A Journey to the World Under-Ground 7 – Holberg · Verses Across
Literature · Science Fiction & Fantasy
A Journey to the World Under-Ground 7Chap 7
18
Literature · Science Fiction & Fantasy
A Journey to the World Under-Ground 7
Chap 7
HolbergEnglish
Of their Policy.
In the Potuan Empire an hereditary, and indeed lineal Succession has flourish’d for a full Thousand Years; and the same is at this Day religiously observ’d. Their Annals indeed discover, that in one Instance they departed from this Order of Succession. For since right Reason seem’d to require, that Rulers should excel their Subjects in Wisdom and all the Endowments of the Mind, hence it was thought necessary that Virtue should be more regarded than Birth, and that he should be elected for their Sovereign, who should be thought the most excellent and worthy among the Subjects. Upon this the ancient Succession being laid aside, the supreme Power by the general Voice was conferr’d upon a Philosopher, nam’d Rabbacku. At first he govern’d with such Prudence and with such Mildness, that he seem’d a Pattern for succeeding Princes. But these happy Times were but of short Duration; and the Potuans were too late convinc’d of the Falshood of that Maxim, which holds, “That the Kingdom is happy, where a Philosopher is at the Helm.” For since the new Sovereign was rais’d from the meanest Fortune to the Height of Power, his Virtues and all his Arts of Government could not procure or maintain that Veneration, that Respect, that Majesty, which is the great Support of a Monarch’s Power. Those who but lately had been his Equals or Superiors, could hardly be brought to bow to an Equal or Inferior, or to pay the new Prince that Measure of Obedience due from Subjects to their Rulers; and therefore when any strict or troublesome Commands were laid upon them, they murmur’d loud, and never regarded what the Prince then was, but what he was before his Exaltation. Hence he was forc’d to have Recourse to submissive Flatteries; and even this availed not; for after these Submissions, being obliged to issue out his Commands and Edicts, they were still receiv’d with Frowns and with Reluctance. Rabbacku then perceiving, that other Means were necessary to keep the Subjects to their Duty, from a mild and popular Behaviour, he now chang’d his Measures, and treated his People with Severity. But alas! by this Extream, those Sparks which lay conceal’d under the Ashes, now broke into an open Flame; the Subjects rose in Arms against their Prince, and one Rebellion not thoroughly subdued and laid asleep, was the Beginning of another. The Monarch finding at length that the Government could no longer subsist but under a Sovereign of illustrious Descent, whose high Birth might extort a Veneration from the People, made a voluntary Abdication of the Empire in Favour of the Prince, who in Right of Birth should have succeeded. The ancient Family being thus restor’d, Peace was restor’d with it, and all those Storms, which had shatter’d the Vessel of the Commonwealth, at once subsided. From that Time it was made Capital to attempt any Innovation in the Order of Succession.
The Empire therefore is now hereditary, and probably will remain so till Time shall be no more, unless the most urgent and extreme Necessity oblige them to deviate from this Rule. Mention is made in the Potuan Annals, of a Philosopher who devis’d an Expedient to break thro’ this Law. His Counsel was not to set aside the Royal Family, but to make Choice of that Son of the deceas’d Sovereign, be it elder or younger, whose Virtues were more eminent, and who should be deem’d most equal to the Weight. This Philosopher, having propos’d this Law, submitted himself (according to the Custom of his Country) to the usual Test, namely, to have his Neck in a Halter, while they were debating about the Utility of the propos’d Law. The Senate being assembled, and the Votes cast up, the Proposal was condemn’d as a Thing detrimental to the Commonwealth. They believ’d it would be the Source of perpetual Troubles, and would sow the Seeds of Discord between the Royal Progeny; that therefore it was more advisable for the old Law to take Place, and that the Right of Dominion should still devolve upon the First-Born, altho’ the younger Issue might excel in the Endowments of the Mind. The Law therefore not passing, the Projector was strangled. And these are the only Species of Criminals that are punish’d with Death. For the Potuans are persuaded, that every Change or Reformation, however well digested, gives Occasion to Disturbance and Commotion, and puts the whole State into a fluctuating and unsettled Condition; but if it be a rash and ill-digested Alteration, it is followed with inevitable Ruin.
