热情可能给一些人带来的心智疲劳。在这些日子里，公共广场上有音乐会和演唱会，城外有体育运动和舞台表演。广场上会搭建起舞台，舞台周围是由交织的葡萄藤蔓构成的格子网，藤蔓上挂着串串葡萄。这个格子网里面有三排座位，一排在另一排之上，上面坐着音乐家，他们有各种弦乐器和管乐器，涵盖了从高音到低音的声谱，音色从响亮到柔和不等。音乐家的两边有男歌手和女歌手，他们以独唱和合唱的形式，用最优美、最甜蜜的赞美诗和歌曲来取悦市民；在表演的过程中，他们时不时地转向不同类型的音乐。在这些日子里，这样的音乐从早晨持续到中午，然后一直持续到晚上。
（2）此外，每天早晨，从广场周围的房子里都会听到女孩和少女们最甜美的歌声，响彻整个城市。每天早晨，属灵之爱的某种特定情感就被歌唱，也就是说，这首歌通过音乐上的修改和调整来表达这种情感；这种情感在歌声中被感知到，仿佛这歌声就是情感本身。它流入听众的灵魂，激发他们里面与之相对应的情感；这就是天堂的歌声，或它的性质。这些歌手说，她们的歌声从里面获得灵感和活力，并照着听众接受它的程度而被提升到喜乐的高度。当歌声停止时，广场和街道上的房屋都关闭门窗，整个城市一片寂静；到处都听不到噪音，也看不见游手好闲的人；然后，所有人都专注于履行他们的工作职责。
（3）中午，门开了，下午，一些地方的窗户也开了；只见男孩和女孩在街上玩耍，他们的保姆和老师坐在房子的门廊上看护他们。
（4）在城市郊区，男孩和青少年从事各种运动，如竞走和球类运动，以及球被来回击打的网球运动。男孩之间还有公开比赛或技能测试，以确定在说话、行动和理解方面，谁更快，谁更慢；更快的会得到月桂花环作为奖励；还有其它许多方法可以激发男孩的潜能。
（5）再举一个例子。城外的舞台上也有戏剧表演。在那里，演员们演出了道德生活的礼节或优雅和美德；为了进行对比，其中一些演员扮演低级角色。十个人中的一个问道：“为什么进行对比？”他们回答说：“任何美德及其礼节和优雅都不可能以一种活生生的方式展现出来，除非依次表现出它们的不同形式或层次，从最大直到最小。这些演员会演出这些形式，甚至最小的形式，直到它们变成无。但律法规定，他们不可以展现出与它们对立的任何东西，即不得体和可耻的东西，除非间接地或比喻式地，可以说遥远地来展现。律法之所以如此规定，是因为任何美德中的得体和良善之物都无法经过连续阶段变成不得体和邪恶之物，而是会减少，直到它荡然无存；当它荡然无存时，对立面就开始了。因此，天堂和地狱毫无共同之处，因为在天堂，一切事物都是得体和良善的，而在地狱，一切事物都是不得体和邪恶的。”
745. When the angel's group returned to their rooms, what the prince had just ordered was done. People from the city arrived who had been summoned to entertain the guests with conversation about the various modes of recreation in that community. After they met and greeted the newcomers, they all went for a walk together, enjoying a good conversation.
The angel guide then said [to the people from the city], "These ten people were invited to this heaven to see the nature of our joys here and to develop a new concept of eternal happiness. Tell them, if you would, some of the activities here that are rejuvenating for our bodily senses. Later on, we will be visiting with wise people, who are to inform them of some of the inward qualities that make these modes of recreation truly happy and joyful. "
In response to this the people from the city provided the following examples.
"First: There are festival days here, which are scheduled by the prince in order to relieve our minds of the stress and fatigue that tends to affect us if we become overly competitive. On festival days there is music and singing in the streets, and there are sporting events and shows outside the city. In the public squares stages are set up, framed by screens of latticework that have grapevines interwoven in them and bunches of grapes hanging down. Between these the musicians sit on three tiers. They have all kinds of stringed instruments and wind instruments that cover the spectrum from treble to bass, with timbres ranging from soft to sharp. On either side of the musicians there are male and female vocalists, who entertain the audience with excellent songs and praises, in solos and as a choir. Now and then during the performance they will shift to a different type of music. On festival days, entertainments like this will start early and go all morning; then after a break for lunch they will continue through the afternoon into the evening.
