A journey to the world under-ground
tho’ it was all in vain; for in the room of those that fled more came,
so that I was forced to move every Step like a Man upon his Guard.
CHAP. IV.
_The Court of the_ Potuan _Empire_.
At length we came to the Royal City of _Potu_, which for Beauty
and Magnificence might vie with any. The Buildings there are more
numerous and extensive than at _Keba_, and the Streets wider and more
commodious. The _Forum_, which was the first Place we were brought to,
was fill’d with Numbers of Merchants, and surrounded every Way with
Shops of Artists and Tradesmen. But I saw with some Astonishment in the
Middle of the _Forum_ a certain Criminal with a Halter about his Neck,
and a large Company of grave and elderly Trees standing round him. Upon
my asking what was the Matter, and for what Crime he deserved Hanging,
especially as I thought no Crime here was Capital, it was told me,
that this Offender was a Projector, who had advis’d the Abolition of a
certain old Custom; that those who stood round him were the Senators
and Lawyers, who then and there examined the Projector’s Scheme,
so that if it should appear that it was a well digested Thing, and
salutary to the Commonwealth, the Offender was not only absolv’d, but
rewarded; but if injurious to the Publick, or if the Projector by the
Repeal of this Law appear’d to have glanc’d at his own Advantage, he
was presently to be hang’d as a Disturber of the Realm. And this is the
Reason why few are found to run this Risque, or have Courage enough to
advise the Abrogation of any Law, unless the Thing be so demonstrably
evident and just, that the Success of it cannot be doubted of: So
persuaded are the Subterraneans, that the ancient Laws and Institutions
of their Ancestors are to be maintain’d and rever’d. For they believe
the Government would be in Danger, if for the Wantonness of every
Body, those Laws were to be chang’d or disannul’d. What, alas! said I
to myself, would become of the Projectors of our World, who, under a
Pretence of publick Emolument, are daily hatching and inventing new
Laws, with an Eye only to their private Gains, instead of the common
Benefit?
At length we were introduced into a spacious House, which was the usual
Place of Reception for all who were sent from the Seminaries throughout
the Empire. In the same Place are brought up those who are to attend
upon the Prince. Our Captain, the _Karatti_, bid us be in Readiness,
while he went to acquaint his Highness with our Arrival. He had scarce
left us when we heard a Noise, like that of great Rejoicings, and
immediately the Air echo’d with the Sound of Trumpets and Beat of
Drums. Alarm’d at this Noise we went out, and beheld a certain Tree
magnificently attended and crown’d with a Chaplet of Flowers, and
presently discover’d that it was the same Citizen whom we just now saw
in the _Forum_ with his Neck in a Halter. The Reason of this Triumph
was the Approbation of that Law, which at the Peril of his Head he had
advised. But by what Arguments he attack’d the old Law, I could never
reach to the Knowledge, by Reason of the great Silence of the People;
and hence it is, that the least Matter transacted in the Senate in
relation to the Government never transpires, or takes the least Air.
Far otherwise it is with us, where the Actions of the Senate and the
whole of their Debates are reported, weigh’d and criticiz’d upon in
every Tavern and Street.
In the Space of an Hour the _Karatti_ returns, and commands us all to
follow him. We obey’d. As we went, we met certain young Trees, who
offer’d to Sale little printed Books of curious and memorable Things.
Among the rest, I cast my Eye upon a small Book, the Title of which
was, “A full and true Account of the strange flying Dragon, that
appear’d in the Element last Year.” There did I behold myself, that is,
my Effigies engrav’d just as I appear’d when I was whirling round this
Planet with my Harpoon and my long Rope. I could not help smiling at
the Figure, and said to myself,
_Hei! qualis facies! & quali digna tabella!_
Having bought the Book for three _Kilacs_, which is equivalent to about
two Shillings of our Money, I walk’d on gravely to the Palace. Art
and Elegance seem’d to preside here, rather than Profusion and a vain
Magnificence. I observ’d the Prince had very few Attendants; for such
was his Temperance, that he had discarded whatever was superfluous. Nor
is there indeed the same Necessity for as many Servants as our Courts
require. For as many Branches as these Trees had, so many Arms; so that
the common Labours and Business of the Household could be done with at
least thrice the Expedition.
It was about Dinner-time when we arriv’d at Court: And since it was his
Highness’s Pleasure to talk with me alone, I was introduced into the
Presence-Chamber. There is in this Prince a very remarkable Mixture of
Mildness and Gravity. Such was his Steadiness, that his Countenance
was never known to have the least Cloud upon it. Seeing the Prince, I
instantly fell upon my Knees. The Courtiers were astonished at this
Adoration, and when I told his Highness (who ask’d me) the Reason why
I bent my Knee, he commanded me to rise, saying, that such a sort of
Reverence was due to the Deity alone; adding, that nothing could
obtain the Favour of the Prince but Obedience and Industry. When I
rose, he ask’d me sundry Questions,
_Qua veniam, causamq; viæ, nomenq; rogatus,
Et patriam: Patria est, respondeo, grandior Orbis.
