Captain Samuel Brunt - A Voyage to Cacklogallinia

C >> Captain Samuel Brunt >> A Voyage to Cacklogallinia

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

"As to the resting our selves, I affirm from the Principles of sound
Philosophy, that when once out of the Reach of the magnetick Power
of the Earth, we shall no longer gravitate, for what we call
Gravity, is no other than Attraction, consequently we may repose our
selves in the Air, if there is Occasion, which I believe there will
not; for as we shall then have no Weight to exhaust the Spirits,
there can be no Need of refreshing them either with Meat or Sleep."

The Minister rose up, and said he was fully satisfied with his Answers;
the only Thing gave him Uneasiness, was the Length of Time I said was
requisite to make this Journey.

"My Lord, _replied the Projector_, I can't agree that such a Time is
necessary; for being above the Attraction of the Earth, which is the
only laborious Part of our Passage, we may go with an inconceivable
Swiftness, especially when we come within the Attraction of the
Moon, which will certainly be encreas'd by the Weight of Provisions,
which we shall by way of Precaution carry with us, and which will be
no Burthen after we have pass'd the Atmosphere; so that what Weight
a Thousand _Cacklogallinians_ can hardly raise to that Heighth, one
might support, the rest of the Journey."

His Excellency perceiv'd by my Countenance I was not satisfied, and
therefore bid me take Heart, he wou'd send a Number of _Palanquins_ with
us, and if we found the second Region impervious by Reason of the Cold,
we shou'd have the Liberty to return.

The only Talk now in Town was our designed Journey to the Moon, for
which a great many of the swiftest Flyers were inlifted with Promises of
great Reward. _Palanquins_ were made sharp at each End, to cut the Air;
the warmest Mantles and Hoods were made for the Bearers, and the
Projector's and my _Palanquin_ were close, and lined with
Down.

A Company was erected, Shares sold of the Treasure we were to bring
back; and happy was he who could first subscribe. These Subscriptions
were sold at 2000 _per Cent._ Advantage, and in less than two Months,
the Time spent in preparing for our Journey, I saw at least Five Hundred
Lacqueys, who had fallen into the Trade of buying and selling these
Subscriptions in their gilt _Palanquins_, and Train of Servants after
them. The _Squabbaws_, the _Vultuaquilians_, the Minister, and some of
the Grand Council, shared amongst them Fifty Millions of _Spasma_'s,
ready Money, for what they sold of this chimerical Treasure.

This open'd my Eyes, and I found I had been very short-sighted, in
condemning the Minister for giving Ear to a Project so contrary to
Reason: But when I saw the noblest Families, and such whose Ruine was
necessary to his own Support, sell their Estates to buy Shares, I look'd
upon him as the wisest Minister in the known World; and was lost in
Wonder, when I confider'd the Depth of his Designs.

I took the Liberty, once to mention my Astonishment to him, with all the
Deference due to his exalted Quality, and with the Praises he justly
deserved. He answer'd me, that he fear'd I saw farther than was either
convenient, or safe for me, if my Taciturnity did not equal my
Penetration. This he spoke in a Tone which gave me Apprehension of
Danger; I threw my self at his Feet, and begg'd he would rather kill me,
than suspect my Zeal for his Service; that what I had taken the Liberty
of saying to his Excellency, I had never the Imprudence to mention to
any other; and that I hop'd the Experience he had of me would assure him
of my Secrecy. _Learn_, said he, _that Ministers work like Moles, and
it's as dangerous to shew them you can enter into their Views, as to
attempt their Lives: I have a Confidence in you; but had any other held
me the same Discourse, I would have put it out of his Power to have
repeated it to a third Person._

The Author begins his Journey to the MOON.

