Part 21

After I had repos’d myself for full eight Days, my Friend now thinking I had taken sufficient Rest, was resolv’d to try if I had recover’d my Senses, and therefore artfully resum’d the Conversation concerning my subterranean Journey. He was now in Hopes, that the fifth Monarchy, together with the twenty conquer’d Kingdoms, was all vanish’d into Smoke, and so utterly buried in Oblivion, that not an Idea remain’d of so much as a single Town or Village. But when he heard me repeat the very same Things in the very same Order I had before done; when at the Conclusion of my History I upbraided him with his obstinate Unbelief, and moreover alledg’d certain indubitable Facts, such as that about twelve Years ago it was notorious I had descended into that Cavern, and that I was now return’d into my own Country in a strange and foreign Habit; he then began to waver, and had not a Word to reply. I took the Advantage of this his Situation of Mind, and press’d the Matter still more home. I demonstrated to him, that his Hypothesis concerning Witchcraft and Sorcery, was far, infinitely far more absur’d than this Expedition of mine; for that those were justly to be thrown into the Class of old Wives Fables; but that on the other hand, he could not but know that several Philosophers of Reputation were of Opinion, that the Earth was concave, and that probably it contain’d within it a lesser habitable World; and that I, for my Part, being convinc’d of it by Experience, could not possibly give up my Senses with respect to this Article.

Convinc’d at length by these Arguments, Your Constancy, said he, and your Punctuality in affirming these Things, the Pretence of which could not be the least Advantage to you, has at last entirely vanquish’d my Incredulity; I must and do believe you. My Friend thus persuaded of the Facts in Question, now begg’d me to renew my Story to him, if possible, in a more full and copious Manner; accordingly I obey’d him. He was quite charm’d with my Account of the Planet _Nazar_, and the _Potuan_ Government, the Laws and Institutions of which, he said, were such as deserv’d to be a Model to all the Kingdoms in the World. He also observ’d in Justice to me, that a Description of so wise and well-regulated a Government, could not possibly proceed from a disorder’d Head, or a confused Imagination; for that such Principles were rather of divine, than human Original.

When I found that his Conviction was perfectly sincere, and well establish’d, I then thought it high Time to talk to him about my own Affairs; accordingly I desir’d to know of him, what he thought I had best do in my present Condition, or what I might reasonably expect in my own Country, after the mighty Exploits I had atchiev’d in the subterranean World. To which he answer’d thus: “Let me persuade you, says he, never to discover these Things to any Mortal. You know the Zeal of our Priests. You know they persecuted the Author of that famous Discovery of the Earth’s Motion round the Sun, and all who adher’d to that Philosophy. And what then do you think will become of you for asserting the Existence of a subterranean Sun and Planets? You will be declar’d a Heretick, and as such unworthy to live in a Christian Community. How will Master _Rupert_ thunder against you? He, who but a Year ago sentenced a Man to do publick Penance, for asserting the Doctrine of the Antipodes. Certainly, so holy a Person will condemn to the Flames, the Author of so new a System, as that of a World under Ground. I give it you therefore as my best Advice, that you suffer these Things to lie buried in eternal Oblivion, and that you live privately in my House for a Time.”

He then made me throw aside my subterranean Habit, and equipp’d me according to the Fashion of my own Country. Moreover, he drove away all those Crowds of People from the Door, who came out of Curiosity to see the _Wandering Jew_, assuring them, that he disappear’d all at once. However, the Affair was nois’d all over the Country, and, in a short Time, all the Pulpits rung with Predictions and Prophecies of the Evils and Misfortunes that must follow upon this Apparition. It was said at _Sandwic_, that the _Wandering Jew_ was come, publishing every where the approaching Vengeance of Heaven, and exhorting the People to Repentance. And this Story (as Stories always gain in telling) was presently enrich’d with various Additions and Interpolations. Accordingly some said, that the _Wandering Jew_ had foretold the End of the World, and that the next _St. John_’s Day would be the Day of the general Conflagration, unless they would prevent it by a very sincere Repentance; with abundance of other Things in the same Style. Nay, these Predictions had occasion’d such Troubles in a certain Parish, that the Farmers all gave off Plowing and Sowing, because as the World was soon to be at an End, there would certainly be no Harvest. Hereupon, Master _Nicholas_, the Minister of the Parish, fearing he should fall short in his Tythes and other Articles of his Income, told his Congregation, that to his certain Knowledge, the Day of Judgment was put off to the next Year. The Stratagem took, and they all returned to their wonted Labours. As the Origin of all this Folly and Superstition was known only to my Friend and me, it afforded us plentiful Matter of Mirth and Laughter from Time to Time.

