A journey to the world under-ground
suspended in Air, but (what was very marvellous to behold) it describ’d
a little circular Motion round my own Body. And from thence I learnt
the true Laws of Motion, by which it comes to pass, that all Bodies
plac’d in Æquilibrium naturally affect a circular Motion. Upon this,
instead of deploring my Wretchedness, as I had done, for being thus
the Sport of Fortune, I began to plume a little, finding that I was
not only a simple Planet, but such a Planet as wou’d have a perpetual
Attendant conforming itself to my Motions, insomuch that I should
have the Honour to be reckon’d in the Number of the greater heavenly
Bodies or Stars of the first Magnitude. And to confess my Weakness, so
elated was I, that if I had then met any of our Consuls or Senators of
_Bergen_, I should have receiv’d them with a supercilious Air, should
have regarded them as Atoms, and accounted them unworthy to be saluted
or honoured with a Touch of my Harpoon.
For almost three Days I remain’d in this Condition. For as without any
Intermission I was whirl’d about the Planet that was next me, I could
distinguish Day from Night; and observing the subterraneous Sun to
rise, and set, and retire gradually out of my Sight, I could easily
perceive when it was Night, tho’ it was not altogether such as it is
with us. For at Sun-set the whole Face of the Firmament appear’d of
a bright Purple, not unlike the Countenance of our Moon sometimes.
This I took to be occasion’d by the inner Surface of our Earth, which
borrow’d that Light from the subterraneous Sun, which Sun was plac’d in
the Center. This Hypothesis I fram’d to myself, being not altogether a
Stranger to the Study of Astronomy.
But while I was thus amus’d with the Thoughts of being in the
Neighbourhood of the Gods, and was congratulating myself as a new
Constellation, together with my Satellite that surrounded me, and
hop’d in a short Time to be inserted in the Catalogue of Stars by the
Astronomers of the neighbouring Planet, behold! an enormous winged
Monster hover’d near me, sometimes on this Side, now on that Side,
and by and by over my Head. At first View I took it for one of the
twelve heavenly Signs in this new World, and accordingly hop’d, that,
if the Conjecture was right, it would be that of _Virgo_, since out
of the whole Number of the twelve Signs, that alone could yield me,
in my unhappy Solitude, some Delight and Comfort. But when the Figure
approach’d nearer to me, it appear’d to be a grim, huge Griffin. So
great was my Terror, that unmindful of my starry Dignity, to which
I was newly advanc’d, in that Disorder of my Soul, I drew out my
University-Testimonium, which I happen’d to have in my Pocket, to
signify to this terrible Adversary that I had pass’d my academical
Examination, that I was a graduate Student, and could plead the
Privilege of my University against any one that should attack me. But
my Disorder beginning to cool, when I came to myself, I could not but
condemn my Folly. For it was yet a Matter of Doubt to what Purpose
this Griffin should approach me, whether as an Enemy, or a Friend; or,
what is more likely, whether led by the sole Novelty of the Thing,
he had only a Mind to feast his Curiosity. For the Sight of a human
Creature whirling about in Air, bearing in his right Hand an Harpoon,
and drawing after him a great Length of Rope like a Tail, was really
a Phænomenon which might excite even a brute Creature to behold the
Spectacle. For the unusual Figure I then exhibited, gave to the
Inhabitants of the Globe, round which I revolv’d, an Occasion of divers
Conjectures and Conversations concerning me, as I afterwards learn’d;
for the Philosophers and Mathematicians would have me to be a Comet,
being positive that my Rope was the Tail; and some there were, who
from the Appearance of so rare a Meteor, prognosticated some impending
Misfortune, a Plague, a Famine, or some other such extraordinary
Catastrophe: Some also went further, and delineated my Figure, such
as it appear’d to them at that Distance, in very accurate Drawings;
so that I was describ’d, defin’d, painted and engrav’d before ever I
touch’d their Globe. All this I afterward heard with no small Pleasure,
and even Laughter, when I was convey’d to that Planet, and had learn’d
their Language.
It must be noted, that sometimes there appear new Stars, which the
Subterraneans call _Sciscisi_, or blazing Stars, which they describe
as something looking horrid with fiery Hair, and, after the Manner
of our Comets, bushy on the Top, so as that it projects in Form of a
long Beard; and these, as in our World, so in that, they are reckon’d
ominous.
But to resume my History. The Griffin advanc’d so near at last, as to
incommode me by the Flapping of his Wings, and even did not scruple to
attack my Leg with his Teeth, so that now it openly appear’d with what
Disposition he pursu’d me. Upon this I began to attack this troublesome
Animal with Arms, and grasping my Harpoon with both my Hands, I soon
curb’d the Insolence of my Foe, obliging him to look about for a Way
to escape; and at last, since he persisted to annoy me, I darted my
Harpoon with such a Force into the Back of the Animal between his
Wings, that I could not pull it out again. The wounded Griffin, setting
up a horrible Cry, fell headlong upon the Planet. As for myself, quite
weary of this starry Station, this new Dignity, which I saw expos’d to
infinite Hazards and Evils,
_Arbitrio volucris rapior, quoque impetus egit
Huc sine lege ruo, longoque per aera tractu
In terram feror, ut de cœlo stella sereno,
Etsi non cecidit, potuit cecidisse videri._
And now this circular Motion I had describ’d alter’d once more into
a perpendicular one. And being for some Time agitated and tost with
great Violence by the opposite Motions of a thicker Air, at length by
an easy, gentle Descent, I alighted upon the aforesaid Planet, together
with the Griffin, who soon after died of his Wound.
