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
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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