He told them, as he ran out, that something was just come into his Head which would admit of no Delay, that he would be back again almost as soon as gone, and that fall to as soon as they pleas"d, there would be enough left for him. Just as he was got out of the Gate, who shou"d enter but four great cut-throat Villains, who were hir"d no doubt to reward him for his good Offices; but they came a little too late, so that the honest Man escap"d the Snare that was laid for him, and the old Bawd and the young Wh.o.r.e had the Mortification to find that they had acted their Parts in vain.
Verily, said the King, that was a Stratagem deep enough to have caught the wisest Man in the World; but what was the Consequence of it? Was no Search made after the Criminals, that they might be punish"d for an Example to such Ruffians? None at all, said I.
People who are too busy upon such Occasions, generally come off very scurvily. The Gangs of those Villains are so numerous, that the least Disturbance you give any one of "em, is sure to be doubly reveng"d sooner or later, by the rest of them, either by Day or by Night, upon you and yours, in one manner or another.
And is this all that you get, said the King, by the Wars to which you are expos"d? I pity your Fate; for at this rate you are only a Prey to the Wicked, and wretched Victims to the Ambition and Self-Interest of your Sovereigns. The very Dogs have a better time on"t in my Country, than Men have in yours. You reason upon your own Principles, said I, and we act according to ours: Every one thinks his own Opinion the best, and is offended with those that differ from him. "Tis true, he reply"d, that Education has a great Ascendant over our Minds. Our Ancestors would have been content to be sacrificed rather than admit of the least Doubt of the Excellence of their Origin. The Sun had engender"d them, as they believ"d, and the Earth had brought them forth; but now, a Man would be sent to the Mines that should go about to maintain that Opinion. What we suck in with our Milk, we retain; the first Lessons of our Preceptors are the most prevalent, and take such deep Root, that the Winds of a contrary Opinion are not able to shake them.
But as to your Ancestors, said I, were they all so ignorant of the Nature of Things, that not one of them doubted of the Reality of this pretended miraculous Birth? For, in short, nothing can be more obvious than the impossibility of the Union of the Sun with the Earth, and that those two inanimate Creatures, being dest.i.tute of Understanding and Thought, are incapable of the Effects which are so absurdly ascrib"d to them. Indeed, said the King, there were some of a contrary Opinion, but no body durst declare it, because if they had, the Populace were so prepossess"d in favour of this idle Notion, that they would have been ready to have cut "em in pieces. Besides, the Kings, every now and then, made use of a very extraordinary Stratagem to put them out of the World, which contributed not a little to fortify the others in their Opinion. They had contriv"d a subterraneous Pa.s.sage from the Palace to the Temple, under this Footstool, where there was a great deep Well, and when any Person was accus"d of having said any thing tending to invalidate the Mystery of the Birth of the first Man, which was accounted no less than Blasphemy, he was oblig"d to appear before the Court, where the Governors never fail"d to condemn him to the Mines: But the King, in order to be reputed a merciful Prince, immediately revok"d the Sentence, on pretence that it had not been pa.s.s"d in due Form, and according to the Rules of Equity, and order"d the a.s.sembly to repair to the Senate at Midnight, with all that had a mind to be Spectators, nor did he fail to be upon his Throne at the Time appointed. Then one of his Sons, Brothers, or nearest Kindred, brought the Criminal before him, with his Hands ty"d behind his Back, and made him sit upon the Footstool just now mentioned: And the King, with his Eyes fix"d on the Ground, p.r.o.nounc"d four Verses with a loud Voice, in which, after applauding the Justice of his Mother Earth, he call"d on her instantly to swallow up either of the two that was most guilty in the Sight of Heaven.
At that same time, a Person that lay conceal"d under the Stage, unbolted a Trap-Door made on purpose in the Footstool, and the poor Victim sunk down all at once into the deep Well underneath, which was done so suddenly and dexterously, that the Door was shut again as soon as open"d, so that it was hardly to be perceiv"d. Nevertheless, in order to play their Game sure, they took care that the Place should not be very much illuminated; besides, as the Footstool was plac"d high, the Governors and others present, who were sitting or kneeling, could not well see what pa.s.s"d above, where, one of those concern"d in the Secret, pretending as if he saw the Earth open, made a great Noise, started back, and cry"d out as loud as if he was really afraid of being swallow"d up alive with the guilty Person.
But how were those Impostures discover"d, said I? The King"s Priests, reply"d _Bustrol_, seeing their Master banish"d, and the Face of Affairs quite chang"d, propos"d, on condition that they might not be punish"d, to discover every pernicious Thing they knew, for they were not only privy to the Secret, but engag"d by an Oath to a.s.sist in those cruel Executions. The subterraneous Pa.s.sage is still in being, and when you please I"ll shew it to you. As to the Well, it is quite fill"d up, and the Trap-Door was chang"d with the rest, and made a Part of the Cieling.
Another Imposture which was carry"d on several Centuries, is this. When there happen"d to be any great Debates betwixt the Sovereign and his Subjects, which threaten"d his Family with some fatal Revolution, a Person who could be trusted with the Secret, us"d to steal up into the Dome, between the Cupola and the Cieling, where, when the Council was a.s.sembled, he bawl"d out as loud as he could, thro" a Hole made for the Purpose, which answer"d the Centre of the Copper Sun in the middle of the Edifice, _My Son is righteous, and you are wicked_. This Voice, which rattled over their Heads like Thunder, was extremely surprising to the a.s.sembly, and never fail"d of the desired Effect. Some of them perhaps might have a Suspicion, but the Generality were ready to swear that those Words were utter"d by the Sun himself; and perhaps they would not have suffer"d any Man that had but seem"d to entertain the least Suspicion, to have gone unpunish"d.