At length, as I did not care to continue longer in a House that was not my own, and as I was under a Necessity of coming abroad one Time or other, in order to procure myself a competent Livelihood, I thought it was now high time to begin: Accordingly, we both went to _Bergen_; and my Friend made me pass for a Student of _Drontheim_, and a Relation of his, who came to spend some Time in that Capital. Soon after he recommended me so earnestly to the Bishop of _Bergen_, sometimes by Letters, and sometimes in Conversation, that that venerable Prelate promised me the first vacant Mastership of any School or College he had in his Gift. This was an Office to my Palate, inasmuch as it seem’d to be something a-kin to the Elevation I was lately fallen from. For the Government of a School is the Shadow or Image of Imperial Power: The Ferula is the Scepter, and the Chair a Throne. But as no Vacancy happen’d in a long Time, and as it was necessary something should be done for my present Subsistence, I was resolv’d to embrace the first Offer that should be made me. Luckily the Curate of _St. Cross_ now died, and the Bishop appointed me to succeed him. This Promotion seem’d ridiculous enough for the Monarch of so many Empires and Kingdoms. But as nothing makes Men more ridiculous than Poverty, and as it is too high a Strain of Niceness, to refuse muddy Water, when a Man is parch’d with Thirst, I accepted the gracious Offer, and am now spending the Residue of my Days in this Office, with the Contentedness of a Philosopher.

A little after this Promotion, a Match was propos’d to me with the Daughter of a Merchant of _Bergen_, whose Name was _Magdalen_. The Lady pleas’d me highly: But as it was very likely that the Empress of _Quama_ was still alive, I was afraid lest by this Marriage with _Magdalen_, I should be guilty of Polygamy. But my Friend _Abeline_, to whom I unbosom’d myself on this Occasion, ridicul’d my Fears, and by so many Arguments demonstrated the Folly of my Scruples, that I no longer hesitated to conclude the Match. I liv’d six Years with this Wife in the utmost Love and Friendship; altho’ in all that Time, I never once related my subterranean History to her. But as I could never entirely lose the Remembrance of that Height of Glory from which I was fallen, some sudden Starts and Gestures would now and then escape me, which did not seem to agree with my present Condition. By this second Venter I had three Sons, _Christiern_, _John_, and _Jasper_; so that in the whole I have four, if so be that the Prince of _Quama_ is still alive.

_Thus far the Manuscript of_ +Nicholas Klimius+ _reaches. What follows is the Appendix of Master_ +Abeline+.

_Nicholas Klimius_ lived to the Year 1695. He was belov’d and esteem’d for the Sobriety of his Life, and the Purity of his Manners. The Rector however was now and then displeas’d at his excessive Gravity, which he thought proceeded from Pride. But I, who knew the Man, and knew his History, rather wonder’d at his exemplary Modesty and Patience, who from the Government of so many Kingdoms, could humbly accomodate himself to such an Employment. However, with other Men, to whom his amazing Metamorphosis was unknown, he could not altogether escape the Charge of Pride. It was his Custom, at certain Times of the Year, while his Strength permitted him, to ascend the old Mountain, and take an earnest View of the famous Cavern. His Friends observ’d, that he always return’d from thence with his Eyes swoln, and his Face all bath’d in Tears; that he would afterwards shut himself up whole Days in his Study, and seem’d to shun the Conversation of Mankind. His Wife also assured me, that he would often talk in his Sleep, about Land Armies and Forces at Sea. This Absence of Mind went so far once, as to give Orders for the Governor of _Bergen_ to come immediately before him. His Spouse imagin’d these Disorders of his Brain proceeded from an excessive Application to his Studies. His Library consisted chiefly of political Books, and as such a Choice but ill agreed with the Office of a Curate, he could not avoid some Censures upon that Head. He himself wrote his own Adventures, and his Manuscript, which is the only one in Being, is at present in my Custody. Tho’ I always intended it for the Press, yet I have hitherto been hinder’d from publishing it by very important Reasons.

_FINIS._

Transcriber’s Notes:

• Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). • Text enclosed by pluses is in small caps (+small caps+). • Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.