The Power of the Potuan Monarchs, altho’ subject to no Laws, is yet rather a paternal than a regal Power. For being naturally Lovers of Justice, Power, and Liberty, Things totally incompatible elsewhere, do here go Hand in Hand.
Among the Laws of this Kingdom, the most salutary is that by which the Princes endeavour to preserve an Equality between the Subjects, that is, as far as the Nature of Government will admit. You see here no different Ranks and Titles of Honour. Inferiors obey their Superiors, and the Younger the Elder; and this is all.
The subterranean Memoirs shew, that some Ages ago such Classes of Dignities were in use, and that they were establish’d by Law; but it appear’d that they were the Source of infinite Disorders. It was an intolerable Evil, for an elder Brother to give Place to his younger, or a Parent to his Child; so that at length each shunning the other’s Company, it put a Stop to all Conversation and good Fellowship. But these were not the only Grievances. For in Process of Time it came to that Pass, that the more noble and worthy Trees, whom Nature had bless’d with the strongest Capacities, and with the greatest Number of Branches, were seated in the lowest Places at Feasts and Assemblies. For no Tree of real Virtue and intrinsick Worth, could bring himself to sue for a Title or Mark of Preheminence, which from his Soul he despis’d. And on the contrary, the more profligate and worthless Sort of Trees would incessantly teaze their Royal Master with Petitions, till they had even extorted a Title that might in a Manner hide the Poverty of their Nature, and be a Skreen for their Vices. Hence it came to pass, that Titles were at last look’d upon as certain Indications of the vilest Trees. Their Festivals and solemn Meetings, were, to Strangers, a Spectacle the most absurd that can be imagin’d. There might they behold Brambles and Bushes in the most honourable Seats, while the lofty Cedar and the noble Oak, each of whom Nature had adorn’d with ten or twelve Tire of Branches, took the remotest and most obscure Seats. Even the Ladies had Titles; they were Counsellors of the Houshold, Counsellors of State, Counsellors of Court. And this blew up the Coals of Discord more in that weaker Sex than in the other. To such an Excess this vain Ambition rose, that they to whom Nature had been so unkind, as to afford them no more than two or three Pair of Branches, even they absurdly affected the Title of Trees of ten or twelve Branches. This Vanity is just as ridiculous, as if the most deform’d Monster in Nature should affect to pass for a Beauty, or a Man of the meanest Original give himself the Airs of a Man of Quality. When this Evil had arriv’d to its highest Pitch, and the whole Kingdom upon the Brink of being ruin’d, every Mortal grasping at empty Names, and dishonourable Titles, a certain Native of Keba had the Hardiness to propose a Law for the abolishing this Custom. This same Person was, according to the usual Custom, brought into the Forum, with a Halter about his Neck. The Senate being set, and proceeding to vote, the Proposal passed without any open Opposition, and was judg’d useful to the Commonwealth. Upon this he was crown’d with a Garland of Flowers, and led into the City in Triumph, amidst the Shouts and Acclamations of the Populace. And when in Process of Time it was discover’d how advantageous the Repeal of these Laws was, the Projector was advanc’d to the Honour of Kadoki, or High Chancellor.
Ever since this Time, the Law for preserving this Equality among the Subjects, has been inviolably observ’d. Yet the Repeal did not put a Stop to all Emulation; for every one now endeavour’d to shine by true Virtue and real Merit. It appears from the Annals of this Empire, that from that Time to this, has been but one Projector who twice attempted to revive the Distinction of Dignities; but for his first Effort he was condemn’d to the Venæ-section, and since he persisted in his Attempt, he was banish’d to the Firmament. Now therefore no Ranks or Titles of Honour obtain here, only the supreme Magistrate declares some Professions to be nobler than others, by which Declaration, notwithstanding, nobody has a Right of assuming the chief Seats in publick Assemblies. This small Difference we find in the Edicts and Letters mandatory of the Sovereign, which generally end with these Words: “We command and enjoin all Husbandmen, Inventors of Machines for the Manufactures, Merchants, Tradesmen, Philosophers, Officers of the Court, &c.”