CHAP. X.
_Containing the Ceremonies at the Births and Burials in this Country, the manner of administring Justice, and many other Remarkables._
Our Discourse was interrupted by a Domestic who came in puffing and blowing, to tell the King that _Mela_ was brought to Bed of a Male Child. He had been marry"d but two Years to his first Wife, so that he was Twenty-seven Years of Age, which I mention, because it must be noted, that the King cannot marry but at Twenty-five, nor other Men till they are Thirty, whereas the Females are marrigeable at Twenty. Since that time he had marry"d two more. He had two Daughters by the first Wife, and one by the Second. She that had now brought him a Son, and whose Father was Marshal of one of the neighbouring Cantons, was the Third, and as she is the lawful Queen, we will distinguish her from the rest by the t.i.tle of Empress, according to the Law of the Country, which properly gives this t.i.tle to none but that Wife of the Sovereign who brings him a Successor to the Crown. We congratulated the King on the Birth of this young Prince, and gave him to understand that we heartily wish"d he might reign happily after him. He seem"d to be pleas"d at our Compliment, and in order to convince us of it the more, order"d us to follow him, that we might be Witnesses of the Ceremony which Custom oblig"d him to observe for giving a Name to the Infant.
He went out, accompany"d by two of his Brothers, his Cook, whose Employment is very considerable, and his Steward. The Empress expected him in a magnificent Bed, as well for the Sculpture, as other Ornaments with which it was enrich"d. As soon as she saw him, she sat upright, and Care was taken to cover her Shoulders with a Mantle of red Goats Hair, fring"d and embroider"d, and lin"d with Ermin as white as Snow. After she had desired the King to permit her to kiss his Hand, she express"d her Joy that G.o.d had granted her a Son, because it gave her the Honour of being Empress of so great a Kingdom. Then a Chaplain stepp"d forwards, who, according to his Orders, thank"d G.o.d in the Name of the King, Queen, and all the People, for the Favour he had now granted them; and I can truly say, that his Eloquence, added to the Submission and Zeal with which he acquitted himself, pierc"d my very Soul. He expatiated at large upon the Nothingness of Man, upon the infinite Greatness of the Monarch of the World, upon the Care which his Providence continually takes of his Creatures, notwithstanding their Disproportion, and the immense Distance which separates Beings so different. He shew"d wherein that Care consisted, and there he took occasion to treat of the Virtues necessarily requisite for a good King, and how G.o.d had given them one who in every respect deserv"d the sincere Affections of his People. Then he talk"d concerning the young Prince; whom he had now granted them, of the Obligations they ow"d him for so many Benefits, and concluded with a Million of Thanks: So that this Act of Devotion continu"d at least an Hour. Afterwards the Infant was presented to the King, who call"d him _Baol_, i.e. _Benign_.
Then they serv"d up preserv"d Fruits, and Sweetmeats confected with Honey, which is certainly better than the best Sugar in _America_. Besides this, we drank most excellent Metheglin, and other Liquors not a whit inferior to ours, Wine only excepted, of which they have not a Drop, there being not so much as a Vine thro" the whole Country, The Ceremony of the Empress"s Coronation was put off till after her Lying-in, which was over at the end of eighteen Days, but as, like the former, is consisted only of Thanksgiving, "tis needless for me to repeat it. Mean time, this is not only observ"d in the King"s Palace, but in all the Cantons of the Kingdom, the Moment they receive the News.
As to the Method of spreading their News, this is the Place, if I am not mistaken, where I ought to observe, that every Day from Twelve at Noon to One o" Clock, each Village sends two Men into every Road of the neighbouring Cantons, on which Pillars are set up at equal distance, within the Sound of a Speaking-Trumpet from one to the other. If therefore any thing happens extraordinary at Court, that is capable of being express"d in a few Words, as for Instance, the Death, Marriage, or Sickness of the King, the Birth of a Prince, _&c._ those who are sent from Court publish it to their Neighbours, and they to others, so that from the one to the other it flies with such Speed, that in less than a Hour "tis known all over the Kingdom. When there is no News they only say, _All is well_. In like manner, when the Cantons have any thing to make known to the Court, their Trumpeters make use of the very same Methods. If there are any Packets or Letters to carry, there are Messengers for the Purpose, who set out with them from Court at Five of the Clock in the Morning, to the neighbouring Villages, from whence others set out at Six, and carry what they have to others that start at Seven, and so of the rest. As for great Burdens they make use of Boats, which go backwards and forwards very regularly, and without Expence to any one, because the Children or Domestics of every Family are employ"d in navigating them by turns.
Soon after the Empress was brought to Bed; the States or Deputies of the Governors repair"d to Court to exercise Justice, and to put all things in order. This a.s.sembly continues Twenty-two Days, and abundance of Business was dispatch"d in it, in most of which I may say without Vanity, I had indirectly some Share. As these Gentlemen met only in a Morning, and devoted their Afternoons partly to Pleasure, and partly to the Consideration of the Points which were to come before them next Session, the King could not help coming as usual to spend some Moments in the Evening with us, not so much to see our Works as to converse with us freely concerning the Business that was to come upon the Tapis next Day, as to which, he never fail"d to ask us what would be done in such a Case in _Europe_.
