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
In this Time by my own Industry, and the Assistance of those who
accompanied me, I learnt to speak indifferently the Language of that
Province, (for almost every Province in China hath its proper Tongue)
whereat I perceived they were much pleased: At length I was permitted
to take the Air, and brought into the spacious Garden of that Palace,
a Place of extraordinary Pleasure and Delight, adorned with Herbs and
Flowers of admible Sweetness and Beauty, with almost infinite Variety
of fruits, European and others, all composed with that rare Curiosity,
as even ravished my Senses in the Contemplation of such delightful
Objects; I had not long recreated myself here, when the _Mandarin_
entered the Garden on that Side I was walking, of which having Notice
by his Servants, and that I ought to kneel to him (a usual Reverence I
found toward great Officers) I did so, and humbly intreated his savour
toward a poor Stranger, who arrived in these Parts not designedly,
but by the secret Disposal of the Heavens, he answered in a different
Language which I hear all the _Mandarins_ use, and like that of the
_Lunars_ consisting chiefly of Tunes, which was interpreted by one of
his Attendants, wishing me to be of good Comfort, since he intended
no Harm to me. Next Day I was ordered to come before him, and being
conducted into a noble Dining-room exquisitely painted, the _Mandarin_
commanding all to avoid, vouchsafed to confer with me in the vulgar
Language, enquiring into the State of my Country, the Power of my
Prince, and the Religion and Manners of the People; wherein having
satisfied him, he asked me about my Education, and what brought me
into this remote Country; I then declared to him the Adventures of my
Life, omitting what I thought convenient, and especially forbearing to
mention the Stories given me by _Irdonozur_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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