Klimius est Nomen; veni nec puppe per undas,
Nec pede per terras; patuit mihi pervius Æther._
He then proceeded to enquire what I had met with in my Journey,
and what were the Customs and Usages of our World. After which I
proceeded to explain, as sensibly as I could, the Wit, the Virtues,
the civiliz’d Manners of the Men of our World, and every Thing that
Mankind pride themselves in. He receiv’d my Account very coldly, and
at some Things which I thought would not have rais’d his Admiration,
he perfectly yawn’d. Lord! said I to myself, how different are the
Tastes of Mortals! that what gives One the most sensible Pleasure, to
Another shall be quite nauseous! But what most offended his Highness
was the Relation I gave him of our Law-Proceedings, of the Eloquence
of our Lawyers, and the quick Dispatch of the Judges in pronouncing
Sentence. While I was endeavouring to make this still clearer to him,
he interrupted me by turning the Discourse to something else, and at
length he proceeded to an Enquiry into our Religion and Worship. I then
explain’d to him in a concise Manner, the several Articles of our
Faith; at the Recital of which he somewhat soften’d his Countenance,
attesting that he could readily subscribe to them, and he could not
chuse but wonder how a Race of People of such weak Judgments should
entertain such sound Notions of God and his Worship. But when he heard
that the Christians were divided into Sects without Number, and that
upon some Differences in Matters of Faith, People of the same Blood and
Family would cruelly persecute one another, he answer’d thus: “Among
us also there are a large Variety of different Sentiments concerning
Things pertaining to divine Worship: But one Man does not persecute
another for that. All Persecution for speculative Matters or Errors
arising from the sole Variety of our Perceptions, can spring from
nothing but Pride, one thinking himself wiser and more penetrating than
the rest. But such Pride must be highly displeasing in the Eyes of the
Supreme Being, who must be a Lover of Humility and Meekness in Mortals.
We never teaze an Assembly of Judges about any one who shall happen to
dissent from the receiv’d Opinions in Points of Speculation, provided
he does it sincerely, and also conforms in practical Matters to the
publick Worship of the Deity. And in this we pursue the Track chalk’d
out to us by our Ancestors, who always thought it inhuman to fetter
the Understanding, and tyrannize over the Conscience. In our Politicks
we extremely recommend the Observance of this Rule, so that if my
Subjects should differ about the Make of my Body, the Manner of my
Life, or about my Oeconomy or any such sort of Thing, yet at the same
time acknowledg’d me for their lawful Sovereign to whom Obedience is
due, I think them all good Subjects.” To this I reply’d, May it please
your most Serene Highness, such a Conduct would in our World be call’d
_Syncretism_, and would be highly condemned by the Learned. He did not
give me room to say any more, and seeming to be a little displeas’d
walk’d away, and commanded me to stay till Dinner was over.
His Highness sat down to Table with his Royal Consort and their Son,
together with the High Chancellor, or _Kadoki_. This same _Kadoki_
was in the first Esteem among the _Potuans_ for the Politeness of his
Manners, as well as his Prudence and Wariness. For full twenty Years
he never once gave his Sentiments in the Senate-House, but the rest
immediately came into them, nor ever decreed any thing with regard to
the Publick, but what stood firm and unshaken, so that his Decrees
were so many Axioms. But then he was so slow of Apprehension, that for
the least of them he used to require the Space of fourteen Days; and
therefore in our World he would hardly be thought fit for Business of
great Moment, where all Delay passes for Sloth and Laziness. But since
whatever he once apprehended he understood through and through, and
since he executed nothing but upon the severest Examination, hence he
might be said to do more in Reality than ten others, who mighty readily
set about Business, and are frequently styl’d Great Geniuses, but whose
Decrees must afterwards be mended, alter’d, and lick’d into Shape;
insomuch that at the Expiration of their Office, it is discover’d that
they have attempted every thing and brought nothing to Perfection.
Among the Maxims therefore of the _Potuan_ Court, this is one, That
they who are so forward at Business, are like those who walk to and fro
and tread a great deal of Ground, but gain none.
When the Family were seated, a Virgin enter’d with eight Branches
and as many Dishes, so that in a Moment the whole Table was cover’d.
Presently another Tree enter’d with eight Vessels of different Kinds
of Wine. This latter had nine Branches, and so was judg’d extremely
qualified for the domestick Business of the Court. And thus by two
Servants only this whole Affair was commodiously performed, which
in terrestrial Courts is not to be done without a perfect Army of
Servants. With the same Dexterity the Dishes were remov’d, as they had
been at first placed. It was a frugal but not inelegant Meal. Of the
whole Number of Dishes, the Sovereign confin’d himself to one. Not so
the great Ones of our Globe, who never think a Supper grand, unless one
Course of Dishes give way to a finer and more exquisite Succession.
During the Repast, the Conversation run upon Morality or Politicks; so
that even these sensual Pleasures had a Seasoning of Learning. Mention
also was made of me, whom from the Quickness of my Apprehension they
took to be _not the Wood out of which_ Mercury _was to be made_.
The Repast being ended, I was order’d to produce my Testimonial; which
being perus’d, the Prince directing his Eyes down to my Feet, said,
the _Karatti_ had judg’d right, and that so it ought to be. Quite
thunderstruck with this Answer, and overwhelm’d in Tears, I implor’d
a Revisal of the Testimonial, since upon a more intimate Scrutiny
into the Virtues of my Mind, and the Endowments of my Understanding,
I might reasonably expect a milder Judgment to be made. His Highness
being a merciful and equitable Prince, not at all incensed at this
forward and unusual Request, enjoin’d the _Karatti_ then present, to