One Day amongst the rest, he told us, how a young Man of a very remote Canton, being often ill us"d by his Father, who seem"d to bear a mortal Hatred to him, took the Opportunity, as they went out together in a Gondola to catch Fish, to throw him into the Ca.n.a.l, and seeing him paddling just under Water, he held him down with the End of his Oar, for fear he should rise, and punish him for his Rashness. The Father who was quite stunn"d at first, recovered his Spirits by Degrees, and as he could swim perfectly well, he div"d to the Bottom, and then rising about two Paces distance, he struck away with all the Speed he could make to the other Sh.o.r.e, in order to escape his Son"s Fury. While the one was endeavouring to escape, and the other resolving to pursue him, and knock out his Brains, an old Pine-Tree planted on the Side of this Ca.n.a.l, fell in all at once as if the Earth had broke away, and so entangled the Bay in the Gondola with its Branches, that it was impossible for him to stir, tho" he was not hurt in any one Part. The old Man, who was got Ash.o.r.e by this time, seeing the Boat under the Tree, and no Sign of his Son, was touch"d with Pity, and did not doubt but the Fall of the Tree had kill"d him.
He went and knock"d at the first House he came to, and having rais"d the People out of their Beds, it being then pretty early in the Morning, he told them, that as he was going to such a Place with his Boat, a great rotten Tree broke away all on a sudden, and fell upon him with such Violence, that it had knock"d him into the Water, and bruis"d his Son to Pieces. At this, all the People ran to see what was the Matter, and three of them went in their Wherry to relieve the Lad if he happen"d to be alive. The Fellow who had not open"d his Lips all the while, finding himself taken in a manner before he was aware, and that the Men were busy to separate the Boughs of the Tree that they might see what was become of him, fell a crying, and said, _O Father! pray don"t kill me, I own I was to blame, and that I deserve your Hatred with a Vengeance, for "tis no Thanks to me that you are not dead at this Instant, but I beg your Pardon a thousand times_. The more he cry"d out, the more the others struggled to disintangle him, and the stronger was the poor Wretch"s Opinion that they were come to cut his Throat. _Mercy, dear Father! Mercy!_ said he again, _it was not I, properly speaking, but a cursed Fit of Pa.s.sion which I abhor, that prompted me to lay my sacrilegious Hands upon your Person. In the Name of G.o.d be pacify"d_. The Father who heard all this, knew not what Countenance to put on; he would gladly have punish"d his Child, but he did not care that the People should know the Cause of it, which was however impossible. Tho" the Gondola was clear of the Branches of the Tree, and the young Man saw a mult.i.tude who upon the Rumor of his Disaster came to a.s.sist him, and who, to be sure, would not have suffer"d the Father to sacrifice him on the Spot to his Vengeance, he made so many Shrugs and Wrigglings, and us"d such Expressions, that he condemn"d himself in Presence of 100 Witnesses; so that it was not in the Power of the Father to disculpate him as he would gladly have done.
Several Fathers of Families who were there, apprehensive of what might be the Consequence, seiz"d the young Fellow, and carry"d him before a Judge, who, after having sent for the Father, and examin"d them both first Face to Face, and then separately, condemn"d the Lad to the Mines for 20 Years. The Father was dissatisfy"d with the Sentence, because he knew in his Conscience he had provok"d his Son to Wrath, by his rough Treatment of him, and therefore he advis"d him privately to appeal to the Governor of their particular Precinct, and if he should confirm the Sentence, to appeal at last to the Court itself. The Governor, _said the King_, to whom the Cause was referr"d, was not willing to decide it, and for this Reason it is to be argued To-morrow before me; but in good Truth, I scarce know how to determine it.
What Age is the young Man? _said I_, He is twenty two, _reply"d the King_. Very well, Sir, _said I_, he would be put to Death in our Parts, and nothing could save him. But since you are not so severe here, since the Son detests what he has done, begs Pardon for it with all his Heart, and since the Father confesses he was the Cause of putting the Son into such a Pa.s.sion; "tis my Opinion, with Submission to your Majesty, that it would be sufficient if the Lad was whipp"d with Rods, and sentenc"d to carry a Label on his Forehead with these Words in large Characters, REBEL TO HIS FATHER, on Condition however that if he behave well, he shall be discharg"d from that Ignominy at a Year"s End. Your Advice is excellent, _said the King_, and if I have any Credit, that shall be the Sentence. As soon as the Council was a.s.sembled, the Offence was mention"d, and every one gave their several Opinions. Some were for confirming the former Sentence, others would have it that the young Man ought to make _Amende honourable_, and have one of his Hands cut off before he was banish"d. Some were for sending him to the Bottom of the Mine for his Life; and others were of another Opinion. But when the King had heard what they all had to say, he propos"d his Opinion which was approv"d by the a.s.sembly, and executed that very Day.
Both Parties went to Court to express their Obligations for p.r.o.nouncing so mild a Sentence. The King who was willing that I should have the Honour of it, told them, that if they had any Body to thank, it was I, and no Body else. Accordingly they came to thank me in the most civil and submissive Manner that could be, and then they return"d home, where, as I was told afterwards, they liv"d together in perfect Harmony.