[2] "Second: As another example, every morning from the houses around the public squares you hear girls and young women singing songs of great sweetness. The sound fills the entire city. Each morning the song embodies one particular feeling related to spiritual love. That is, the way the voices sound and the mode the song is in convey a given feeling so well that we experience the song as that feeling itself. The song flows into our souls as we listen and stirs in us the feeling it corresponds to. This is the nature of songs in heaven. The singers tell us that as those listening become more receptive, the sound of the song becomes more inspired, inwardly alive, and beautiful.
"When the song is over, the windows of the houses around the central square and also on the side streets are closed, and then so are the doors. Silence fills the entire city. No noise is heard anywhere, and no one is seen out of doors. All are then focused on doing the work that their jobs entail.
[3] "Third: At midday the doors are opened. A little later, some of the windows are opened as well. Then you see boys and girls playing in the streets, under the supervision of their caregivers and teachers, who sit on the porches of their houses.
[4] "Fourth: On the outskirts of the city there are various sporting activities for teenagers and young adults. There are games that involve a lot of running, games with balls, games with rackets. There are also contests in the arena for teenagers in order to see who is quicker or slower at speaking, taking action, and perceiving. Those who are quicker are awarded a laurel wreath as their prize. There are also many other activities designed to bring out the young people's hidden talents.
[5] "Fifth: For yet another example, outside the city comedies are performed on stage. The players in them represent the various honorable and virtuous attitudes that go to make up a moral life. For the sake of contrast, some of the actors will play buffoons. "
At this point one of the ten newcomers asked, "Why for contrast?"
"No virtue, or the honorable and appropriate actions that go with it, can be brought out in a living way without showing different levels of it from greatest to least. The buffoons represent the least level of that moral quality, just on the edge of no morality at all. It is actually forbidden by law, however, to portray the opposite of that moral quality - to depict behavior that is blatantly dishonorable or shows bad taste; that can only be implied or shown in some remote and indirect way. The reason for this prohibition is that there is no continuum that includes both behavior that is honorable and good, arising out of some virtue, and behavior that is dishonorable and evil. What is good and honorable diminishes to the least amount of it, and then comes to an end. Its opposite only starts up beyond the point at which that virtue has completely ceased to exist. Therefore heaven, where all things are honorable and good, has absolutely nothing in common with hell, where all things are dishonorable and evil. "
745. When they got back, this was done. Those who had been called in to entertain them by talking about the community's varied joys arrived from the town. After greeting them they engaged in polite conversation as they walked together. The angel guide told them that these ten men had been invited to this heaven to see its joys, and so to form a new idea of everlasting happiness. 'So tell them,' he said, 'something about its joys which affect the bodily senses. Later on the wise men will come to tell them some things that turn these joys into bliss and happiness.'
On hearing this the people sent from the town told them the following: 'There are here holidays proclaimed by the prince to give mental relaxation from the weariness which some feel as the result of longing not to be outdone. On these days there are concerts of music and singing in the squares, and outside the town sports and theatrical performances. At this time the squares are equipped with galleries surrounded by balustrades of interwoven vines, from which hang bunches of grapes. Amongst these, musicians sit in three tiers with string and wind instruments, some high and some low-pitched, some loud and some gentle-sounding, with at either side singers of either sex. These entertain the citizens with the most delightful hymns and songs, either in choirs or as solos, varying the genre from time to time. On holidays these performances last from morning till noon, and then through the afternoon till evening.
[2] (2) In addition, every morning there are to be heard coming from the houses round the squares the sweetest singing by maidens and girls', which echoes all through the town. There is one affection of spiritual love which is the subject of a daily song. That is to say, the affection is to be heard in the variations and modulations of the singing voice, and it is felt in the singing as if it were actually present. It flows into the souls of the audience, and rouses them to corresponding feelings. Such is the nature of singing in heaven. These singers say that the sound of their singing as it were inspires them and excites them inwardly, making them pleasurably uplifted, in proportion to the reactions of their listeners. When this is over, the windows and doors of the houses in the squares and streets are shut, and there is silence throughout the town, nor is there noise to be heard anywhere, nor are people to be seen wandering about. All then apply themselves to performing the task of their occupations.
