The Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the MoonGodwin, Francis
Science
The Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the Moon
Godwin, Francis
Moon -- Fiction; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
You must understand, that of the _true Lunars_ or _Moon Men_ there are
three Kinds, some a little taller than we, as perhaps ten or twelve
foot high, these can endure the Day of the Moon, when the Earth shines
but little, but not the Beams of both, and so then must be laid asleep:
Others are twenty foot high or above, who can suffer all the Light both
of the Earth and Sun. There are in a certain Island (the Mysteries
whereof are carefully concealed) Men whose Stature is at least
twenty-seven foot high: If any other come to land there in the Moon's
Day time, they instantly fall asleep: This is called _Insula Martini_,
and hath a particular Governor, who as they report is sixty-five
thousand Moons old, which makes five thousand of our Years; His Name is
said to be _Hiruch_, and he in a manner commands _Irdonozur_ himself,
especially in that Island out of which he never removes: There is
another comes often thither, who they say is not above half his Age,
that is about thirty-three thousand Moons, or two thousand six hundred
of our Years, and he orders all Things through the Globe of the Moon
in Matters of Religion, as absolutely as the Pope doth in any Part of
_Italy_; I would fain have seen this Man, but was not permitted to come
near him, his Name is _Imozes_.
Now let me settle myself to a long Night's Sleep, to which End my
Attendants take Charge of my Birds, prepare my Lodging, and signify
to me by Signs how I must order myself. It was then about the Middle
of _September_, when I perceived the Air more clear than ordinary,
and with the Increase of the Light I began to feel myself first dull
and then heavy to Sleep, though I had not been lately disturbed of my
Rest: At length I delivered myself into the Custody of this Sister of
Death, whose Prisoner I was for almost a fortnight after, and then
awaking, it is not to be believed how brisk and vigorous I found the
faculties both of my Body and Mind; I then applied myself to learning
the Language, which is the same throughout all the Regions of the Moon,
yet not so wonderful, since I believe all the Earth of the Moon does
not amount to the fortieth Part of our inhabited Earth, partly because
the Globe of the Moon is far less, and besides the Sea or Ocean covers
very nigh three Parts of four, whereas, the Land and Sea in our World
may be judged of an equal Measure. Their Language is very difficult,
since it hath no Affinity with any other I ever heard, and consists
not so much of Words and Letters, as Tunes and strange Sounds which
no Letters can express, for there are few Words but signify several
Things, and are distinguished only by their Sounds, which are sung as
it were in uttering; yea many Words consist of Tunes only, without
Words: By Occasion whereof I find a Language may be framed, and
easily learned, as copious as any other in the World only of Tunes,
which is an Experiment worth searching after: Notwithstanding these
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