"Tis not to be conceiv"d, how considerable this Trifle made us appear to the Deputies. _Solomon_"s Award was nothing compar"d to ours, and if some of them could have had their Wills, we should have been created extraordinary Members of their Body. By that time they a.s.sembled again, our Clockwork was in a manner finish"d. Every one had the Curiosity to come and see it, and thought they could not praise it too much. _La Foret_ was a very good Engraver, and tho" he knew how to gild, he had acquainted himself so well with the Custom of the Country to gild with Copper, which is much finer there than it is in our Parts, that the minutest Piece had a wonderful l.u.s.tre infinitely beyond the Clock which we had made for our Canton. But it had quite another Appearance a Year after, when they saw the Clock erected over the Dome of the King"s House with six Sun-Dials round it pointing to the Hours, which was what we omitted in the former, besides that the Basin or Bell which was of Pewter and Copper mix"d, was at least three times bigger, and had a much better Sound. As a Gratuity for this fine Piece of Work, the King honour"d each of us with a Governor"s Robe, and gave Orders that we should have the same Regard paid to us as they had. And in short, we were treated with as much Respect as if we had been Princes. The Cooks and the Butler took care that nothing was wanting at our Table.
Beer, Cider, Metheglin, and P??? were as plenty with us as River-Water. The latter is a delicious Tipple, of which one may drink to Eternity and be never the worse, and "tis made of an admirable Fruit, in form like to a _Spanish_ Melon. There"s no sort of Ragoo, Tarts or Pasties but what we had every Day, and as Partridges, which weigh here at least four Pounds, and the T?l?, those great Hens I have made mention of elsewhere, are very common here; we had Fowls of one sort or other almost at every Meal; not to mention the excellent Fish which was infallibly serv"d up at every Dinner. The King himself also took us Abroad with him three Days successively, in our Habits of Ceremony which is the greatest Honour that this Monarch does to his Subjects.
One Morning as we were pa.s.sing by the West Side of the Temple, a Lad who went up to see his Father work at the Dome, leaning over the Gallery to see us pa.s.s along, fell down flat upon his Stomach, and kill"d himself. The King, who would never let me rest, took Occasion from this unexpected Fall, to start an Objection to me concerning the Circular Motion of the Earth. It put a Thought into my Head, _said he_, which never enter"d there before, _viz._ That if the Earth had its Revolution, as you would fain persuade me it has; the Boy, if he had fallen ever so quick, must have pitch"d at a considerable distance from the Wall of this Structure, whereas, if I am not mistaken, he touch"d it with one of his Arms. For, in short, the Globe of the Earth is very large, and supposing it makes one compleat Tour in 24 Hours, its Parts must needs pa.s.s extremely swift. "Tis easy, Sir, said I, to solve this Objection. A Terrestrial Degree, you know, contains 60 Miles, by which Number if you only multiply 360 Degrees, the Circ.u.mference of the Earth under the Equator will be 21600 _Italian_ Miles, or 21,600000 Geometrical Paces. Now divide this Sum by 24 Hours, and the 900000 which will result from that Operation by 60 Minutes, you will perceive that the Earth must make an Arch of 15000 Paces in a Minute of an Hour, and consequently one of 250 Paces in a Second, which is less Time than a Body can take in falling from the Height of this great Structure. But, Sir, _continued I_, you ought not to consider the Air as independent on the Earth, for it turns equally with it, no more nor no less than the Water of the Sea which is confin"d within its own Limits, and both the one and the other make a Part of this great Whole, so that to fall into either, is in this respect the same Thing. Mean time, there"s another Reason confirm"d by Experience, which tells us, that every Body defending by its own Motion, or by a Motion which may be deem"d voluntary, must necessarily pitch upon that very Point to which it corresponded the first Moment of its Fall. Therefore supposing I were at the Top-Mast Head of one of the tallest Masts that our Men of War carry in _Europe_, and should let fall a Bullet of what Size you please, "tis certain that it will always keep at the same Distance from the Mast, "till it falls upon the Deck, be the Wind and Tide which carry the Ship ever so rapid, from whence it follows, that this Body does not fall perpendicularly as it seems, but necessarily runs thro" a parabolical Line, because tho" it descends by a single Motion in Appearance, yet it partakes of two Motions at once, _viz._ the artificial one of the Ship, which is form"d according to the Plan of the Horizon, and its natural Motion from Top to Bottom. Which is so true, that if the Vessel was to stop short, the very Moment that the Bullet was dropp"d, it would not in that Case fall down perpendicularly by the Side of the Mast, but a considerable Distance before it. So it often happens to the Hors.e.m.e.n in our Country, who when they are galloping at full Speed, perhaps the skittish Beast frighten"d at some Object makes a sudden Stand which shakes the Rider, who is still suppos"d to be leaning forwards, out of his Saddle, and throws him several Paces over his Head. "Tis for this Reason also that your clever Sportsmen, tho" perhaps they don"t know why, seldom shoot flying without taking their Aim a little before the Bird, to the End that the Bullet or Arrow may thereby acquire a Side Motion, which together with the direct Motion forms a Curve Line by means of which it certainly hits the Mark.
I understand all this very plain, _said the King_, and there is nothing extraordinary in it, because the same Thing happens to Bodies which are punish"d with Violence from any Height, by a Line parallel to the Horizon; for "tis evident, that the very Moment they come out of the Hand that throws them, they fall and must, as you say, before they come to the Ground, describe a Line like to those which are form"d by the Section of a Cone which is parallel to its opposite Side.