All things necessary being provided, and the _Palanquins_ of Provisions
being sent before to join us at the Mountain _Tenera_, I had an Audience
of Leave of his Imperial Majesty and his _Squabbaws_; after which, I
went to receive my last Instructions from his Excellency. He gave me a
Paper, with Orders not to open it, till I was arrived at the Mountain,
which was about a Thousand Miles from the City. He having wish'd me a
good Journey, said he had given Orders to six lusty _Cacklogallimans_ to
obey those I should give them; that he depended on my Fidelity and
Prudence, and therefore, as I would find, had reposed a great Trust in
me. I made him a suitable Answer, and retired to my Apartment in the
Palace, where I found the Projector, who told me we were to set out the
next Morning before Day. I asked him, in Case we succeeded in our
Journey, and found the Riches we coveted, how we should bring away any
Quantity?

"If, _said he_, that happens, we shall, in a second Journey, be
provided with Vehicles, if there is Occasion; but I propose to
extract such a Quantity of the Soul of Gold, which I can infuse into
Lead at our Return, that we may be rich enough to pave the Streets
with that valuable Metal; for a Grain will, infused into Lead, make
an Ounce of pure Gold. Now, if a Penny-weight of the Soul will make
Twenty four Ounces, or Two Pound of Gold, consider what immense
Treasure we may bring back with us, since the _Palanquineers_ can
fly with Five Hundred Weight in a _Palanquin_."

The next Morning we set forward at about Three o' Clock, and reach'd the
Mountain in about Forty six Hours. We first refresh'd our selves, and
when I was alone, I open'd my Instructions, which ran thus:

As Experience proves you are not to be led by chimerical Notions,
and that your Capacity and Fidelity render you fit to undertake the
most difficult and secret Affairs, his Imperial Majesty thought none
so fit as yourself to be entrusted in the Management of the present
Scheme; which that you may do to his Majesty's Satisfaction, and
your own Interest and Credit, you are to observe the following
Instructions.

"You are to order _Volatilio_, the first Proposer of the Journey now
undertaken, to go to the Top of the Hill a Day before you, and from
thence to acquaint you with the Nature of the Air; and if you find
it practicable, you are to follow him. If you gain the Summit, and
that the Air is too thin for Respiration, you are to descend again,
dispatch an Express to his Majesty, and clap _Volatilio_ in Irons,
then dispatch away one of the six Messengers whom I ordered to
attend you: They, _Volatilio_, and the whole Caravan, are to obey
you, till you have pass'd the Atmosphere, when you and they are to
follow the Directions of _Volatilio_, in what regards the Way only;
but, in Case that you can respire on the Top of the Mountain, order
_Volatilio_ to precede you a Day's Ascent, return the next, and
immediately dispatch a second Messenger with the Account he gives,
and continue on the Mountain for farther Instructions, before you
proceed, should it prove practicable. I need not tell you the
Publick must be amused with Hopes of Success, tho' you have Reason
to despair of it; nor need I even hint to you what Method you ought
to take. I wish you Health, and that your Conduct may answer my
Expectations."

I acted pursuant to these Instructions, and sent _Volatilio_ forward,
who reach'd the Top of the Hill; but finding the Air too thin to
continue there, without the Help of humected Spunges, he therefore sent
those back he carried with him to the mid Space of the Mountain, and an
Express to me, by which he informed me what he had done; that he
resolved to continue there a natural Day, and then join me where he had
sent his Followers, to which Place he desired I would ascend, and defer
the dispatching any Express to his Majesty, till he saw me again.

I ascended to the Mid-space, and found a vast Alteration in the Air,
which even here was very sensibly rarified.

My Projector came to me at his appointed Time, and told me he did not
question the Success of our Enterprize, since he imagined the Air above
the second Region rather denser than that near the Earth, and hoped the
Cold was not more intense than on the Mountain's Top; and that if this
prov'd so, we cou'd breathe and support the Cold with little Difficulty.
I answer'd, that it was natural to conclude the Air next the Earth more
dense than that above it, as the weightiest always descends the first.

