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
Then I perceiv’d that I did not only swim in a cœlestial Matter or
Æther, but that my Motion which had hitherto been perpendicular, was
now alter’d into a circular one. At this my Hair stood on End; for I
was full of Apprehension lest I should be transform’d into a Planet,
or into a Satellite of the neighbouring Planet, and so be whirl’d
about in an everlasting Rotation. But when I reflected, that by this
Metamorphosis my Dignity would suffer no great Diminution, and that a
heavenly Body, or at least an Attendant upon a heavenly Body, would
surely move with equal Solemnity to a famish’d Philosopher, I took
Courage again, especially when I found from the Benefit of that pure
cœlestial Æther, that I was no longer prest by Hunger or Thirst. Yet
upon recollecting that I had in my Pocket some of that Sort of Bread
which the People of _Bergen_ call _Bolken_, and which is of an oval
or oblong Figure, I resolv’d to take it out, and make an Experiment
whether in this Situation I had any Appetite. But at the first Bite
perceiving it was quite nauseous, I threw it away as a Thing to all
Intents and Purposes useless. The Bread thus cast away was not only
suspended in Air, but (what was very marvellous to behold) it describ’d
a little circular Motion round my own Body. And from thence I learnt
the true Laws of Motion, by which it comes to pass, that all Bodies
plac’d in Æquilibrium naturally affect a circular Motion. Upon this,
instead of deploring my Wretchedness, as I had done, for being thus
the Sport of Fortune, I began to plume a little, finding that I was
not only a simple Planet, but such a Planet as wou’d have a perpetual
Attendant conforming itself to my Motions, insomuch that I should
have the Honour to be reckon’d in the Number of the greater heavenly
Bodies or Stars of the first Magnitude. And to confess my Weakness, so
elated was I, that if I had then met any of our Consuls or Senators of
_Bergen_, I should have receiv’d them with a supercilious Air, should
have regarded them as Atoms, and accounted them unworthy to be saluted
or honoured with a Touch of my Harpoon.
For almost three Days I remain’d in this Condition. For as without any
Intermission I was whirl’d about the Planet that was next me, I could
distinguish Day from Night; and observing the subterraneous Sun to
rise, and set, and retire gradually out of my Sight, I could easily
perceive when it was Night, tho’ it was not altogether such as it is
with us. For at Sun-set the whole Face of the Firmament appear’d of
a bright Purple, not unlike the Countenance of our Moon sometimes.
This I took to be occasion’d by the inner Surface of our Earth, which
borrow’d that Light from the subterraneous Sun, which Sun was plac’d in
the Center. This Hypothesis I fram’d to myself, being not altogether a
Stranger to the Study of Astronomy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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