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
Tho’ to say the Truth, had she been less lavish of
her Favours, she had been in Reality much kinder. Of all this Race,
there were only three in my Time in Employment, to which, however,
they were not admitted, till they had consented to an Amputation of
six of their Heads. After this, the confus’d Ideas they labour’d under
vanish’d, and they were brought to common Sense. Thus Men prune Trees
of their superfluous Branches, to derive more Health and Vigour to the
rest. Very few undergo this Operation, upon Account of the extreme Pain
and Danger. From hence I drew this useful Maxim, That all Excess is
hurtful, and that Simplicity is true Wisdom.
From hence I pass’d to the Principality of _Bostanki_, a People, as
to their outward Make, little different from the _Potuans_; but as to
the inward, they have this Singularity, that their Heart is situated
in their Thigh; so that it may be truly said of them, that they carry
their Heart in their Breeches. Hence, among all the Inhabitants of this
Globe, these are accounted the most fearful and pusillanimous. Upon
my Arrival, I enter’d into an Inn near the Gate, and as the Fatigue
of Travelling had made me something weary and fretful, I rattled my
Host for being slow in his Attendance. But he, falling on his Knees,
implor’d for Mercy, and extending his Thigh for me to feel the great
Palpitation of Heart he was in, from storming I fell to laughing,
and bid him dry his Tears, and cast away all Fear: He rose, and in
a Transport kiss’d my Hand, and set about Supper immediately. In a
Minute or two the whole Kitchen resounded with Cries and Lamentations.
I ran thither, and to my vast Astonishment, there did I behold my very
fearful Host beating and whipping his Wife and the Maids about. Seeing
me, he took to his Heels, and run away. I turn’d to the weeping Family,
and begg’d to know what Crime they had committed, to provoke so meek a
Man to so great Rage. They, on the other Hand, stood mute, with their
Eyes fasten’d to the Ground, not daring to tell the Cause of their
Affliction. But upon my persisting to enquire, and adding Threats to
my Intreaty, the Mistress spoke to me in this Manner: “You seem, Sir,
to be a great Stranger to the Manners of the World. The Natives of
this Principality can’t bear the Sight of an armed Enemy, and out of
their own Houses tremble at the least Noise; yet they all domineer in
the Kitchen, they exert their Bravery on their defenceless Family, and
are only then valiant, when no Resistance can be made. On this Account
they are the Jest, as well as the Prey, of the neighbouring States.
But in the bordering Kingdom, to which we are Tributaries, the Case is
otherwise. There they never fight but against an arm’d Enemy. There
the Males command abroad, and serve at home.” I admir’d the Wisdom of
the Hostess, whom I look’d upon as worthy of a better Condition. And,
indeed, upon a closer Inspection into the Nature and Disposition of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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