"That Reason, _said he_, is not conclusive, for the Air immediately
encompassing the Earth, is more sensible of its attractive Power,
than that at a greater Distance, as you may be satisfied, in placing
two Pieces of Iron, one near, and the other at a Distance from the
Loadstone; the nearest Piece will be strongly attracted, while that
at a greater Distance is but weakly affected. Now supposing the Air
only of an equal Density thro'out when we have left the Earth,
(which, by the Reflection of Heat from the Mountains, rarifies the
circumambient Air, and renders it more subtle than that above it) we
may respire without Pain; for in less than Six Hours I, by Degrees,
withdrew my Spunge."

I dispatch'd an Express with the Account I had received, and set
forward, resolving to wait for further Instructions on the top of the
Mountain. I was at a good Distance from the Summit, when I was obliged,
by the Thinness of the Air, to have Recourse to my wet Spunge, and
was Four and Twenty Hours before I could intirely remove it. The
_Cacklogallinians_ found less Difficulty than I in their Respiration,
but more in supporting the rigid Cold, especially at Night, when the
Damps fell. We staid here Eight Days, that the Subtlety of the Air might
become habitual to us.

On the seventh Day, the Messenger return'd with Credentials for
_Volatilio_ and my self, to the Potentate in whose Dominions we might
happen, and Orders to proceed on our Journey. This Messenger told me,
that on the Contents of my Letter being publish'd, the Town was
illuminated throughout, and such a Number of Coaches and _Palanquins_
bespoke, that he believed, at our Return, we should find none out of
them but the Ostriches. Our Credentials ran thus.

"HIPPOMENE-CONNUFERENTO, Emperor and absolute Monarch of the greatest
Empire in the Terrestrial Globe, Disposer of Kingdoms, Judge of
Kings, Dispenser of Justice, Light of the World, Joy of the Sun,
Darling of Mortals, Scourge of Tyrants, and Refuge of the Distress'd,
to the Puissant Monarch of that Kingdom in the Moon, to which our
Ambassadors shall arrive: Or, To the Mighty and Sole Lord of that
beautiful Planet, sends Greeting.

"Dearly Beloved Brother, and most Mighty Prince, as it has been long
doubted by our Ancestors, as well as by those of our Time, whether
the Moon were, or were not inhabited, We, who have ever encouraged
those who seek the universal Good of Mortals, supposing it possible,
if that Planet were possess'd by such, that an Intercourse between
the two Worlds might be of mutual Advantage to both, have sent our
two Ambassadors, _Volatilio_ and _Probusomo_, to attempt a Passage
to your World, and to assure you, if they succeed, of the great
Desire we have of entertaining with you a reciprocal Friendship, of
giving all possible Demonstrations of our Affection, and to invite
you to send to our World your Ambassadors, with whom we may consult
our common Interest. So recommending ours to your Protection, we
heartily bid you farewell.

"Given at our Court, _&c._"

According to the Orders we receiv'd, _Volatilio_ took his Flight in an
oblique Ascent, without a _Palanquin_, but wrapt up as warm as possible,
accompanied by two Servants. He parted with great Alacrity, and we soon
lost Sight of him. Some Half a Score, in Complaisance, took a Flight of
three Hours to see him part of his Way towards his Discovery.

He went off at break of Day, to avoid those Vapours which the Heat of
the Sun exhales, and which by Night would have rendered his Passage, he
thought, impossible; for he hoped, in a small Space to gain beyond the
Heighth they rise to. At the Return of those who convoy'd him, I sent
away an Express, to acquaint the Emperor with their Report, which was,
That they found no sensible Alteration as to the Rarefaction of the Air,
and that the Cold was rather less intense. This News at Court made every
one run mad after Shares, which the Proprietors sold at what Rate they
pleas'd.

The next Day in the Even, we saw _Volatilio_ on his Return: His first
Salutation was,

Courage my Friend, I have pas'd the Atmosphere, and, by Experience,
have found my Conjecture true; for being out of the magnetick Power
of the Earth, we rested in the Air, as on the solid Earth, and in an
Air extreamly temperate, and less subtle than what we breathe.