You are in the right, Sir, _said I_, but there"s something wonderful in this which to many People appears a Paradox, _viz._ That if you take one of those Pieces of Ordnance so common with us, I mean a Cannon, levell"d at one of the highest Towers, and if at the very Instant of discharging it, a Bullet be let fall of the same Form and Size as that which the Cannon is charg"d with, notwithstanding the one is shot a Mile off, and the other falls down limply by a perpendicular Line, yet they will both come to the Ground at the same Instant. Indeed, _said the King_, that is surprizing, and I own, I should never have thought it; but I see very plainly now, that it must needs be so, because tho" the Bullet is carry"d a great Way, nevertheless its Motion from Top to Bottom must have its Course, and be every whit as rapid.
Yet these fine Examples don"t set me clear enough in the Point of the Earth"s Motion. Pray, how comes it that so violent an Agitation does not shake it into a Million of Pieces? Well, Sir, _said I_, take a Confectioner"s Vessel made of white Earth; let it be of a round Form, and the Sides low and perpendicular to the Bottom. Put into it a Thimblefull or two of clear Water, and in this Water a small Quant.i.ty of the Filings of Copper, fine Sand, and the Grating of red Wax; and to supply the Place of Gla.s.s, of which you have none in this Country, cover the Vessel with a Lid very close, then cement it with a little Potter"s Clay, and put it upon an Axis, to which you shall give Motion. When this Vessel has been turn"d about a little, if you take off the Lid, which was only plac"d on to hinder the Water from going out during its Agitation, you will see that all the Parts of the Matter put into it stick to the Sides of the Vessel. An evident Proof that if the Heavens turn"d which are here represented by these Sides, the Earth would necessarily be forc"d to quit its present Situation, and range itself against their concave Superficies or their Extremities. And another undeniable Proof which confirms the former, is, that if the Whirl be stopp"d, so that the Firmament or the Side of the Ship turns no more, the Water, which continues its Motion, and by consequence departs in Proportion, from the Centre of the Vessel which contains it, forces the Particles of Copper, Sand, and Wax to quit the Sides to which they stuck so fast, and to approach to the Centre where they form a round Ma.s.s, the lowest Region of which is Copper, the second Sand, and the last Wax. From hence it appears, that if the subtile Matter which encompa.s.ses the Earth be put in Agitation, "tis sufficient to oblige all the Terrestrial Parts to rendezvous in one Globe towards their Centre: Which likewise shews us by the way, that "tis impossible for a Stone cast into this subtile Matter, to rest in it one Moment, but must for the same Reasons abandon the Aerial Region, and repair to other Bodies of its own Species, in which properly consists Gravitation.
Really, _said the King_, you have often talk"d to me about Vortexes, the Alterations which Astronomers observe in the different Aspects of the Planets, the Motion of the Sun round its own Centre, the Spots upon the Face of it which are a Confirmation of that Motion, because as this advances, they change their Situation, as well as about the Periods which the other Planets describe either round themselves, or round the Sun; but I never yet heard any a.s.sertion so bold as what you have just now advanc"d. I should be glad if you would let me have the Machine you spoke of, to the end that by examining it nicely, we may be able to talk of it a little, more particularly: But it were to be wish"d that the Lid you put upon the Vessel was transparent, because then one might easily see what pa.s.s"d in the Vessel without taking it off. I will obey your Orders, Sir, _said I_, and if our Parchment won"t do for the Purpose, I will supply it by a round Hole of an Inch or two in Diameter, which I will make in the middle of the Lid; for I am of Opinion that the rest will be sufficient to hinder the Water from spurting out in its most vehement Agitation.
During this, one of the King"s Brothers fell sick, and died. I thought to have seen some Particularity at his Funeral, but was very much surpriz"d, that I did not observe the least Circ.u.mstance at it more than at common Interments. They only wrap up the Corps in a Robe of fine Linen, and then put it on a Bier, which is carry"d by two Men preceded by four of the nearest Relations, and attended by two Men and two Women, marry"d or not marry"d, and by four young Persons of both s.e.xes who mourn all the Way, and converse about his good Qualities. When they come to the End of the Place where the Deceas"d liv"d, they throw him into a Grave made for the Purpose, which they immediately close up again, and erect a little Pyramid of Wood upon it, on which are mark"d the Name and Age of the Person underneath, after which every one goes Home, and they never talk of him more than if there had been no such Person in the World, The King"s Brother was bury"d after the same Manner; two of his Brothers (for the Prince is exempt from it) with his Mother, and one of his Sisters were the only Persons of the Convoy, besides the Mourners who are People that attend on these Occasions purely for the sake of a Meal"s Meat. Then it was that I heard that the Brothers and Sisters of the Kings of this Country are forbid to marry, which is only permitted to the eldest Son of the Royal Family, and even he can have but one Wife before he is King.
As to a Wife, I can"t avoid telling you here how our Monarch recover"d one in my Presence worthy to wear a Diadem. He had form"d a Design a long time to make a Visit to the West Part of the Kingdom; but as he intended that we should accompany him, and the Work we had in hand was too exquisite in his Opinion to be interrupted, there was a Necessity for staying "till it was finish"d; then came bad Weather, afterwards the Diet; but when this was broke up, and the fine Season was advanc"d, the King was resolv"d to lay hold of it. He made up but a small Equipage, and only took 10 Persons along with us in his Retinue. He was mounted on a small but magnificent Chaise with two Wheels drawn by four white He-Goats, which had each a great black Beard, and Horns of a prodigious Size. His Train and Baggage were in two Gondolas, in each of which were four Rowers, and four to relieve them.
