The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the MoonDefoe, Daniel
Science
The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon
Defoe, Daniel
Fantasy fiction; Interplanetary voyages -- Fiction; Moon -- Fiction; Political fiction; Satire
But upon the whole, for ought I cou'd see, whether it went one way or
t'other, all the Nation esteem'd the other People Fools ------ Fools
of the most extraordinary Size in all the Moon, for either way they
pull'd down what they had been many Years a Building.
I cannot say that this was in kindness to the Crolians, but in meer
Malice to the Low Solunarian Party, who had the Government in their
Hands, for Malice always carries Men on to monstrous Extremes.
Some indeed have thought it hard to call this a Plot, and a
Confederacy with the Crolians.------ But I cannot but think it the
kindest thing that can be said of them, and that 'tis impossible
those People who push'd at some imaginary Things in that Law could
but be in a Plot as aforesaid, or be perfectly Lunatick, down right
Mad-Men, or Traytors to their Country, and let them choose which
Character they like.
I cannot in Charity but spare them their Honesty, and their Senses,
and attribute it all to their Policy.
When I had understood all things at large, and found the exceeding
depth of the Design; I must confess the Discovery of these things was
very diverting, and the more so, when I made the proper Reflections
upon the Analogy there seem'd to be between these Solunarian High
Church-Men in the Moon, and ours here in England; our High Church-Men
are no more to compare to these, than the Hundred and Thirty Four,
are to the Consolidators.
Ours can Plot now and then a little among themselves, but then 'tis
all Gross and plain Sailing, down right taking Arms, calling in
Foreign Forces, Assassinations and the like; but these are nothing to
the more Exquisite Heads in the Moon. For they have the subtillest
Ways with them, that ever were heard of. They can make War with a
Prince, on purpose to bring him to the Crown; fit out vast Navies
against him, that he may have the more leisure to take their Merchant
Men; make Descents upon him, on purpose to come Home and do nothing;
if they have a mind to a Sea Fight, they carefully send out Admirals
that care not to come within half a Mile of the Enemy, that coming
off safe they may have the boasting Part of the Victory, and the
beaten Part both together.
'Twould be endless to call over the Roll of their sublime Politicks.
They damn Moderation in order to Peace and Union, set the House on
Fire to save it from Desolation, Plunder to avoid Persecution, and
consolidate Things in order to their more immediate Dissolution.
Had our High Church-Men been Masters of these excellent Arts, they
had long ago brought their Designs to pass.
The exquisite Plot of these High Solunarians answer'd the Crolians
End, for it broke all their Enemies Measures, the Law vanish'd, the
Grandees could hardly be perswaded to read it, and when it was
propos'd to be read again, they hist at it, and threw it by with
Contempt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account