I sent again this Account to Court, but the Courtiers having no more
Shares to sell, gave out, that _Volatilio_ did not return as he
promis'd, and it was expected, that I despair'd of the Undertaking,
and believ'd him lost.

This was such a Damp to the Town; that Shares fell to Half Value, and
none of the Courtiers would buy, sell they cou'd not, having (I mean
those let into the Secret) already dispos'd of all by their Agents, tho'
they pretended the contrary.

The Express return'd, with private Orders for me to confirm this Report,
which I was oblig'd to do, and stay eight Days longer, as the publick
Instructions to us both commanded.

This was a great Mortification to _Volatilio_, and, I own, the Report he
made had rais'd my Curiosity so much, that I was uneasy at this Delay;
but we were to obey, and not to enquire into the Reasons of
it.

The Messenger returning, told me, that my last Letter had fallen the
Shares to five _per Cent._ under _Par_, nothing but Lamentations eccho'd
thro' the Streets, and it was impossible to give an Idea of the Change
it had occasion'd. The Letter the Minister sent me order'd me to write
him Word, that _Volatilio_ was returned, had found no Obstacles, and
that I was preparing to depart. That the Court had bought up a vast
Number of Shares, and that he took Care of my Interest in particular;
that I need stay for no farther Instructions, but make the best of my
Way.

I gave Notice to the Caravan, that we would set forward the next
Morning, which we accordingly did, and as near as I could compute,
we flew that Day, 180 Miles. What surpriz'd me was, that in less
than an Hour and half's Ascent, _Volatilio_, who would not go in his
_Palanquin_, folded his Wings, and came to me on Foot, and told me I
might get out and stretch my Limbs. My _Palanquineers_ stood still, and
confirm'd what he said; and more, that they had not for a Quarter of an
Hour past been sensible of my Weight, which had lessen'd by Degrees, so
as not to be felt at all.

I left my _Palanquin_, and found what _Volatilio_ had conjectur'd, and
his Report verified; for I could with as much Ease lift a _Palanquin_ of
Provisions, which did not on Earth weigh less than 500 Weight, as I
could on our Globe raise a Feather. The Cold was very much abated, and
I found my Spirits rais'd.

I would here have sent back half the _Palanquin_-Bearers, but
_Volatilio_ was of Opinion we should keep them a Day longer; for,
perhaps, said he, we may send them all (except those which carry you)
away; for if the Universal Spirit included in the Air should suffice for
our Nourishment, we have no Business with Provisions.

I approv'd his Reason, and we proceeded on, sure of falling first into
the Attraction of the Moon, it being the nearest Planet to us.

I shall not detain the Reader with my Observations in this aerial
Journey; _Gallileus_, who by his Writings gives me room to believe he
had, before me, visited this Planet, whatever were his Reasons for not
owning it, having left nothing, which is not mentioned in his _Systema
Mundi_.

I observ'd only, which I take Notice of for those who have not read him,
that when the Moon has but a small Part of his Body enlighten'd, that
the Earth, the other Moon, has a proportionable Part of its Hemisphere
visibly darken'd; I mean a Part in proportion to that of the Moon which
is enlighten'd; and that both these Moons, of which ours is much the
larger, mutually participate the same Light of the Sun, and the same
Obscurity of the Eclipses, and mutually assist each other: For when the
Moon is in Conjunction with the Sun, and its _pars superior_ receives
all the Light, then its inferior Hemisphere is enlighten'd by the
Earth's reflecting the Rays of the Sun, otherwise it would be intirely
dark; and when those two Planets are in Opposition, then that Part of
the Earth which is deprived of the Rays of the Sun, is enlighten'd by a
full Moon.

The next Day _Volatilio_ was for sending back the Provisions, but I
judg'd it proper not to go forward, but to stay the Space of a natural
Day, in the same Situation, because in that time, or in no other in the
Journey, we should require Sustenance, and also because their Return
would be easier, than if we carried them still forward.