I was inform’d, that in the Archives of the Prince, this Catalogue of Honour was preserv’d.
1. Those who had assisted the Government with their Wealth and Fortunes in its greatest Streights.
2. Officers who serve gratis and without Salary or Pension.
3. Husbandmen of eight Branches and upwards.
4. Husbandmen of seven Branches and under.
5. Inventors or Erectors of Machines for Manufactures.
6. Operators who exercise the more necessary Callings and Employments.
7. Philosophers and graduate Doctors of both Sexes.
8. Artisans.
9. Merchants.
10. Officers of the Court, with a Salary of 500 Rupats.
11. Officers of the Court, with a Salary of 1000 Rupats.
This Series of Honours seem’d very ridiculous to me, as it must to everyone of our Globe. I guess’d indeed at some of the Reasons for this inverted Order, what Foundation it was grounded on, and by what Arguments the Subterraneans would defend it. But I confess upon the whole it was a Paradox I could not comprehend.
Among other Things worthy of Observation, I remark’d the following: The more Benefit any one receiv’d from the Government, with a proportional Modesty and Humility he carry’d himself. Thus I frequently saw Bospolak, the richest Man in the Potuan Dominions, receive all he met with such Condescension, that he lower’d all his Branches, and by inclining his Head, testify’d to every common Tree his grateful Sense of the Publick Favours. Upon my asking the Reason, I was told, that thus it ought to be, since upon no Subject more Benefits were confer’d, and that therefore he was the greatest Debtor to the Commonwealth. Not that he was oblig’d by any Law to this Condescension; but as the Potuans in general act wisely and judiciously, so they make a voluntary Virtue of it, holding themselves bound to use such a Behaviour as Gratitude would dictate; far otherwise than it is with us, where those, whom their Country has loaded with Wealth and Titles, receive their Inferiors with a lofty and contemptuous Air.
But the most deserving Subjects of all, and who receive the most universal Honour and Respect, are the Parents of a numerous Offspring. These are the Heroes of the Subterranean World, and their Memory is held sacred with Posterity. They are also the only Persons upon whom the Name of +Great+ is conferr’d. Not so with us; where the Destroyers of Mankind are complimented with that Title. One may easily guess what Sentiments they would entertain here of Alexander the Great and Julius Cæsar, each of whom having slain their Millions, died without Offspring. I remember to have seen at Keba this Epitaph of a Husbandman: “Here lies Jochtan the Great, Father of thirty Children, the Heroe of his Time.” It must be observ’d, that in order to acquire this Glory, the mere Procreation of Children is not alone sufficient, unless they be also liberally and virtuously educated.
In the enacting Laws, they proceed with a Deliberation equal to that of the old Romans. The Proposal of a new Law is fix’d upon all the Courts and Places of Resort through out the City. The Citizens are free to examine it, and send their Sentiments and Advices upon it to the College of Wise Men, instituted for this very Purpose. Here every Thing is weigh’d that concerns the enacting, the disannulling, approving, correcting, limiting, or extending this Law. And when it has thus gone through all this Trial and Examination, it is offer’d to the Prince for his Consent and Authority. This Delay may seem absurd to some; but the Consequence of this Caution is, that their Laws are immortal; and I have been inform’d, that not one of their Laws for these five hundred Years past has suffer’d the least Alteration.
In the Custody of the Sovereign, there is a List of the most worthy and valuable Trees, together with Certificates of their Learning from the Karatti, and of their Life and Morals from their Neighbours. Hence the Republick are never in Want of proper Persons to fill the vacant Offices. It is particularly worth remarking, that no one has a Right or Freedom to live in any City or Village without a Certificate from the Place they came from, and Security for their future Behaviour.