[3] (3) But at noon the doors are opened, and in the afternoon the windows too in some places, so that they can watch the boys and girls playing in the streets under the eyes of their nurses and masters, who sit in the porches of the houses.
[4] (4) At the outermost edges of the town there are fields for various sports for boys and youths. There are races and games played with balls. There are games played with balls bouncing off walls, what is called rackets. There are competitions among the boys to see who is more and who less energetic in speaking, acting and seizing the point. The more energetic get a few laurel leaves as their prize. There are many other sports intended to develop latent skills in the boys.
[5] (5) In addition, there are actors who put on performances in theatres outside the town. These display the various kinds of honourable and virtuous action which take place in civilised society. There are some among them who are actors who show contrasts.' 'What do you mean,' said one of the ten, 'by showing contrasts?' 'No virtue,' they replied, 'can be vividly displayed with all its fine and proper sentiments, except by contrasts between degrees of virtue varying from maximum to minimum. These actors portray the minimum of virtues, until they become zero. But there is a firm rule that they are not to show anything of their opposites, what are called dishonourable and improper actions, except figuratively and as it were seen from a long way off. The reason this rule is laid down is that nothing decent and good in any virtue can by successive steps change into what is indecent and evil; but it decreases more and more until it ceases to exist, and at that point the opposite begins. Heaven, therefore, where everything is decent and good, has nothing in common with hell, where everything is indecent and evil.'
745. When they had returned to their apartments this was done. Men invited from the city came to entertain them with conversation on the various joys of the society; and after the usual greetings they conversed with them agreeably, as they walked. But their angelic guide said, "These ten men have been invited into this heaven to behold its joys, and thereby to acquire a new idea of eternal happiness. Recount to them, therefore, some of its joys which affect the bodily senses; afterwards some wise men are to come who will mention some of the things that render those joys satisfactory and delightful."
Hearing this, the men invited from the city mentioned the following: (1) There are days of festivity appointed here by the prince, to relieve the mind of the fatigue which the passion of emulation may have brought upon some. On these days there are musical and vocal concerts in the public squares, and outside of the city there are games and shows; music stands are also raised in the public squares, surrounded by lattice-work of interwoven vines, from which hang clusters of grapes; while within this lattice-work, on three rows of seats, one above another, sit musicians with stringed and wind instruments, high-toned and low-toned, some powerful and some sweet; and at the sides are singers of both sexes, delighting the citizens with the sweetest jubilees and songs, choruses and solos, varied in character at intervals. On these days of festivity all this is continued from morning until noon, and then again until evening.
[2] (2) Moreover, every morning there are heard from the houses about the squares the sweetest songs of girls and maidens, with which the whole city resounds. Each morning some one affection of spiritual love is sung, that is, is expressed by modifications or modulations of the voice in singing, and that affection is perceptible in the singing as if it were the affection itself. It flows into the souls of the hearers, and stirs them to a correspondence with it. Such is heavenly singing. The singers say that the sound of their song inspires and animates them from within, as it were, and exalts them with joy in the measure of its reception by their hearers. When the singing ceases, the windows of the houses on the squares are closed, and also those of the houses on the streets, and the doors also, and then the whole city is silent; there is no noise anywhere, and no wandering idlers are seen; all thus prepared then enter upon the duties of their employments.
[3] (3) At noon the doors are opened, and in the afternoon in some places the windows also, and the boys and girls are seen playing in the streets, their nurses and teachers sitting in the porches of the houses keeping watch over them.
[4] (4) In the outskirts of the city, there are various games of boys and young men; there are foot-races and games of ball, and what is called tennis, with the balls struck back and forth; there are public contests among the boys to determine who is the quicker and who the slower in speaking, acting, and understanding; and to the quicker some laurel leaves are given as a reward, with many other methods of calling out the latent abilities of the boys.