This was agreed to, and none of us finding any Appetite, Weakness, or
Sinking of our Spirits, dismiss'd all but those who carried my
_Palanquin_, and proceeded forward with an incredible Swiftness.

We were about a Month before we came into the Attraction of the Moon, in
all which time none of us had the least Inclination to Sleep or Meat, or
found our selves any way fatigued, nor, till we reach'd that Planet, did
we close our Eyes; the Attraction was so great, that it was all the
Bearers and _Volatilio_ could do to prevent our being dash'd to Pieces
on a Mountain; we descended with that inconceivable Swiftness, that I
apprehended it impossible, in our Return, to avoid that Misfortune in
the World we left; since the Attraction, if its Virtue was augmented in
proportion to its Magnitude, must be much stronger.

This Thought made me very uneasy for those who return'd. I spoke of it
to _Volatilio_ who bid me apprehend nothing; for, said he, the Magnetick
Virtue of the Load-stone is so far from being in Proportion to its Size,
that the very large ones have less attractive Power than those which are
middling.

When I had recover'd from the Fright, which the Rapidity of our Descent
had put me into, I view'd the circumjacent Country with equal Wonder and
Delight; Nature seem'd here to have lavish'd all her Favours; on
whatsoever Side I turn'd my Eye, the most ravishing Prospect was offer'd
to my Sight. The Mountain yielded a gradual Descent to most beautiful
Meadows, enamell'd with Cowslips, Roses, Lilies, Jessamines, Carnations,
and other fragrant Flowers, unknown to the Inhabitants of our Globe,
which were as grateful to the Smell, as entertaining to the Eye. The
chrystal Rivulets which smoothly glided thro' these inchanting Meads,
seem'd so many Mirrors reflecting the various Beauties of those
odoriferous Flowers which adorn'd their Banks. The Mountain, which was
of considerable Height, afforded us a great Variety in our Prospect, and
the Woods, Pastures, Meads, and small Arms of the Sea, were intermingled
with that surprizing Beauty and Order, that they seem'd rather dispos'd
by Art, than the Product of Nature; the Earth it self yielded a grateful
and enlivening Scent, and is so pure, that it does not sully the Hands.
The Cedars, which cloath'd the middle Part of the Summit, were streight,
tall, and so large, that seven Men would hardly fathom the Bowl of one;
round these twin'd the grateful Honey-suckle, and encircling Vine, whose
purple Grapes appearing frequent from among the Leaves of the wide
extended Branches, gave an inconceivable Pleasure to the Beholder. The
Lily of the Valley, Violet, Tuberose, Pink, Julip and Jonquil, cloath'd
their spacious Roots, and the verdant Soil afforded every salutiferous
Herb and Plant, whose Vertues diffus'd thro' the ambient Air (without
the invenom'd and the griping Fist of the _Cacklogallinian_ Empiricks)
Preservatives to the blessed Inhabitants of the Lunar World.

The Heavens here were ever serene; no Thunder-bearing Cloud obscur'd the
Sky; the whispering Zephyrs wanton'd in the Leaves, and gently bore
along the enchanting Musick of the feather'd Choir: The Sea here knew no
Storms, nor threatning Wave, with Mountain swell, menaced the Ships,
which safely plough'd the peaceful Bosom of the Deep. _AEolus_ and all
his boisterous Sons were banish'd from these happy Seats, and only
kindly Breezes fann'd the fragrant Air. In short, all was ravishing, and
Nature seem'd here to have given her last Perfection to her Works, and
to rejoice in her finish'd Labours.

I found my Spirits so invigorated by the refreshing Odours, of this
Paradice, so elated with the Serenity of the Heavens, and the Beauties
which every where entertained and rejoiced my Sight, that in Extasy I
broke out into this grateful Soliloquy.

