Niels Klim's journey under the ground: being a narrative of his wonderful descent to the subterranean lands; together with an account of the sensible animals and trees inhabiting the planet Nazar and the firmament.Holberg, Ludvig
Science
Niels Klim's journey under the ground: being a narrative of his wonderful descent to the subterranean lands; together with an account of the sensible animals and trees inhabiting the planet Nazar and the firmament.
Holberg, Ludvig
Utopias -- Early works to 1800; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
Since it has come to our ears that some persons have doubted the truth
of this story, and that, consequently, the publisher of the subterranean
voyage has gotten, here and there, a bad reputation, we have, to prevent
all false accusations, held it advisable to prefix to this new edition
certificates from men whose honesty and sincerity are raised above all
distrust, and whose evidence will secure the publisher against all
opposition. The first two of these witnesses we know to have been
contemporary with our hero; the rest flourished at a period immediately
subsequent; and all are generally known as people venerable in virtue
and honesty, whose cool and sound judgments effectually preclude the
blandishments of cajolery, while their noble candor and undeviating
uprightness forbid the sanction of their names to whatever is, in its
nature, deceitful or fictitious. With the testimony of such respectable
persons, we shall bind the tongues of all false, prejudiced and sneering
critics, and, before these signatures, oblige them to acknowledge their
folly and take back their heedless accusations. The certificate sent to
my brother and myself reads thus:
"At the desire of the estimable and much respected young
men, PETER KLIM and ANDREAS KLIM, we, the undersigned, do
certify, that among the books and papers left by the
celebrated NIELS KLIM, we have seen a manuscript, with the
title, 'Subterranean Voyage.' To the same 'Voyage' were
added a subterranean Grammar and Dictionary, in two
languages, namely, Danish and Quamitic. By comparing the
celebrated Abelin's Latin translation with this old
manuscript, we find that the former does not, in the least
point, deviate from the hand-text. To its further
confirmation we have hereby placed our seals.
ADRIAN PETERSON, MPP.
JENS THORLAKSEN, MPP.
SVEND KLAK, MPP.
JOKUM BRANDER, MPP.
JENS GAD, (for self and brother,) MPP.
HIERONYMOUS GIBS, (Scotch,) MPP."
We hope by such distinguished and authentic testimony to remove all
doubt; but should there be found any stubborn enough to persist in their
suspicions, in spite of these certificates, we will anticipate their
objections, and endeavor to subdue their incredulity with other weapons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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