[5] (5) And again, outside the city there are theatrical exhibitions, where players represent the various proprieties and virtues of moral life; with players among them of lower parts for the sake of what is relative."
One of the ten asked, "Why for the sake of what is relative?"
They replied, "No virtue with its proprieties and graces can be presented in a living way except by an exhibition of what is relative from its greatest to its least phases. These players represent the least phases even till they become none. But it is provided by law that nothing opposite, which is called improper and unbecoming, shall be exhibited, except figuratively and as it were remotely. It is so provided, because nothing that is proper and good in any virtue can pass by successive steps to what is improper and evil, but only to its least phase until it perishes; and when it perishes the opposite begins. Therefore, heaven, where all things are proper and good, has nothing in common with hell, where all things are improper and evil."
745. The prince's instructions were carried out; and when the guests returned from the banquet some men from the city were asked to come to entertain them with conversation respecting the various joys of the society. When they arrived they exchanged the customary salutations, and engaged in pleasant discourse as they walked about. But the angel said: "These ten men were invited to this heaven to learn of its joys, and thus to receive a new idea of eternal happiness. Describe, then, some of its joys which affect the bodily senses. Some wise men will come later, who will tell how these become the joys of blessing and happiness." On hearing this, those who were invited from the city gave the following account:
1. In this society there are days of festivity appointed by the prince, for the mental relaxation of some from fatigue induced by their eagerness to excel in service. On these days there are musical performances and singing in public places, and outside the city, sports and stage shows. In the public places are raised platforms surrounded with balustrades of interwoven vines, from which hang bunches of grapes. Within the lattice-work in three tiers sit the musicians with stringed and wind instruments, high toned and low toned, loud and soft; and at the sides are singers of both sexes, who delight the citizens with most beautiful hymns and songs, choruses and solos, in varied succession. This music continues on these festive days from morn till noon, and then till evening.
[2] 2. Moreover, every morning from the houses round the public places there are heard the sweetest songs of maidens and young girls, which resound throughout the whole city. Each morning the song, by musical modifications or modulations, expresses a particular affection of spiritual love; and this is perceived in the singing as though this affection were actually present. It flows into the minds of the hearers, and awakens in them a corresponding emotion; for this is the nature of heavenly song. These singers say that the sound of their singing is inspired and animated from within, and is raised to joyous exaltation according to its reception by the hearers. When the singing is ended, the windows and doors of the houses round the markets and public places are closed, and silence reigns throughout the whole city. No noise is heard anywhere, and no one is seen wandering about the streets, but all are intent upon the duties of their employment.
[3] 3. At noon the doors are opened, and in the afternoon the windows of some of the houses also; and boys and girls are seen playing in the streets, while their nurses and teachers sit in the porches of the houses, watching over them.
[4] 4. In the outskirts of the city boys and youths engage in various sports, such as foot races, games of ball and rackets. There are also trials of skill among the boys to test their quickness in speech, action and perception; and those who excel receive as a reward a wreath of laurel; and there are many other ways of calling forth their latent talents.
[5] 5. There are also outside the city dramatic performances on stages when the various graces and virtues of the moral life are portrayed by actors, some of whom are chosen for their ability to play graded parts. 1 One of the ten asked, "What is meant by graded parts?" The spokesman replied: "It is not possible to represent fully any virtue with its graces and proprieties unless by portraying these in sequence from their greatest to their least forms; and actors portray these forms as long as any virtue remains in them. It is provided by law, however, that they should not portray anything that is opposed to these, namely, what is disgraceful and improper, unless indirectly, and, as it were, remotely. It is so provided because nothing that is honorable and good in any virtue passes by successive stages into what is dishonorable and evil: it diminishes till nothing of it remains, and then its opposite begins to make its appearance. Therefore, heaven, where all things are honorable and good, has nothing in common with hell, where all things are dishonorable and evil."
Footnotes:
1. Sunt histriones propter relationes. The idea would appear to be that actors are chosen to represent forms of graces and proprieties as these vary from the highest to the lowest, and as these are the lowest, and as these are related in sequence from highest to lowest. Relatio in Swedenborg generally indicates relativity, with reference to the sequence in which things spiritual and material stand to one another, and not the idea of relation as a narrative. 763.