I was overjoy"d to be of this Party, because I had never yet travell"d this Way. Most of the Inhabitants of this Frontier are employ"d in making Bricks, Potters Ware, and all Sorts of Porcelane according as the Soil is proper for the different Sorts of Work. We pa.s.s"d thro" no Village but all the People of Consequence came out to see the King, who sometimes alighted for the Purpose, and walk"d very slowly that they might have the better Opportunity of viewing him. One Day as we were at a Place where there was such a Crowd about him that he could scarce get out of it, he spy"d a young Woman whose Charms made him fall in Love with her. He call"d her to him, and having survey"d her from Head to Foot, and found her more charming near at hand than at a Distance, he sent for the Father, and ask"d him what Age she was? The honest Man having already promis"d her to another, and guessing at the King"s intention, knew not what Answer to make, but after a small Pause, he said to him, Sir, She is not yet marriageable, and by consequence neither to be sold nor given away. The Girl being more ambitious of the t.i.tle of Queen than of the Wife of a Carpenter, which was the Craft of the Fellow that was to have her, said very pertly, "Tis true, Sir, I am not marriageable, but I want only two Days to be 20 Years old. Very well, _reply"d the King_, we will stay, honest Man, "till the Term is expir"d, rather than break in upon the Laws; but after To-morrow, bring your Daughter to Court that I may make her my Wife, and take care that no Body comes near her. Tho" the old Man thought it a great Honour to have the King for his Son-in-law, yet he was sorry that he could not keep his Word with the Carpenter, which I chose to mention here only to shew the Simplicity and Sincerity of the People of this Country. P?o, which was the Person"s Name, was ready at the Time and Place appointed, and three Days after we arriv"d, he begg"d an Audience, and presented his Daughter to the King in Presence of his Chaplain, who return"d Thanks to G.o.d for it on the Spot. The Nuptials lasted three Days, after which P?o return"d Home with 100 Kal?, or Pieces of Copper in his Pocket, as Pay for his Daughter; but the poor young Woman having never had the Small-Pox, was seiz"d with it three Months after, and died.
"Tis a prodigious Thing to consider the Mult.i.tudes of People which this plaguy Distemper carries off, there not being one in ten that escapes. The Generality of the Living never had it, and be they ever so old, so few are excus"d from it, that they seldom die of any other Disease. If this were not the Case, the Country would in all Appearance be exceeding populous, whereas at present "tis but thinly inhabited, considering the Goodness of the Soil, and the Purity of the Air.
Not long after this, the King made two or three other Conquests, so that in four Years after his first Marriage, he had seven Wives. My Comrade and I were at all those Solemnities, and had great Share of the Pleasures of them. Wherever we came, we were sure to be commended upon Account of our Clocks, tho" many People knew that I had the least Share in them.
That I might not go without my Reward, I told the King, that we had indeed adorn"d his Palace with a Machine, with which he had the Goodness to seem pleas"d, but that if he desir"d it, I would make him another to put up at the Front of the Temple which should be subject to no Variation, and be regulated by the Course of the Sun. I am convinc"d, _said the Monarch_, from the little Knowlege I have of Astronomy, that it would not be impossible to divide an artificial Day into any equal Parts by the Shade, which might be form"d from a Body in the Sun-shine, but we have had no Body here that I know of, who ever apply"d to it. Before I go to work upon it, _said I_, I must examine which way the Front of this Edifice stands. That"s not necessary, _said the King_, I know that it declines from East to North 22 Degrees 30 Minutes, and what is yet more, I know it by Experience. Pardon me, Sir, _said I_, if I take the Freedom to ask you what Method you took to be sure of the Fact. I caus"d a Board to be plan"d, _said he_, perfectly smooth with several Circles drawn upon it by the Compa.s.s; and in the Centre I set up perpendicularly a Stile of Copper Wire, to the End of which hangs a b.u.t.ton as big as a small Nut. This square Instrument I place against the Wall of the Temple, and when the Sun is ascended some Degrees above the Horizon, I stay till the Shadow of the b.u.t.ton of my Stile falls upon the Circ.u.mference of one of the Circles of the Board, when I mark that Place by a Point, and then with another Point I mark the Place on the opposite Side of the Circ.u.mference, where the Shadow falls in the Afternoon. I divide the Arch between these two Points into two equal Parts by a straight Line which pa.s.ses thro" the Centre of the Stile, which Line is the Meridian of the Place where I make the Operation. There are several Ways, _said I_, whereby you may easily attain to the same End of which that you mention is one of the best I know; but I will make you a vertical Sun-Dial according to the above Declination of the Front of the Temple. No, _said the King_, as the Point in Question is only drawing of Lines, you must do me the Pleasure to teach me the Construction of "em. I consented willingly to his Demand, so that we made a Sun-Dial of 8 Foot broad, and 6 in height, and another horizontal Dial of Copper, which was plac"d on a Pedestal of Agate of 8 Sides before the King"s Palace, and both had the Signs of the Zodiac upon them. These two Machines supply"d fresh Matter of Admiration to those who saw them; and I make no doubt but they were of more Service to them than the others after our Departure, because not a Man in the Kingdom knew how to keep them, much less to make them.