A Law once enacted by publick Authority, all future canvassing and criticising upon it is prohibited upon Pain of Death. So that in their Politicks, their Liberty seems to be more restrained than in their Religion. The Reason they assign is this: “If any one err in Matters of Faith and Speculation, at his own Peril he errs; but if any one call in Question the establish’d Laws, or endeavour to pervert the Sense of them by some new Gloss or Interpretation, he is an Enemy to Society.”
Something has already been said of the State and Oeconomy of the Court. It has been observ’d, that the Kadoki, or High Chancellor, is the Supreme Officer. Next to him is the Smirian, or High Treasurer. This Post was in my Time discharg’d by a Widow of seven Branches, call’d Rahagna, who for her eminent Integrity and other great Endowments, was advanced to an Office of that Weight and Trust. Long had she presided at the Head of the Treasury, even many Years before the Death of her Husband, who, tho’ extremely well vers’d in the State of the Finances, yet was entirely ruled by the Counsels and Authority of his Wife, and never ventur’d to act upon his own Judgment; hence he was more her Official or Deputy than her Husband. The Edicts and Ordinances indeed were issued out in his Name, as often as she was hindred, by Lyings-in, or any other Malady; yet nothing was esteem’d firm and authentic till her Subscription or Seal was affixed to it. Rahagna had two Brothers, one of which was Butler, and the other Butcher to the Court; nor, tho’ they had a Sister in the highest Exaltation, did they dare to aim at any Thing greater by Reason of the Poverty and Slenderness of their Abilities: With so much Equity are Preferments here distributed.
This Lady, tho’ ingag’d in the most arduous Affairs of the Kingdom, yet at the same Time suckled an Infant she was deliver’d of soon after the Death of her Husband. This I thought was too troublesome and too mean an Employment for so great a Matron. And upon my giving my Opinion, they reply’d in this Manner: “Can you imagine that Nature has given Breasts to Women only as a softer Ornament, and not rather for the Nourishment of their Offspring? The Quality of the Milk, and the Temper of the Nurse, go farther than we imagine, in forming the Disposition of the Infant. And Mothers who disdain to nourish their own Issue, dissolve one of the finest and strongest Ties of Nature.” And hence there is hardly a Lady throughout all these Dominions but suckles her own Children.
The Heir apparent of the Crown was a Youth of six Years old, in whom ’twas easy to discover the Seeds of many great and shining Virtues. Nature had been so liberal, as to adorn him with six Pair of Branches; an uncommon Circumstance in that tender Age. His Preceptor, the wisest Tree in all the Empire, instructed him in the Knowledge of the Creator, in History, in Mathematicks and moral Philosophy. I obtain’d a Sight of that Moral System or Political Compendium, which he compos’d for the Use of his Pupil. The Title of it was, Mahalda Libab helil, which in the Subterranean Language signifies a Key to Government. It consists of a Collection of Precepts and Maxims, the most solid and advantageous; some of which I yet perfectly remember, and shall here set them down.
1. Aspersions or Encomiums are not hastily to be credited; but the Judgment is to be suspended, till an indubitable Knowledge can be procur’d.
2. When any one is accus’d and convicted of a Crime, it should be examin’d what Good the Delinquent has ever done; thus his good Actions being compar’d with his bad, let Reason interpose and pronounce Sentence.
3. Those Counsellors who are given to Contradiction and Contest, the Sovereign may safely confide in as the heartiest Subjects; for no one will expose themselves to Danger, but those to whom the Welfare of their Country is dearer than their private Safety.
4. Let none but large estated Men compose the Senate. Their Advantage is united with the Publick Advantage: Whereas those who possess but a moveable Estate, look upon the Kingdom not as their Country, but as an Inn, and themselves as Travellers.
