A Journey to the World Under-Ground 15 – Holberg · Verses Across
Literature · Science Fiction & Fantasy
A Journey to the World Under-Ground 15Chap 15
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Literature · Science Fiction & Fantasy
A Journey to the World Under-Ground 15
Chap 15
HolbergEnglish
The +Catastrophe+.
Having perform’d such an amazing Series of Exploits, and our Fleet being considerably augmented, by the Addition of the Martinian Ships, we now hoisted Sail, and return’d to Quama, where, upon our Arrival, we triumph’d with more than Roman Magnificence. And, in good Truth, the noble Deeds we had atchiev’d, deserv’d the highest Pomp of Festivals and publick Rejoicings. For what can be conceiv’d more heroic, than to transform a Nation the most abject, and the most expos’d to the Insults of their Neighbours, into the Lords and Sovereigns of the whole Subterranean Globe? What can be conceiv’d more glorious, or more for my Honour, as a Man, whose Fate it happen’d to be to live among so many heterogeneous Creatures, what, I say, could redound more to my Glory, than to have asserted that Dominion which Nature gave Mankind over the Animal Creation? A Description of the Splendor of this Triumph, the Crowds, and the Applauses of Men of all Ranks and Ages, would of itself make a regular Volume, and therefore I shall not attempt it in this short Account. I shall only observe, that from this Time a new Æra appears in History, and there may now be reckon’d five Monarchies, namely, the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, the Roman, and the Quamitic, the last of which seems to surpass the rest in Power and Grandeur. And accordingly I accepted the Title of Koblu, or +Great+, which was offer’d me, as well by the Quamites, as by the other vanquish’d Nations. There is, I confess, something excessively vain and arrogant in the Name +Great+: But yet, when you compare me with the Cyrus’s, the Alexanders, the Pompeys, and the Cæsars, the Title then seems perfectly humble and modest. Alexander indeed enslav’d the East, but with what Forces? with hardy veteran Troops inur’d to War; for such were the Macedonians in the Time of his Father Philip. But I, in a shorter Space of Time, subdued far more and fiercer Nations than the Persians, and that by the Help only of a rude and barbarous People, whom I myself had form’d and instructed. The Titles I now us’d were these; Nicolas the Great, Emperor of Quama and Mezendoria, King of Tanachin, Alectoria and Arctouia, Great Duke of Kispucia, Lord of Martinia and Canalisca, &c. &c.
_Ingens jam stabat Regnum, poteramque videri
Exilio felix: sed scilicet ultima semper
Expectanda dies homini, dicique beatus
Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet._
Being thus lifted up to a Point of Power and Success, beyond even the Wishes of a mortal Man, the same Thing happen’d to me, as to almost all those who rise to Greatness from a sordid Original. For unmindful of my former State, I grew intolerably vain and haughty, and instead of all those winning Ways, which artful Princes use to procure the popular Esteem, I became a hot and cruel Persecutor of all Orders of Men, despising as very Slaves those Subjects, whom before I had courted to my Interest with all imaginable Affability, insomuch, that none had Access to my Person, without a Ceremony, almost like that of Adoration, and when they were admitted, were receiv’d with a most disdainful Air: All which alienated the Minds of the People from me, and chang’d their Love into Coldness and Terror. This Disposition of my Subjects I soon experienced, and particularly upon the following Occasion. The Empress, my Spouse, whom I had left big with Child, was in my Absence brought to Bed of a young Prince. Intending to acknowledge this Prince for my Successor, I assembled the several States of my Empire, as, well those of the conquer’d Kingdoms, as those of Quama, to the solemn Inauguration of the Infant. As none dar’d disobey my Orders, the Ceremony was perform’d with all possible Pomp and Grandeur. But it was easy to perceive in the Visages of my Subjects, that all the Joy upon this Occasion was forc’d, unnatural, and mix’d with hidden Discontent. What help’d to confirm my Jealousy, was, that at this Time certain Libels or Pasquinades, written by anonymous Authors, were handed about, in which the Injury done to Prince Timuso by this Inauguration, was set forth with much Satyr and Acrimony. This created such Disorders in my Spirits, that I could take no Rest till I had got rid of that best of Princes. However, I thought it by no means adviseable to dispatch this illustrious Rival in an arbitrary Manner, and therefore I suborn’d certain Witnesses to accuse him of High Treason. As Sovereigns never want for Ministers of Darkness to serve their criminal Purposes, I quickly found out proper Persons to swear that the Prince was projecting a Revolution, and had a Design against my Life. Upon this he was thrown into Prison, and condemn’d by his Judges, the Majority of whom I had corrupted. However, he was executed privately, for fear of raising Disturbances.
As to the second Prince, because he was very young, I defer’d sacrificing him to my Repose yet a while; so that the Weakness of his Age was his Protection. Thus stain’d with the Parricide of his Brother, I began now to rule with so much Cruelty and Rigour, and carry’d my Rage to such a Height, that all Persons, whose Fidelity I suspected, whether Quamites, or others, I deliver’d over to immediate Death. Not a Day pass’d, but was remarkable for some extraordinary Execution, which hastened the Rebellion, which the Nobles had been for a considerable Time projecting; as will be related in its proper Place.
I own I deserv’d all those Misfortunes, which I afterwards experienc’d. It had doubtless been more glorious, and more worthy of a Christian Monarch, to have guided a gross and barbarous People to the Knowledge of the true God, rather than to have proceeded from Conquest to Conquest, and to have shed such Torrents of innocent Blood. And, indeed, it had been easy for me to have converted the whole Empire; for there was a Time when all my Determinations were revered like Oracles. But unmindful of God, and of myself, I dream’d of nothing but the vain Splendor of a Court, and the Increase of my Power. Moreover, being now given up to a deprav’d and reprobate Mind, I chose to aggravate and inflame these Discontents, rather than remove them, as if the Offences of my Injustice were to be rectify’d by my Cruelty. To all the Remonstrances of my Friends I still urg’d,
Necessity, the Tyrant’s hellish Plea.
So that Misfortune on Misfortune came thick upon me, and I fell into such Disgrace and Wretchedness, that from my Example, all Mortals may learn what a Vicissitude there is in human Affairs, and how short is the Duration of arbitrary Power and Violence.
My Subjects Aversion increas’d with the Severity of my Government, and when they perceiv’d that the Vices, to which I abandon’d myself, but ill agreed with that divine Original I boasted, and were utterly irreconcilable with my Character, as Embassador of the Sun, they began to examine every thing with more Attention, particularly the Circumstance of my Arrival into these Parts, and the Condition I was in when I landed upon their Coast. They now saw, that all the great Things I had done, were owing more to the Savageness of the Quamites, than to any extraordinary Abilities of my own, especially as they found, after that Mist of Ignorance was dispell’d, that I had actually committed many Errors in the Course of my Government. Above all my Conduct was highly censur’d by the Kispucians, a judicious and penetrating People. They had observ’d in my publick Edict a Multitude of Things so crude and indigested, as betray’d the grossest Ignorance in Politicks. Nor was the Censure unjust: For as my academical Tutors and Instructors never dream’d of Crowns and Scepters for me, they gave me an Education more adapted to a private Station, than that of a Sovereign; and my Studies, which extended no farther than to some little System of Divinity, and a few metaphysical Terms, were by no 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.