_La Foret_ had such a Sense of the Civilities he and I receiv"d every Day from the whole Court, and was so desirous to shew he was not ungrateful, that without saying one Word to me he set about a Pocket-Watch, and had actually finish"d it before I perceiv"d any thing of the matter. Tho" he work"d much better in large than in small Things, yet a Watch in a Country where there never was one before, was a Jewel of inestimable Value. As soon as he finish"d it, he went to wait on the King, and after having complimented him on the Obligations we had to him, he took the Watch out of his Pocket, and intreated his Acceptance of it as a Token of his sincere Grat.i.tude. The King having view"d it Inside and Outside, was perfectly astonish"d, admir"d the Beauty and Usefulness of this little Machine, and protested to him that he should never desire any thing of him in his Disposal, but it should be at his Service.
CHAP. XI.
_More Adventures of the Author, and his Comrade, till their Departure from Court._
As the King went often to see his Wives, there is no question but he was fond to shew them his Watch, and that every one admir"d the Genius of the Workman. For tho" they had seen the Clock a thousand times, and seem"d even astonish"d at its Performance, they thought it nothing in comparison to this pretty Instrument, which, though small, went as regularly, and pointed out all the Parts of the Day as exactly as the great one.
Lidola in particular, who was the King"s second Wife, gave broad Hints that she long"d to be Mistress of it; but the King, who did not care to part with it, and indeed could not, without raising the Jealousy of all his other Ladies, and making the Empress her self uneasy, pretended not to understand her Meaning. _Lidola_ was so disobliged by it, that after Supper, when she was to have entertain"d the King, who had given her to understand that he would spend that Night with her (which he did very frequently, because he was much more enamour"d with her than with any of the other Ladies) she counterfeited an Indisposition, and sent to desire the King not to come to her that Night. The King, mistrusting nothing of the Matter, sent next Morning to inquire after her Health, which he repeated for several Days together.
But at last perceiving no Alteration in her for the better, and that she not only receiv"d his Messengers very cavalierly, but that as he himself saw her _en pa.s.sant_, she look"d upon him with a Coldness enough to have chill"d the very Blood in his Veins, he guess"d what she had taken Pet at, but wou"d not seem to know it; and having a mind to see how far she would carry her Indifference, he left off his Visits by degrees, and gave himself up so intirely to his last Queen, that he was very seldom with any but her.
_La Foret_, who knew no more than my self what had pa.s.s"d, was surpris"d one Evening, as he was walking under the Galleries, with a Voice that call"d him by his Name. Turning about to it very hastily, and being suddenly struck with Astonishment at the Beauty of the finest Lady that ever he had seen in his Life (for she was not veil"d, tho" "tis an establish"d Rule of the Country, that marry"d Women are not seen in Mens Company without a Veil, which almost hides their Faces) he stood with his Eyes fix"d upon her, and had not Power to ask what was her Pleasure. Fair Genius, said she, you seem to be surpris"d, but don"t be frighten"d; I only call"d to you to let you know how glad I am to see you whenever you pa.s.s by my Apartment, and to give you this Melon.
There, take it, and farewel. Then she dropp"d the Fruit, and immediately withdrew and shut her Cas.e.m.e.nt.
_La Foret_ could never be tax"d either with Stupidity or Ignorance, yet he knew not what to think of this Frolick. Tho" he was not nimble enough to catch the Melon before it fell to the Ground, he s.n.a.t.c.h"d it up without saying one Word, and brought it to our Chamber where he told me in Confidence what had pa.s.s"d. I immediately took the Melon, and going to stick my Knife into it, I perceiv"d it had been open"d already very nicely towards the Stalk; which made me cautious in cutting it, for fear of spoiling anything that might happen to be within it, where, instead of the little Kernels which are by Nature contain"d in that excellent Fruit, we found a Scroll of the finest Vellum, with Writing on it in the Language of the Country, to this Effect.
_I have seen you pa.s.s by my Window a thousand times, but scarce ever heard you talk. The Judgment which I form of your Mind, by your easy Deportment, and your uncommon Productions, excites my Curiosity to have the Happiness of your Conversation when I am disengag"d. I fancy that you can say nothing but what is very good. Prepare therefore to give me that Satisfaction. I expect you to-morrow without fail at my Door. Be sure to be there at the first Stroke of your curious Machine, after Midnight, and you"ll oblige_
LIDOLA.
I was alarm"d at the reading of this Billet, and told _La Foret_ what I thought of it, very seriously; but it all signify"d nothing. He was l.u.s.ty, well-proportion"d, as vigorous as a Man could possibly be at 30 Years of Age, and no Enemy to the s.e.x.
The Friendship the King shew"d to us, induc"d him to think that he would be far from suspecting him of a Design upon any of his Wives, and therefore, without weighing the Consequences, he resolv"d to lay hold of the Opportunity at all Events. What confounded him most was his want of Eloquence, and the other necessary Talents for expressing himself politely; for he came of an obscure Family, and had seen but little of the World. As he knew not how to behave, and had a better Opinion of me than of himself, he would fain have engag"d me to take the first Step, and to pave the way for him: But besides that, his Stature and mine were very different, he being at least taller than me by the Head, which would have been too gross a Cheat to pa.s.s, I had other Reasons against embarking in an Affair of this Nature. But all this did not discourage _La Foret_.
