A journey to the world under-ground
Means equal to my present Elevation, where I had the Charge of two
Empires, and almost twenty Kingdoms upon my Hands. The _Martinians_
had also remark’d, that the Ships of War I had built, were so rude and
clumsy, that in an Engagement they were of no manner of use against
a regular and well appointed Fleet, and that all my naval Glory was
to be ascrib’d solely to the Invention of Cannon. All these cutting
Remarks they industriously dispers’d, and at the same Time call’d to
Remembrance the Manner of my first Appearance in this Country, namely,
how I had escap’d from a Shipwreck, and being ready to perish with
Hunger, was taken up by the Inhabitants all in tatter’d Garments,
an Equipage surely very unsuitable to an Embassador of the Sun.
Add to this, that these same _Martinians_, being excellent natural
Philosophers, had now given the _Quamites_ a Tincture of Astronomy,
enough to know that the Sun was an inanimate Body, plac’d in the
Centre of the Heavens by the Almighty, to give Light and Heat to all
Creatures, and that as it was a Globe of Fire, it could of Consequence
be no proper Habitation for a mortal Man.
With these and other such unlucky Discourses, was I from Day to Day
distracted. But they were mere Murmurs; since nobody through fear of
my Power dar’d talk thus with any Degree of Openness. And in Reality,
I was a long Time ignorant that the Malevolence of my Subjects had
rose to such a Pitch, as to question my Condition, till at length I
was convinc’d of it by a Book compos’d in the _Canaliscan_ Tongue,
and publish’d with this Title, +The happy Shipwreck+. For I observ’d
before, that the _Canaliscans_ were perfect Artists at Satyr and
Reproaches, which were all the Weapons they wag’d War with. The Book
in Question comprehended all those Accusations, of which I have just
now given a Detail, and was wrote in a Stile the most severe and
sarcastical, that can well be imagin’d, according to the Genius of the
_Canaliscans_, who excel in this Manner of Writing.
But such was the Weakness of my Mind at this Juncture, such my vain
Presumption and Confidence of my own Power, that no Advices or
Remonstrances whatever could make me change my Conduct, or bring me to
my Senses. The most wholesome Counsels instead of checking, contributed
only to inflame my Cruelty. Wherefore those whom I had most Reason to
suspect, I put to the Torture to discover the Author of this Libel. But
all endur’d their Torture with an astonishing Firmness, insomuch, that
this Cruelty produced no other Effect, than to irritate the Spirits of
my People still more against me. Thus my Fate would have it, and I run
headlong to my Destruction.
In this State of Affairs I determin’d to sacrifice the surviving Prince
_Hicoba_. I open’d my Design to the High Chancellor _Kalac_, in whom I
plac’d great Confidence. He promised me all Obedience and Assistance,
and strait withdrew on Pretence of contriving the Means of putting
this Scheme in Execution. But detesting the Villany in his Heart,
he discover’d the Plot to the Prince. Both of them retir’d into the
Citadel, which was well fortify’d and there the Chancellor harangu’d
the Guards, and in the most pathetick Manner laid open their present
Condition. His Discourse, together with the Tears of the young Prince
which added considerable Weight to it, produc’d the desir’d Effect.
The Soldiers run to their Arms, and vow’d they would die to save their
Prince. Upon this the dexterous Chancellor did not give their Ardour
Time to cool, but persuaded them immediately to swear Allegiance to
their Prince, and then out of hand sent private Messengers to those
whom he knew to be exasperated against me, exhorting them to take
Arms against a Tyrant, who attempted the Extinction of the whole
Royal Progeny. Upon this all the Disaffected rose and join’d with
the Garison. While I was expecting the Return of the Chancellor, a
Messenger brought me the News of this grand Insurrection. My Friend
_Tomopoloko_ advis’d me by all Means to retreat to _Tanachin_. There,
says he, we can quickly raise an Army, and bring these Mutineers
to Reason. These Words produc’d in me various Agitations of Mind,
and Hope and Fear alternately govern’d me each Moment. At length in
Compliance with his Admonition I fled from _Quama_, and that with
little or no Difficulty, as the Bulk of the _Quamites_ were yet
unacquainted with the Reasons of this Sedition. Soon after this, I
return’d with an Army of forty thousand Soldiers, the greatest Part of
which were _Tanachites_, expecting a considerable Augmentation from
such _Quamites_ as continued in their Duty. But I deceiv’d myself
egregiously: For instead of those Auxiliaries I flatter’d myself with,
I met a Herald who brought me Letters from the Prince, to acquaint me,
that War was declar’d against me as an Usurper and Invader, and that my
Wife and Son were Prisoners of State. Soon after the Departure of the
Herald, I beheld the _Quamitic_ Army advancing with my young Rival at
their Head. As they had a fine Artillery, I would not run the Risque
of an Engagement, till I was reinforc’d with fresh Troops: Therefore I
made a Stop, and entrench’d myself in the best Manner I could. But when
I perceiv’d that my own Soldiers deserted to the Enemy, who besides
expected hourly new Supplies, I took Advice of my General Officers,
and resolv’d to engage directly; nor did _Tomopoloko_ oppose this
Resolution. We fought upon the same Plain, where some Years ago in a
decisive Battle the _Tanachites_ were entirely routed. The Enemy’s
Cannon now threw our Ranks into great Disorder, and it griev’d me
to the Soul to be baffled by my own Invention, and be conquer’d by
those very Arms I myself had devis’d. For a while however my Soldiers
sustained the Attack of the rebellious Army, till a Ball took off
_Tomopoloko_. Then every one lost his Courage, and we all turn’d our