5. The Prince may make use of the Ministry or Agency of bad Men, if they should happen to be fit for a particular Business, but never load them with uncommon Favours; for if a wicked or an obnoxious Man be receiv’d into Favour, the worst of Subjects will rise under his Patronage, and work themselves into Office.
6. Let him most of all suspect those, who perpetually haunt the Court: Such either have committed, or are prepar’d to commit the most daring Things.
7. Let him be very backward to reward those who are most impatient of Honours. For as no one begs an Alms till oppress’d with Poverty and Hunger, so none insatiably haunt after Dignities, but who despair to rise by real Merit and Virtue.
8. The eighth Precept is indeed a very useful one, but what I could not be pleas’d with upon Account of the odious Example with which it was illustrated. The Precept is this: No Subject is to be consider’d as altogether useless; none are so dull but may be made subservient to some good Purpose, nay even may be made to excel in some Point. For Instance, one excels in Judgment, another in Ingenuity; one’s Excellence shall be in the Mind, another’s in the Body; this shall make a good Judge, that a better Advocate. One shall have a vast Power of Invention, another shall labour at the Execution of a Thing; insomuch, that there are few entirely unprofitable. That some Creatures indeed seem so, is not the Fault of the Creator, but of those who will not perceive or enquire where their chief Strength lies, and follow that Clue. This Position he thus illustrated. We have seen, says he, in this our Age, one of the Superterranean Animals, who, by the unanimous Suffrage of all was deem’d as an unprofitable Load upon the Earth, by reason of that Quickness and Forwardness of his Judgment; but yet we see his great Swiftness of Foot is of no small Service to us. Upon reading this Paragraph, I could not help saying, This is a very honest Preface, but a scandalous Conclusion.
9. It is of no small Importance to a Prince who would know the Arts of governing, to be very nice and cautious in the Choice of a Preceptor to the Heir of his Dominions. Let him therefore chuse one of remarkable Piety, and eminent Learning, since from the Institution of the future Successor, the Welfare of the State must be determin’d. What we learn in the tender Age of Life, passes into Nature. Hence it is necessary, that the young Prince’s Tutor should be a Lover of his Country, that he may instil into his Prince a Love for his Subjects, the first and principal Mark that all his Precepts should be aim’d at.
10. ’Tis necessary the Prince should study the Genius of his Government, and conform to it; and if he would correct the Disorders of his Subjects, let him do it rather from his own Example than the Laws.
——_Velocius & citius nos
Corrumpunt vitiorum exempla domestica, magnis
Cum subeant animos autoribus._
11. Let none be suffer’d to be idle, since such are a dead Weight upon their Country. By constant Industry and Toil, the Republick rises into Strength and Power; nor is there any Room left for pernicious Counsels and Contrivances against the State. And therefore it is safer for the State to allow the Subjects their insignificant Diversions, than to indulge them in a Laziness, which would be a Source of Conspiracies.
12. Let the Prince preserve Peace among his Subjects; however, it would not be amiss to encourage an Emulation among his Counsellors, as it leads to the Discovery of Truth. A skilful Judge will often extract the Truth from the Passions of the Advocates.
13. He would act wisely, if in Affairs of the last Moment he heard the Sentiments of every Member of the Senate, and that, rather apart than when conven’d. For in a full Senate, where Opinions are openly given, it often falls out that the most fluent Speaker bears all before him with a Torrent of Eloquence, and so the Sovereign hears but one Opinion.
14. Punishments are not less necessary than Rewards: The first puts a Stop to Evil, as the latter encourages Good. Hence it may not be wrong even to reward a bad Subject for a good Action, if it were only, that others may thereby be whetted up and incited to do their Duty vigorously.