745. Cum redierunt, factum est ita, et vocati ex urbe, qui sermone de variis gaudiis Societatis oblectarent illos, venerunt, et hi post salutationes ambulando loquebantur elegantias cum illis: sed Angelus ductor illorum dixit, quod decem hi viri invitati sint in hoc Coelum, ut videant Gaudia ejus, et inde novam ideam de Felicitate aeterna recipiant; commemorate ergo aliqua de gaudiis ejus, quae afficiunt sensus corporis; postea venturi sunt Sapientes, qui memorabunt aliqua, quae illa gaudia reddunt fausta et felicia; his auditis vocati ex urbe commemorabant haec. [1.] Sunt hic dies festivitatis indicti a Principe, ut animi relaxentur a defatigatione, quam cupiditas aemulationis aliquibus induxerat; his diebus sunt Harmoniae musicae et Cantus in foris, et extra urbem Ludi et Spectacula; in Foris tunc sunt elevatae Orchestrae circumductae cancellis consertis ex vitibus, e quibus pendent botri, intra quos in tribus elevationibus sedent Musici cum instrumentis chordae, et cum instrumentis soni, vocis altae et vocis humilis, ac vocis strenuae et vocis blandae, et ad latera sunt Cantores et Cantrices, et cum amaenissimis jubilis et cantibus, mixtis et solis, per intervalla quoad species variatis, cives oblectant; haec ibi diebus illis festivitatis a mane ad meridiem, et post hanc ad vesperam, persistunt.
[2] Praeterea unoquovis mane e domibus circum Fora audiuntur suavissimi Cantus virginum et puellarum, ex quibus tota urbs personat; est una affectio amoris spiritualis, quae quovis mane cantatur, hoc est, per modificationes vocis canorae seu modulationes sonatur, et affectio illa in cantu percipitur sicut ipsa foret; influit in audientium animas, et excitat illas ad correspondentiam; talis est cantus coelestis; dicunt cantrices, quod sonus cantus illarum se sicut inspiret et animet ex interiori, et jucunde exaltet, secundum receptionem ab audientibus: hoc finito, clauduntur fenestrae domuum Fori, et simul domuum platearum, et quoque januae, et tunc silet tota urbs, nec ullibi auditur clamor, nec apparent vagabundi; omnes tunc accincti obeunt munia suorum officiorum.
[3] At tempore meridiei aperiuntur januae, et post meridiem etiam alicubi fenestrae, et spectantur ludi puerorum et puellarum in plateis, moderantibus illos alumnis et magistris illorum, sedentibus in porticibus domuum.
[4] Ad latera urbis in ejus extremis, sunt varii ludi puerorum et adolescentum; sunt ludi cursorii, sunt ludi cum pilis; sunt ludi cum pilaminibus repercussis, rachets 1 vocatis; sunt certamina palaestrica inter pueros, quis impigrior et quis pigrior loquendo, agendo et percipiendo; et pro impigrioribus aliqua folia laurus in praemium; praeter plura alia, quae sunt excitatoria habilitatum in pueris latentium.
[5] Insuper extra urbem sunt Spectacula comoedorum super theatris, repraesentantium varias vitae moralis honestates et virtutes, inter quos etiam sunt histriones propter relationes; et quaesivit unus ex decem, quid propter relationes, et responderunt, non potest aliqua virtus cum ejus honestis et decoris sisti ad vivum, nisi per relativa ab illorum maximis ad minima; histriones repraesentant minima illorum usque dum fiunt nulla; sed lege sancitum est, ne aliquid oppositi, quod vocatur inhonestum et indecorum, nisi figurate et sicut e longinquo exhibeant: quod ita sancitum sit, est causa, quia non aliquod honestum et bonum alicujus virtutis per successivas progressiones transit ad inhonestum et malum, sed ad minima ejus usque dum perit, et cum perit inchoat oppositum; quare Coelum, ubi omnia honesta et bona sunt, nihil commune habet cum inferno, ubi omnia inhonesta et mala sunt.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: rachets.