A Voyage to Cacklogallinia Part 5

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 l.u.s.ty _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 Quant.i.ty?

"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 Quant.i.ty 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 pa.s.s'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 s.p.a.ce 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-s.p.a.ce, 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 encompa.s.sing 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 circ.u.mambient 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 Amba.s.sadors 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 Amba.s.sadors, _Volatilio_ and _Probusomo_, to attempt a Pa.s.sage to your World, and to a.s.sure 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 Amba.s.sadors, 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 Pa.s.sage, he thought, impossible; for he hoped, in a small s.p.a.ce 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 partic.i.p.ate the same Light of the Sun, and the same Obscurity of the Eclipses, and mutually a.s.sist 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 s.p.a.ce 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 Appet.i.te, 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 circ.u.mjacent 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 s.p.a.cious 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 Grat.i.tude 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 Grat.i.tude; 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. .h.i.therto 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 Apric.o.c.k, Nectarn, Peach, Orange, and Lemon Trees, interspers'd. We satisfied our craving Appet.i.tes 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 a.s.sured 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 encompa.s.s'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 a.s.sum'd the Air and Dress of a Bully, and the General was turn'd into a demure Figure resembling a _Quaker_.

I was struck dumb with Amazement, and while I was considering with my self what this should mean, I observ'd a Man riding up to us, mounted on a Lion; when he came to the others, I found him of the common Size with the Inhabitants of our Globe; he had on his Head a Crown of Bays, which in an Instant chang'd to a Fool's Cap, and his Lion to an a.s.s. He drew from his Breast a Rowl like a Quire of Written Paper, which using as a Sword, he set upon the others, and dispers'd them. Some ran over the Sea, as on dry Ground; others flew into the Air, and some sunk into the Earth. Then alighting from his a.s.s, he opened the Jaws of the Animal, went down his Throat, and they both vanish'd.

After I had recover'd my Fright, I told _Volatilio_, that I fear'd this Planet was inhabited by evil Spirits. He answered, that what we had seen, was sufficient to induce us to believe so. We look'd for the House, which we saw rise into the Air, and vanish in Flame and Smoke, which strengthen'd our Opinion. However, we resolv'd to go forward, when one of the _Palanquineers_ said he saw a House on the left, and People of my Size and Species making towards us.