THE AUTHOR BECOMES A MONARCH UNDER THE GROUND.
When my speech was ended, they all cried out with loud voices: "We will
have Pikil-Su, for emperor." When I heard this, I became terrified, and
begged them, with tears in my eyes, not to forget the fidelity and duty
they owed to the imperial family. But my words were of no use. They all
approached me, and placed the crown upon my head, repeating the
above-mentioned exclamation. I was then carried from the tent and
proclaimed before the whole army, emperor of Quama, king of Tanaqui,
Arctonia and Alectoria, and duke of Kispusianania. Afterwards we made a
triumphal entry into the capital, where prince Timuso, himself
acknowledged me for emperor. Thus, from a miserable, shipwrecked wretch,
I became a great and powerful monarch. I soon married the daughter of
the deceased emperor, for the people still loved and honored the old
royal family. This princess was named Ralac, and
Bloomed, like the new-blown rose
In mellowed, purple-smile.
when I had reduced to order the affairs of the empire, and firmly
established myself on the throne, I thought of new means, by which I
might extend my dominions, and render my power fearful to the whole
subterranean world. I turned my attention to a navy, and soon had a
fleet of twenty ships on the sea.
I soon came to regard myself an under-ground Alexander; and determined
to make myself as famous as he had on our globe. I concluded to sail
first for Mezendore and thence to Martinia. We set sail at that period
of the year, when the planet Nazar is of the middle size, and in a few
days came in sight of the Mezendoric coast.
I immediately sent ambassadors to the imperial residence, of whom was
demanded in the name of the emperor,
"What their purpose; whence they came
Over the foaming billows of the swelling main."
The ambassadors answered:
"Neither misleading stars, deluding winds nor storm
Here brought us; with voluntary will we steered."
and thereupon delivered to the emperor a letter of the following
contents:
"We, Niels Klim, ambassador of the sun, emperor in Quama,
king of Tanaqui, Arctonia, and Alectoria, and duke of
Kispusianania, salute the emperor of Mezendore, Miklopolata.
We humbly make known, that it is concluded in the
unchangeable councils of heaven, that all the empires and
kingdoms of the world must surrender themselves to the power
of Quama; and as the will of providence is irrevocable, your
kingdom must necessarily submit to fate. We therefore
advise you to surrender voluntarily yourself and your
dominions, rather than foolishly resist our invincible
phalanx, and thereby experience all the bloody horrors of
war.
"Given from our fleet, the third day in the month Rimat."
In a few days our ambassadors returned with a bold and haughty answer. I
made a descent upon the coast, placed my army in battle array, and sent
spies to examine the condition of the enemy. The spies came back in
great haste, and related that an immense army, of sixty thousand in
number, consisting of lions, tigers, elephants, bears and birds of prey,
was drawing towards us. We were soon apprised of their near approach, by
roars, shrieks and terrific cries, commingling a devilish tumult. The
combat soon commenced, and truly, 'twas one of the hottest and most
contumaceous, in which I ever engaged: at last we put them to flight.
In this engagement fell thirty-three thousand Mezendarians, and about
four thousand were made prisoners. We followed our victory, and drew
before the capital city; this we besieged both by land and sea. So
energetic was our blockade, that the enemy quickly proposed a parley,
and sent ambassadors to ask for peace on reasonable conditions. The
emperor offered to me his daughter, the handsomest of the lionesses, in
marriage, and the half of his empire as a dowry. These conditions,
although very honorable, were very displeasing to me, for I considered
it both unsafe and illicit to forsake my wife, whom I left behind in
pregnancy, and marry a lioness. I therefore sent back the ambassadors
without answer.
I now ordered my cannon to be directed against the wall, which, although
built of stone, was soon rent. The emperor lost all hope and surrendered
himself together with all his lands. After putting a garrison in the
capital, I took the emperor on board my own ship, and laid my course for
Martinia, the coast of which we reached after a long but fortunate
voyage.
We obtained here the same success as elsewhere. When the Martinians
submitted, I determined to include their neighbors under the same yoke.
As I was preparing to effect this, ambassadors from four adjacent
countries arrived, and voluntarily acknowledged allegiance to me. I now
possessed so many kingdoms, that I did not deem it worth my trouble to
ascertain the names of these; but included them all under the title of
the Martinianic "dominion."
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