O Source of Wisdom, Eternal Light of the Universe! what Adorations
can express the grateful Acknowledgments of thy diffusive Bounty!
Who can contemplate the beauty of thy Works, the Product of thy
single _Fiat_, and not acknowledge thy Omnipotence, Omniscience, and
extensive Goodness! What Tongue can refrain from singing thy Praise!
What Heart so hard, but must be melted into Love! Oh Eternal
Creator, pity my Weakness, and since I cannot speak a Gratitude
adequate to thy Mercies, accept the Fulness of my Heart, too
redundant for Expression.

As I spoke this, in the _Cacklogallinian_ Tongue, _Volatilio_ came up to
me, and said,

"Alas! _Probusomo_, how can a finite Being return Praises adequate to
infinite Mercies! Let us return such as we are capable of; let the
Probity of our Lives speak our Gratitude; by our Charity for each
other endeavour to imitate the Divine Goodness, and speak our Love
to him, by that we shew to Mortals, the Work of his Divine Will,
however they may differ from us, and from one another, in their
Species. I am glad I am not deceived in my Opinion of you. I
believed from the Observation I made of your Life in a corrupt and
dissolute Court, that you fear'd the first Being of Beings, and for
that Reason chose you Companion of this hitherto unattempted
Journey; for I expected a Blessing would attend my Undertaking,
while such a one was embark'd with me: For to the Shame of our
Nation, we own a Deity in Words, but deny him in our Actions: We
acknowledge this Divine Being must be pure and just, and that our
Lives (as he must abominate all Impurity and Injustice) ought to be
conformable to his Attributes, wou'd we hope his Favour and
Protection, notwithstanding we act diametrically opposite, as the
most ready Method to procure our Happiness."

Finding our selves press'd by Hunger, we descended the Mountain, at the
Foot of which we found a Plantation of Olive Trees, and abundance of
Pear, standing Apricock, Nectarn, Peach, Orange, and Lemon Trees,
interspers'd. We satisfied our craving Appetites with the Fruit we
gather'd, and then getting into my _Palanquin_, _Volatilio_ leading the
Way, we went in Search of the Inhabitants. Our Flight was little better
than a Soar, that we might with more Advantage view the Country.

After a couple of Hours, he saw a House, but of so great a Height,
and so very large, I who was short-sighted in Comparison of the
_Cacklogallinians_, took it for a great Hill; I told him my Opinion, but
he assured me I was mistaken. We therefore urg'd forward, and I alighted
not far from this Palace, for I could term it no other, from the
Largeness and Beauty of its Structure. We had been discover'd, as I had
reason to believe, some Time, and a Number of People about Thirty, at
our alighting, immediately encompass'd me. The gigantick Make of these
Inhabitants struck me with a panick Fear, which I also discover'd in the
Eyes of the _Cacklogallinians_.

They were of different Statures, from Thirty to an Hundred and Fifty
Foot high, as near as I cou'd guess; some of them were near as thick
as long, some proportionable, and others shap'd like a Pine, being no
thicker than my self, tho' tall of an Hundred Foot.

I resolv'd however to conceal, if possible, the Terror I was in, and
coming out of my _Palanquin_, I went to salute the Company, when I
observ'd they retired from me in proportion as I advanced, and like a
Vapour, or an _Ignis fatuus_, the Air being mov'd by my Motion, drove
those which were directly opposite still before me.

I stood still, they did the same; if I was astonish'd at their Make, and
at what other things I had observ'd, I was more so, when I saw one of
the tallest, dwindle in the Twinkling of an Eye, to a Pigmy, fly into
the Air without Wings, and carry off a Giant in each Hand by the Hair of
the Head.

They were all differently dress'd at their first Appearance; some like
Generals in Armour, some were in Ecclesiastical, and some in Gowns not
unlike our Barristers at Law. Some were dress'd as fine as Imagination
could make 'em, but with the quickness of Thought, these Dresses were
all changed, who was cover'd with Rags one Moment, the next was in
Purple, with a Crown on his Head; the Beau in Rags; the Priest assum'd
the Air and Dress of a Bully, and the General was turn'd into a demure
Figure resembling a _Quaker_.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9