It was Night when I was convey’d to that Planet. This I could gather
from the sole Absence of the Sun, and not from the Darkness; for
there still remained so much Light, as that I could distinctly read
my University-Testimonium by it. That Light by Night arises from the
inward Surface of our Earth, whose Surface reflects a Light like that
of the Moon among us. And hence, with respect to Light alone, there is
little Difference between the Nights and Days, only that the Sun is
absent, and his Absence makes the Nights a little colder.
CHAP. II.
_His Descent upon the Planet_ Nazar.
Having thus finish’d this airy Voyage, and being set down upon the
Planet without the least Hurt, I lay for a considerable Time without
Motion, waiting till Day-break for the Event. ’Twas then I found the
usual Infirmities of Nature return, and that I stood in great Need
of Sleep as well as Food, insomuch that I repented I had so rashly
discarded my Loaf of Bread.
My Mind thus oppress’d with various Anxieties, at length I fell into
a profound Sleep, and had slept (as near as I could guess) two Hours,
when a horrible Bellowing interrupting my Sleep, at length entirely
dispell’d it. A strange Variety of Notions had fill’d my Brain during
this Sleep. I thought I was returned into _Norway_, and holding forth
among the Students according to Custom; and at one Time I imagin’d I
heard the Voice of the Deacon _Nicolas Andreas_ chanting in the Church
of _Fanöen_, just out of the City, and that it was the Noise of his
Voice, which according to Custom had so cruelly wounded my Ears. And
agreeably to this, when I awoke, I really thought it was his horrid
Voice that had disturb’d me. But when I saw a Bull standing near me,
then, indeed, I concluded my Rest had been broke by his Bellowing.
Presently throwing my Eyes around me, the Sun now rising, I beheld
every where green, fertile Plains and Fields; some Trees also appeared,
but (what was most amazing) they moved; tho’ such was the Silence and
Stillness of the Air at that Time, that it would not have moved the
lightest Feather from its Place. Immediately the Bull came roaring at
me, and I in my Terror and Consternation seeing a Tree just by me,
attempted to climb it; but when I got up into it, it uttered a fine
small Voice, tho’ something shrill, and not unlike an angry Lady’s;
and presently I receiv’d, as it were from the swiftest Hand, such a
Blow as quite stunn’d me, and laid me prostrate on the Ground. I was
almost expiring with this Thunderbolt of a Stroke, when I heard certain
confus’d Murmurings round me, like those in great Markets, or upon full
Change. Having opened my Eyes, I beheld all about me a whole Grove of
Trees, all in Motion, all animated, and the Plain overspread with Trees
and Shrubs, tho’ just before there were not above six or seven. ’Tis
not to be express’d what Disorders this produced in my Understanding,
and how much my Mind was shock’d with these Delusions: Sometimes I
thought I must certainly dream; sometimes I thought I was haunted by
Spectres and evil Spirits, and twenty absurder Things did I imagine;
but I had no Time to examine these Machines, or to inquire into their
Causes; for presently another Tree advancing to me, let down one of its
Branches, which had at the Extremity of it six large Buds in the Manner
of Fingers. With these the Tree took me up from the Ground, and carried
me off, attended by a Multitude of other Trees of various Kinds and
different Sizes, all which kept muttering certain Sounds, articulately
indeed, but in a Tone too foreign for my Ears, so that I could not
possibly retain any Thing of them, except these two Words, _Pikel Emi_,
which I heard them very often repeat. By these Words (as I afterward
understood) was meant, _A Monkey of an odd Shape_; because from the
Make of my Body, and Manner of Dress, they conjectur’d I was a Monkey,
tho’ of a Species different from the Monkeys of that Country. Others
took me for an Inhabitant of the Firmament, and that some great Bird
had transported me hither; a Thing that had once before happened, as
the History or Annals of that Globe can testify. But all these Things
I understood not till after the Space of some Months, in which Time I
became acquainted with the subterranean Language. For in my present
Circumstances, what thro’ Fear, and what through the Disorder of my
Intellects, I was quite regardless of myself, nor could conceive how
there could be any such Thing as living and speaking Trees, nor to
what Purpose was this Procession, which was very slow and solemn. But
yet the Voices and Murmurs with which all the Plains echoed seemed to
indicate Anger and Indignation; and in good Truth it was not without
ample Reason that they had conceived this Resentment against me; for
that very Tree, which I climb’d up in my Flight from the Bull, was
the Wife of the Prætor, or principal Magistrate of the next City; and
so the Quality of the Person injur’d aggravated the Crime; for it
look’d as if I had a Mind to violate not a Female of mean and plebeian
Birth, but a Matron of prime Rank, which was a most detested Spectacle
to a People of so venerable a Modesty as these were. At length we
arrived at the City to which I was led Captive. This City was equally
remarkable for its stately Edifices, and for the elegant Order and
Proportion of the Streets and Highways; so lofty were the Houses, that
they resembled so many Towers; the Streets too were full of walking
Trees, which by letting down their Branches saluted each other as
they met, and the greater Number of Branches or Boughs they dropt, the
greater was the Compliment. Thus when an Oak went out of one of the
most eminent Houses, the rest of the Trees drew back at his Approach,
and let down every one of their Branches; from whence it was easy to