A journey to the world under-ground
The Reason of this strange Custom is this. Experience taught them,
that Judges were often corrupted by Presents, or sway’d by Partiality.
These Temptations they think they effectually remove, if the Parties
are conceal’d, if the Names of the Plaintiff and Defendant, together
with the Names of the Lands or Estates litigated, be all unknown. The
Reasons and Arguments alone are sent, at the Discretion of the Prince,
to whatever Court of Justice he thinks fit, with certain Marks and
Characters; for Example, “_Whether_ A _who is in Possession, ought to
restore the Thing possess’d at the Suit and Motion of_ B.” I should
rejoice to find such a Custom introduc’d among us, since we often
experience the fatal Force of Corruption and Partiality in the Minds of
our Judges.
Justice in general is freely administer’d without Respect of Persons.
Against the Prince only no Action can lie during his Life, but upon
his Death the publick Accusers, or (if one may so call them) the
Council for the Kingdom, cite him to Judgment. There in full Senate
the Actions of the departed Monarch are strictly examin’d, and at
length Sentence is pronounc’d, which according to the Merit of the
Deceas’d is distinguish’d by different Words and Characters, such as
these, _Laudably_; _Not illaudably_; _Well_; _Not ill_; _Tolerably_;
_Indifferently_; which Words are proclaim’d aloud to the People, and
afterwards engrav’d on the Monument of the Deceas’d. The _Potuans_
give this Account of that Custom: That the Prince while living cannot
be proceeded against without great Commotions and Disturbances; for
that during his Life a perfect Obedience and inviolable Veneration
should still be paid him, which indeed is the very Basis of Government.
But when that Obligation is dissolv’d by Death, the Subjects then
have Liberty to call his Actions to a strict Account. Thus by this
salutary, tho’ very paradoxical Law, the Security of the Sovereign
is provided for, his Authority not at all invaded, and the Welfare of
the People at the same Time promoted. For these Characters, tho’ given
to the Dead, are to the Living so many Spurs to Virtue. The _Potuan_
Histories for four hundred Years afford only two Instances of Princes
who bore the last mention’d Character, that is, that of _Indifferent_.
All the others obtain’d either the _Laudable_ or the _Not illaudable_
Character, as appears from the Inscriptions upon their sepulchral
Monuments, which have escap’d the Injuries of Time. The Character of
_Indifferent_, which in the _Potuan_ Language is call’d _Rip-fac-si_,
causes such Grief in the Royal Family, that the Successor of the
deceas’d Prince, with all his Kindred, mourn for six whole Months. And
so far are the Heirs from resenting the odious Character given by the
Judges, that it becomes a new Incentive to them to signalize themselves
by noble and worthy Actions, and to efface the Infamy of the Family by
a Conduct full of Virtue, Prudence, Justice and Moderation.
The Cause why one of the two Princes above-mention’d had the Title
of _Indifferent_ given him, was this: The _Potuans_ are a brave and
warlike People; they never declare War themselves, but if War be
declar’d against them they push it with all imaginable Vigour. By these
Means they are the Umpires between contending Nations, and the several
Kingdoms of this Globe submit to their mild and pacific Sway. But a
Prince, by Name _Mikleta_, seiz’d with the Ambition of extending his
Dominions, made War upon a neighbouring Kingdom, and subdued it. But
as much as the victorious _Potuans_ gain’d by the Conquest, so much
they lost of their ancient Renown; the Love of the bordering Nations
was now chang’d into Dread and Jealousy; and that high Idea of their
Justice, by which the State grew into Reputation, was now vanish’d. The
_Potuans_ finding this, to regain the lost Affections of their angry
Neighbours, branded the Memory of the deceas’d Prince with this Mark of
Infamy. What the Crime of the other _indifferent_ Prince was, is not
altogether so clear.
Their publick Doctors or Teachers are such as have attain’d to the
third Age. To explain this it must be observ’d, that here Life is
divided into three Ages. The first is that in which they are instructed
in publick Affairs. In the second they publickly pursue and exercise
what they have learnt. And in the third, being honourably dismiss’d
from their Employments, they then take upon them the Instruction of
the Juniors. Hence, none have a Right to teach in publick but such as
are grown old in the Administration of publick Affairs, since none are
so capable of laying down solid Rules as those who have drawn their
Knowledge from long Experience.
If any one already infamous for the Immorality of his Life should
however give wholesome Advice to the State, the Name of the Person is
suppress’d, lest it should lose its Effect from the Character of its
Author, and the Decree pursuant to such Advice is shelter’d under the
Name of some more honourable Person. Thus the good Opinion is known,
and the bad Author conceal’d.
I was inform’d, that with respect to Religion, it was prohibited to
dispute about the prime Articles of Faith, particularly about the
Essence and Attributes of the Deity. But as to all other Points,
it is free for every one to propose their Opinions and engage in
Controversies. For, say they, the Inconveniences which arise from such
Contentions may be compar’d to Storms, which indeed throw down Houses,
but at the same Time cleanse the Air, and prevent that Putrefaction
which would arise from a stagnant Atmosphere. The Reason of their
having few Holidays, is, lest a Spirit of Idleness should creep upon
them; for the _Potuans_ believe that good People as duly worship God
when employ’d in useful Labours, as they do by Vows and Prayers.