Backs and fled to the Woods and Mountains. I, for my Part, climb’d to
the Top of a Rock, from whence I descended into the Valley on the other
Side. There I paus’d a while to curse my Fate, or rather my Folly,
and to pour out my Soul in Tears and Sighs. But, alas! it was all too
late. So great was the Disorder of my Spirits, that I forgot to throw
off my Diadem, which was the very thing that in all likelihood must
have discover’d me. After I had sat trembling for half an Hour in that
Valley, I heard the Voices of some Persons climbing the Rock, and
roaring out Vengeance against me if they found me. I then look’d all
round me for a Place to conceal myself in. There was hard by a deep
Wood overgrown with Trees and Bushes. I presently enter’d into it, and
having pick’d out something like a Path, I walk’d on till I came to a
Cave. Here I stopp’d some Moments to take Breath. By and by I crept
into the Cave, like a Serpent, upon my Belly, and as I perceiv’d it to
be very deep and shelving, yet of easy Descent, I resolv’d to penetrate
to the Bottom of it. But I had scarce walk’d a Quarter of a Mile, when
all on a Sudden I tumbled down, and as if Thunder drove me, was hurry’d
headlong through the thickest Darkness, till at last a faint glimmering
Light dawn’d in upon me. With the Increase of that Light the Force of
my Motion was proportionably diminish’d, so that by little and little,
and in the gentlest Manner, like a Person rising out of the Water, I
found myself among some Mountains, which to my unutterable Amazement, I
observ’d to be the very same from whence some Years ago I was hurry’d
down into the subterranean World. The Reason of that Abatement of my
Motion, I found after some Reflection to be owing to the Quality of
our Atmosphere, which is much denser, and consequently resists more
than the subterranean Atmosphere. Unless it were so, the same Thing
would have happen’d to me in my Ascent, as in my Descent, and in all
likelihood I must then have been carry’d aloft through the Air as far
as the Region of the Moon. Yet I submit this Hypothesis to the maturer
Examination of Philosophers.
CHAP. XVI.
_The_ +Author’s+ _Return into his own
Country_.
I lay for a considerable Time among the Mountains, almost destitute
of Sense. For my late violent Motion, together with that strange
Metamorphosis from a Founder of a fifth Monarchy, into a famish’d
Bachelor of Arts, had occasion’d very great Disorders in my Brain.
And, in Truth, my Adventure was so singular and so poetical, that it
might well shock the Frame of the soundest Head. In this Condition
I began to ask myself, whether what I saw was a Reality, or whether
it was not some visionary Deception. But my Distraction abating, and
returning by Degrees to my Senses, my Astonishment gave Place to
Grief and Indignation. And, indeed, turn over the Annals of remote
Antiquity, as well as those of modern Date, and you will not be able
to find a parallel Adventure with mine, unless perhaps in the Case
of _Nebuchadnezzar_, who from the greatest Monarch in the World, was
transform’d into a wild Creature, and liv’d like one of the Beasts
of the Field. Much the same Freaks of Fortune I experienc’d. For in
a few Hours two mighty Empires were wrested from me, together with
almost twenty Kingdoms, the Shadows and faint Images of which now only
remain’d. Lately I was a Monarch; and now the Utmost of my Hopes was to
procure the Mastership of some little School for my Subsistence. Lately
I was call’d the Embassador of the Sun; and now I fear’d Necessity
would drive me to become the Servant of some Bishop or Dean. But a
few Days ago Glory, Hope, Victory and Success attended my Steps; and
now Care and Misery, Tears and Lamentations are all my Companions. In
short, I resembled those Summer Herbs, which suddenly spring up, and as
suddenly die away; and to say all in one Word, Sorrow, Rage, Anxiety,
Disappointment, and Despair, rais’d such a Conflict in my Breast,
that sometimes I resolv’d to end my Being with my Sword, sometimes
I determin’d to plunge again into the Cavern to try if I could not
succeed better in a second Expedition. But a Regard for my immortal
Soul, and the Principles of the Christian Religion, restrained me from
these mad Attempts.
I now endeavour’d to descend the Mountain by that narrow Path which
leads to _Sandwic_. But my Imagination was so disturb’d, that I
stumbled almost every Step I took: For the whole Powers of my Mind
were taken up in contemplating upon the fifth Monarchy. This Idea
so constantly haunted me, that it almost unhing’d my Understanding.
And indeed the Loss of so much Dignity and Power, could never be
recompenc’d by any Advantages which my own Country could bestow.
For suppose they should make me Governor of _Bergen_, or what is
more, Lord-Lieutenant of _Norwey_, yet, alas! what Compensation, what
Comfort would this be to the Monarch and Founder of so many Empires and
Kingdoms? However, I resolv’d not to refuse a Thing of that Kind, in
case it should be offer’d me.
After I had got half way down the Hill, I saw at a little Distance some
Children, to whom I beckon’d and made Signs to come to my Assistance,
pronouncing aloud at the same Time these Words, _Jeru Pikal Salim_,
which in the _Quamitic_ Language signifies, _Shew me the Way_. But
the Boys, at the Sight of a Man cloath’d in a foreign Habit, and with
a Diadem upon his Head embroider’d with Rays like those of the Sun,
ran down the Mountain as fast as they could, and soon gaining the
Start of me, (for I Was forc’d to drag my weary and wounded Feet but
slowly after me) they got to _Sandwic_ an Hour before me, where they
alarm’d the whole Village, vowing and protesting that they had seen the
_Wandring Jew_ among the Mountains, his Head all glittering with Rays,
and by his Groans expressing great Uneasiness of Mind. The Inhabitants