A journey to the world under-groundHolberg, Ludvig
Science
A journey to the world under-ground
Holberg, Ludvig
Utopias -- Early works to 1800; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
The Taking of the capital City was follow’d by the Surrender of the
whole Kingdom; so that the Contempt with which the _Quamites_ had been
before stigmatiz’d, was chang’d into Renown; and the Empire of _Quama_,
by the Addition of this conquer’d Nation, became almost twice as
powerful as it was before. But as every body look’d upon this Success
to be owing to my Industry and Management, the Esteem which they had
for a long Time conceiv’d for me was heighten’d almost into Adoration.
The _Tanachites_ being thus subdued, and Governors appointed in every
City, to keep this fierce and warlike People in their Duty, I went to
work, to finish the Task I had begun, and to root out that Barbarity
in which the _Quamites_ were as yet involv’d. It was a Matter of great
Difficulty, however, to introduce the Study of the liberal Arts at
once; for the _Latin_ Tongue, and a few Scraps of _Greek_, which I
had learnt in _Europe_, would not, I knew, be here of any Use. For
this Reason, I caus’d twelve of the most learned Tigers to be sent for
out of the Enemies Country. These were made Professors, and commanded
to found an University upon the Model of those in their own Country.
I likewise order’d the Royal Library of _Tanachin_ to be remov’d to
_Quama_. I was determin’d, however, that as soon as the _Quamites_ had
made such a Progress in Literature as to be able to stand upon their
own Legs, I would send these Foreigners back into their own Country.
I was very desirous of seeing the _Tanachitish_ Library, because I
had been inform’d by their General _Tomopoloko_, that amongst other
Manuscripts in the Archives of the Library, there was one compos’d by
an Author who had been in our World, and had left a Description of
its different Kingdoms, especially the _European_ ones; he told me
likewise, that the _Tanachites_ had got Possession of this Book while
they were at War in a very distant Country, but that the Name of the
Author was conceal’d, nor could it ever be learnt who he was, or how he
was carry’d to the Superterranean Habitations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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