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768 [Doc. 302 .
ANECDOTES AND MISCELLANIES.
I.
CONCERNING ODOURS.*
[The odours in hell] are like those of the various wild
beasts, of mice, cats, dogs, foxes, wolves, panthers, bears,
tigers, or swine. Further, like the stench of the excrements
of these beasts, and also of man; like the bad odour of
stagnant waters, and marshes; like that of various dead bodies ;
like that of various putrid substances ; like that of privies,
urinals, and snakes ; like the bad smell of dregs, and of
vomit ; like the smell of various he-goats. These they sniff in
with their noses, and by their eyes are led to the places,
whence they emanate. When they scent the sphere of matri
mony, they are affected with nausea, or become lustful.
In heaven are fragrances from herbs, from various trees,
from apples, pears, oranges, olives, grapes. There is an
odour as from their leaves ; as from the various cereals ; and
the various kinds of wine and must. There is a perfume as
from newly baked bread and cakes ; as from various flowers ;
as from various useful trees in groves and forests ; as from
honey. There is an aroma as from frankincense, and various
other ingredients. The sphere of infants, and of the angels,
is changed into such perfumes in heaven.
Wild beasts on earth are consociated according to their
odours ; they know those of their own kind by their smell ;
likewise their enemies. From the odour they know their food.
The bees fly directed by their sense of smell, likewise butterflies.
The infernals shun heavenly perfumes, and the inhabitants
of heaven the stenches of hell. On this account all domi
ciles in hell are closed. For this reason the children of Is
rael were commanded to carry their excrements outside of
their camp, and to bury them there. When the dwellings in
hell are opened they excite nausea and a desire to vomit ;
which has been several times experienced by myself. The
stenches of hell are sweet-scented to their nostrils ; and, on
the contrary, the perfumes of heaven ill-scented. Sympathy
and antipathy originate thence. Man is not affected by these
* See original MS., p. 7.
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