Changes

}}

}}

{{Style S-Small capitals |The}} opinions of the ancients as to the disposal of the soul are curious and interesting; but here their value ceases. They imagined that the soul wandered about in the air till such time as the body obtained its due funeral rites. From this notion the friends were concerned to see the funeral pile erected for their departed friends, and to have the body honorably burnt. Then the ashes of the bones were deposited in an urn, and that urn buried in the earth. When this was done the soul was admitted to pass the flood, to be transported into the elysian fields, from whence they never should return any more. Hut in case these rites were not performed for any person, the soul wandered restless and unfixed, in a state of perplexity, for one hundred years.

{{Style S-Small capitals |The}} opinions of the ancients as to the disposal of the soul are curious and interesting; but here their value ceases. They imagined that the soul wandered about in the air till such time as the body obtained its due funeral rites. From this notion the friends were concerned to see the funeral pile erected for their departed friends, and to have the body honorably burnt. Then the ashes of the bones were deposited in an urn, and that urn buried in the earth. When this was done the soul was admitted to pass the flood, to be transported into the elysian fields, from whence they never should return any more. But in case these rites were not performed for any person, the soul wandered restless and unfixed, in a state of perplexity, for one hundred years.

Now between this time, or during this interval—that is to say, between death and the funeral pile—they admitted the disembodied souls of men might appear, and visit their friends or harass their enemies.

Now between this time, or during this interval—that is to say, between death and the funeral pile—they admitted the disembodied souls of men might appear, and visit their friends or harass their enemies.