The Study of Poetry meets with but cold Encouragement; yet they are not
altogether destitute of Poets. But the subterranean Poetry differs from
Prose only in the Sublimity of Style; and they receiv’d what I told
them concerning our Rhime and Measure with the utmost Derision.
Among the _Potuan_ Doctors some are call’d _Professors of Taste_. It
is their Province to see that the Minds of the Youth are not employ’d
in senseless Controversies and Things of no Use; to take Care that
no trivial and vulgar Writings get abroad to poison and debauch the
Taste; and to suppress or blot out from every Book whatever is writ in
Defiance of common Sense. And to this End alone certain Persons are
appointed to revise and censure Books; far otherwise than it is in our
World, where the Licensers of Books shall suppress the very best, only
perhaps because they deviate something from the reigning Opinions,
from the receiv’d Manner of Expression, or because they lash the Vices
of the Age with too strong a Sincerity, and too fine a Vivacity. By
this Means, great Geniuses are in a Manner suffocated and stifled,
and Writings of a good Stamp are for ever buried. But yet, as the
_Potuans_ have a free Commerce with the Neighbour Nations, among other
Commodities, some Books of a poor and trivial Turn will creep abroad.
Upon which Account Censors are appointed by the State, who from Time to
Time visit the Booksellers Shops. These are call’d _Syla-Macati_, that
is, _Purgers of Booksellers Shops_. For as among us there is a certain
Sort of Men, who brush and cleanse our Chimnies once a Year, so those
Censors, who pry and examine into the Books that are put to Sale,
cleanse away all the Dregs, that is, such Books, or Parts of Books,
as would deprave the Taste, and convey them to the Jaques. Bless me!
said I to myself, What Havock would be made among our Books, if such an
Institution were to take Place among us!
But what cannot be enough commended, is the Care they take in sounding
the Genius of their Youth, in order to know what Course of Life they
will be fittest for. For as in Musick a judicious Ear distinguishes
every little Sound; in the same Manner these piercing Judges of
the Virtues and Vices of the Mind, form their Sentiments from some
seemingly inconsiderable Hints, from perhaps a Cast of the Eye, from a
Frown, from Dejection, Mirth, Laughter, Speech, and even Silence. ’Tis
by these Things they easily know every one’s Propensity, and also what
is contrary to his Constitution.
But to return to what concerns myself. I pass’d my Time, it may be
well imagin’d, not in the most agreeable Manner with these paradoxical
Trees, who treated me with Disdain upon Account of that too forward
and unsettled Judgment which they imputed to me. I grew impatient
under those Scoffs they were ever flinging out; for they even went so
far, as to give me the Nick-name of _Skabba_, which in their Language
signifies _over-hasty_. But what chagrin’d me most, was that my very
Laundress, tho’ of the Dregs of the Populace, and one of the most
miserable and indigent Trees herself, did not even scruple to call me
by that Name of Reproach.
CHAP. IX.
_The Author’s Journey round the Planet_
+Nazar.+
Having continued in the unpleasing Employment of King’s Messenger for
two whole Years, and carry’d the Royal Mandates and Letters Patents to
every Province of the Empire, I at last grew tir’d of so troublesome
and so unworthy an Office. Accordingly I again and again petition’d his
Serene Highness to grant me an honourable Dismission, and at the same
Time sollicited a more reputable Employment. But I met with nothing
but Repulses from his Highness, whose constant Reply was, that a more
important Office was above my Strength and Capacity. He alledg’d also,
that the Laws and Customs of the Country were Death to my Hopes, in
that they admitted only fit and proper Persons to the most eminent and
arduous Posts of Government; that therefore I must make a Virtue of
Necessity, and rest myself contented, till I had done something to
merit better Fortune. He concluded his Advice in Terms like those of
the Poet,
_Metiri se quemque suo modulo ac pede fas est.
E cœlo magnum descendit Nosce teipsum,
Figendum ac memori tractandum pectore._
These repeated Refusals were enough to throw me upon the most daring
and desperate Designs. From that Day forward my Invention was upon the
Rack to produce something, that should demonstrate the Excellence of
my Genius, and wipe away my present Infamy. Accordingly, for a whole
Year I study’d the Laws and Customs of the Country with an invincible
Application, resolv’d to discover, whether there were in them any
Defects that requir’d a Reformation. I open’d my Design to a certain
Bush, with whom I had contracted a close Intimacy, and with whom I
us’d to converse very freely upon all Subjects, whether grave or gay.
He thought my Design not altogether absurd, but extremely question’d,
whether it would be of any Service to the State. He added, that it
should be the Care of a Reformer, to be a thorough Master of the
Nature and Genius of the Country he intends to reform; because the
same Thing might, in different Countries, produce different Effects,
as the same Medicine may be good for some Bodies, and pernicious to
others. He likewise inform’d me of the Danger I expos’d myself to in
this Experiment, that no less than my Life depended on it, which
must be a Forfeit to the State, should my Project have the Misfortune
to be condemn’d by the Judges. He therefore ardently intreated me to
bestow a little more Reflexion on this Affair; tho’ he did not plainly
dissuade me from my Attempt, since he thought it not impossible, that a
Sagacity, like mine, might at length discover something useful, as well
to myself, as to the State. I took the Advice of my Friend, and for a
Time laid aside my Scheme, and with a laudable Patience continued to