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
However, that Breakfast was one of the dearest in all my Travels, and
I protest I never met with a Landlord more devout, or more unmerciful.
Well! thought I to myself, this Landlord had better have pray’d less,
and been more honest. But I dissembled my Resentment, well knowing
how dangerous it is to provoke a Saint. The Citizens here were all
_Cato’s_, all Censors of Manners. They walk’d up and down the Streets
with pensive Looks and folded Arms, declaiming against the Vanity of
the Times, and condemning every innocent Pleasure. Not a Gesture, not a
Smile escap’d their Observation. And thus by their perpetual Censures,
and envenom’d Zeal, they pass’d for Persons of eminent Sanctity. For my
Part, as I was spent and exhausted with Fatigues, I made no Scruple of
indulging in several innocent Diversions. But I got a bad Name by so
doing, insomuch that every House I enter’d was like a Court of Justice,
where I was sure to be arraign’d. Some, when they saw I was not at all
mov’d by their Rebukes and Admonitions, shunn’d me like a Plague or a
Contagion. I forbear to say more upon the Moroseness of this People:
However, one Circumstance I must not omit, because it gives you their
exact Character; and from this Sample you may judge of the rest. A
certain _Tumbacian_, with whom I had been acquainted at _Potu_, being
at an Inn, and seeing me go by, stept out to me, and press’d me to go
in. I waited on him. As he had heard that I was far from being an Enemy
to Pleasure, he gave me such a Lecture, and upbraided me with my Life
and Morals in such Terms, that my Hair stood on End, and every Joint of
me shook. But while our _Cato_ was discharging thus the Artillery of
his Censures, the Glass had pass’d very insensibly, but very briskly,
from one to the other, till in short we both fell fairly fuddled on the
Floor, and were carried off half dead. Having slept off this Debauch,
and recover’d my Reason, I set myself to examine into the Nature of
these People’s Religion; and I made a fair Discovery, that their Zeal
flow’d rather from some vicious Humours, or a Predominancy of the
bilious Juices, than from true Piety. But I never communicated this to
any one, and left them without saying a Word.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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