15. In Promotions to Honours and publick Posts, let Regard be had principally to the Person’s Dexterity and Adroitness for that particular Employment. Though Piety and Integrity are of themselves most commendable Virtues, yet ’tis possible we may be deceiv’d by their Appearance. Every one would affect a Sanctity of Behaviour, if he knew that this Shew of Virtue was the Road to Honours; and would in Words profess the utmost Probity and Uprightness, with the same View. Besides, it is no easy Matter to form a Judgment of a Person’s Virtues, till he is admitted to Employment, in which, as upon a Stage, he is to exhibit Specimens of his Virtues. But nothing is easier than to make Experiment of any one’s Aptness for Business before-hand. It is infinitely harder for the Stupid and the Ignorant to conceal their Stupidity and Ignorance, than for a Hypocrite to cover his Impiety, or a Knave his Roguery. Besides, great Abilities and much Virtue are not so very opposite but they may be often found united in the same Character. And if a Person of large Abilities be at the same Time honest and virtuous, nothing more can be wanting. An Ignorant is either good or bad; if bad, who knows what Monsters Ignorance and Wickedness in Conjunction produce? If good, his very Dulness must indubitably hinder the Exercise of his Virtues. And if he of himself neither can nor dare attempt the Commission of some atrocious Crime, yet the Servant, whose Assistance he must make use of, in all Likelihood may. A foolish Landlord has commonly a roguish Bailiff, and a dull Justice a knavish Clerk, who fearlesly commits Frauds and Errors under the Protection of his Master. In Promotions therefore, let Dexterity be the principal Thing regarded.
16. Let none be hastily censur’d as ambitious, for aiming at an Employment he is in Reality unfit for, or for that Reason excluded from all Hopes of Preferment. For if, in the Distribution of publick Honours, the Prince should happen to adhere to this Rule too closely, the most Ambitious will soon put on the Mask of Humility, as a safer Road and a shorter Cut to Preferment. And thus the Sovereign would, contrary to his Inclination, prefer the most forward Worshippers of Fortune, as being to all Appearance the most humble; that is, he would prefer those, who about the Time of any Vacancy pretend to fly from Court and retire into the Shade, giving out by their Friends that they are averse to Grandeur. To illustrate this Point, he inserted an Example of one who, during the Vacancy of a considerable Employment he was all on Fire to obtain, wrote to the Prince to this Effect, viz. “That it was reported, that his Serene Highness design’d the vacant Dignity for him, tho’ sollicited for it by Numbers; that he for his Part must beg Leave to decline an Office to which he profess’d himself unequal; that he intreated his Majesty to confer it upon some more proper Person, and that being perfectly contented with his present Station, he aspir’d to nothing greater.” The Monarch mov’d with so strong an Attestation of Humility, preferr’d this humble Hypocrite to the said Dignity. But he soon learnt that he was abus’d; for no Minister ever behav’d with such Pride, or acted with such Weakness.
17. To set a poor Insolvent at the Head of the Treasury, is the same Thing as to put a hungry Man in your Pantry. Nor is a covetous rich Man a better Choice. The former has nothing, and the other thinks nothing enough.
18. Let there be no Foundations or Establishments for the Maintenance of slothful Trees. Accordingly, throughout this Empire, the Monasteries and Colleges admit only the Industrious and the Diligent; those who either by some useful Manufacture help to advance the Interest of the Republick, or who by their Studies and Learning can be an Ornament to the Society they are Members of. A few Monasteries indeed are to be excepted, which maintain the Aged and the Helpless; such by the Privilege of Age being exempted from all Labour.
19. When the Disorders of the State call loud for Reformation, it will be right to proceed slowly in it. For to endeavour to extirpate inveterate Evils at a Blow is as absurd as to prescribe Purging, Bleeding, and Vomiting all at once to a Patient.
20. Those who boldly attempt every Thing, and undertake a Multitude of Affairs together, are either Fools who have not duly compar’d their own Strength with the Weight of the Things, or else they are wicked and unnatural Members of their Society, who consult their own Interest alone, instead of that of the Commonwealth. A prudent Man will try his Arms before he takes his Burden up; and an honest Subject, who loves his Country, will not transact the Affairs of it superficially.
