Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 5.djvu/148

 hold; the evil sometimes prospered while the good experienced misfortunes. That was because the "Spirits of Crookedness" were occasionally able to defy the "Spirits of Benevolence." But, on the whole, the hatred of the "Invisible Gods" was assured to wrong-doers. "The deities bestow blessings and happiness on him that practises virtue as effectually as though they appeared before us bearing treasures. And even if the virtuous do not obtain material recompense, they enjoy exemption from disease, good fortune, and longevity, and their descendants prosper. Pay no attention to the praise or blame of fellow-men, but act so that you need not be ashamed before the Gods of the Unseen. If you desire to practise true virtue, learn to stand in awe of the Unseen, and that will prevent you from doing wrong. Make a vow to the God that rules over the Unseen, and cultivate the conscience implanted in you, and thus you will never wander from the Way."

But if virtue might be expected to bring some recompense in this world, fear of eternal punishment did not reinforce the prompting of conscience, nor did hope of reward beyond the grave constitute a dominant incentive to well-doing. An under-world did, indeed, find a place in the system. The "August Creator" descended to it in search of his spouse after her demise in travail of fire. The God of the Sea, weary of banish-