Next Day he dress"d as sprucely as he could, equipp"d himself as a Galant ought to do when he goes to visit his Mistress, and study"d every thing that might contribute to her Pleasure. Being thus rigg"d, he took his Leave of me, and at the appointed time went to the Place of a.s.signation. The Fair One, who probably hearken"d for his coming, open"d the Door to him softly, and after injoining him by a Signal to profound Silence, conducted him into her Closet. She was in her _Deshabille_, which was very fine, and notwithstanding the careless Air of it, seem"d to be the Effect of Contrivance. Her Head and Shoulders were cover"d with a Veil of fine Linen, in which there had been an infinite Expence of Art; but whether it was by Chance, or by Design, under pretence of handling the said Veil, and tossing it forwards and backwards to hide what Modesty should have taught her to conceal, she often gave a Glimpse of Beauties enough to have stir"d a Heart not near so susceptible of Love as _La Foret_"s, who could not stand those Charms. For his very Eyes were dazzled with the Glare of so many Wonders, and, as if he had been perfectly inchanted, he had not Strength to open his Lips, notwithstanding the firm Resolution he had made to say abundance of fine things to her.
Lidola perceiving her Lover so mute, fetch"d a deep Sigh, and said to him with a most languishing Countenance, _I"m in love with you, fair Stranger; I did not imagine I should have had the Trouble of telling you so, because I thought you would easily guess it: Your Silence does Violence to my Modesty; I am asham"d that I have let fall the Expression; but make a prudent Use of it, and remember to be discreet, if you would be happy with Ladies_. _La Foret_ answer"d with very great Respect, "Don"t reproach me, Madam, I beseech you; my very Silence has an Eloquence in it which must fully apprize you of the Sentiments of my Heart. Tho" your Presence, continued he, has depriv"d me of the Faculty of Speech, it is only suspended to give me the more Leisure to contemplate the Delicacy of your Charms. Words are not always in season. There are Moments when the Eyes express themselves infinitely better than the Tongue can, so that without being a Conjurer, a Person, by observing their Motions, may know the Sentiments of the Soul. I confess I was in the wrong to keep Silence, but it was well for me that I did not speak, because the fined Expressions that I could have thought of in a Language with which I am so little acquainted, would not have fetch"d that from your pretty Mouth in an Age, which Silence has drawn from it in an Instant. What! you in love with me, Madam? O Heavens! how shall I contain my Joy at so tender a Confession! Who would ever have imagin"d that a Queen could debase her self so much as to declare such a Kindness for the lowest of her Slaves. Persist, I beg you; That shall be the utmost Boundary of the greatest of all my Wishes, because undoubtedly I never ought to think of any thing else."
Just as she was going to answer him, a Waiting-maid bolted into the Room, to the Terror of our Lover, who knew not the Meaning of it at first, and so great was his Surprise, that he could not hide it. But _Lidola_ dissembled hers, for fear of putting him into Confusion. I had given Orders, she said to him, for some dry Sweetmeats, and a Gla.s.s of Mead to be brought; you perceive they are obey"d. I hope you"ll meet with something or other in this Bason that, you like. _La Foret_, who was too impatient for amorous Endearments to mind Sweetmeats, was mad to find their Conversation interrupted by an impertinent Witness. He had much rather have spent the Time in Dalliance, than have wasted the precious Moments in Eating. But for the sake of Complaisance, he was under a Necessity of admiring the Extent of her Civility, and he even acknowledg"d how much he was oblig"d to her for it. The Fair One, who was not willing to omit any Proof of her Tenderness for him, took one half of a Nectarin, and wantonly put it to his Mouth. Once she pluck"d from his Lips what he had in part chew"d, and eat it with an inconceivable Greediness; at another time she made him bite a Piece which she held between her white Teeth; in short, there was no wanton Air which she did not invent to increase the Pa.s.sion of the new Lover.
The Days were then about Sixteen Hours in length, the Sun not being far from _Capricorn_, and that Place being situate in 51 Degrees, and 20 Minutes South Lat.i.tude, so that they were toying with one another, when the Darkness or rather the Twilight vanish"d, and the Torch of Heaven was rising to gild the enamell"d Fields with his splendid Rays. The Damsel being the first to observe it, told the Queen of it, at which _La Foret_ was offended, and even took the Liberty to reproach her for not having appointed him sooner, because he said it was not worth his while to come thither for so short a Stay. Tho" I"m a little out of favour with the King at present, reply"d the charming _Lidola_, I am not sure that he will neglect me long; the Fancy may take him to come and see me in the Morning; and tho" he should not, there are other People that have an Eye upon what we do. I should pa.s.s my Time but ill, if any body should see you go out of my Apartment: Let us act upon sure Grounds, and for this time do you withdraw. If you have a Pocket-Watch like to that which you gave the King, take care to bring it with you when you come again, that we may know how much time we have to spend; for we mayn"t always have People near us to tell us how it pa.s.ses.
When she had said these kind Words, she fell on his Neck, kiss"d him very tenderly, and immediately withdrew. The Time flies away insensibly at such agreeable Interviews; nevertheless _La Foret_ had not so far lost the Use of his Reason, but he knew very well that it was high Time for him to be gone. Therefore he pull"d out a _Kala_, which he gave to the Maid, and after recommending himself to her Friendship, stole out softly, and return"d home.
The first thing he was bent on at his Return, was to impart to me in Confidence what had pa.s.s"d with his Mistress. To hear him talk, never Man travers"d so much Land in the Territories of Love, in ten Years, as he had been doing in an Hour; in short, he was in full Possession, and only wanted the Fruition. "O Heavens!