_The Author is elevated to the_ Imperial
Dignity.
At the Conclusion of this Harangue, the Soldiery lifted up their
Voice and cry’d, _We will have no Emperor but_ Pikilsu. I was all
Astonishment at this, and with a Flood of Tears besought them to
consider better, to remember the Allegiance they ow’d to the Imperial
House, and the publick as well as private Benefits they had receiv’d
from the departed Monarch, which it was not possible to forget, without
bringing an indelible Stain upon their Character. To this I added, that
if ever they had Occasion to command my Services, I could be of equal
Use to them in a private Capacity. But all this signify’d nothing.
The Officers and Soldiers join in the common Cry, and the whole Camp
resounded with the before-mention’d Acclamation. Upon this, I retir’d
to my Tent in Confusion, and order’d the Guards to give Entrance to
none: Because, probably, the Soldiers might return to Reason, when
this sudden Fit of Zeal should cool. But the Generals and common
Soldiers burst into my Tent, and in spight of all my Reluctance,
adorn’d me with the Ensigns of Royalty, and conducting me out of
the Tent with Trumpets and Drums, proclaim’d me Emperor of _Quama_,
King of _Tanachin_, _Arctonia_, _Alectoria_, and Great Duke of the
_Kispucians_. Seeing then how vain was all Resistance, I no longer
struggled with my Fortune, but follow’d the Torrent; and I must own,
that I was not altogether unwilling to be rais’d to this Elevation; for
an Empire, with three Kingdoms, and a Great Dutchy, was too delicious a
Morsel to be ey’d with Indifference. I immediately sent to the Prince,
to acquaint him with the present Situation of Affairs, and to advise
him to insist strenuously upon his natural and hereditary Rights,
and to declare this new Election void, as being contrary to the Laws
of the Realm. But at the same Time I had resolv’d with myself not to
relinquish in Haste an Empire thus spontaneously offer’d me; so that
this Advice of mine to his Highness the Prince was rather to feel his
Pulse upon this Occasion. The Prince had an admirable Understanding,
and a very solid Judgment; and as he well knew the Doubles and
Disguises of the human Heart, and that this Modesty of mine was only
put on to serve a Turn, he wisely yielded to the Necessity of the
Times, and after the Example of the Army, he himself proclaim’d me
Emperor in the Capital City, to which I was soon after led in Triumph,
attended by the Generals and Officers of the Army, in the midst of the
Shouts and Acclamations of the Populace. In a few Days after this, I
was solemnly crown’d, and invested with the Regal Authority. Being thus
metamorphos’d from a miserable Shipwreck’d Sailor into a Monarch, that
I might strengthen my Interest with the _Quamites_, who I perceiv’d had
still a great Veneration for the Royal Race of _Quama_, I espous’d the
Daughter of the deceas’d Emperor, whose Name was _Ralac_.
Having perform’d these great Things, I projected new Schemes, to raise
the Empire to a Height that should make it formidable to the whole
subterranean World. My first Care was to assure myself of the Duty and
Allegiance of the lately conquer’d Nations. To this End I garison’d
all their Citadels and fortify’d Places in the strongest Manner,
treated the Conquer’d with the utmost Humanity, and advanc’d some of
them to very great Offices in the Capital. In particular the Captive
Generals, _Tomopoloko_ and _Monsonius_, had the highest Share in my
Favour, a Circumstance that rais’d the Envy of the _Quamites_, tho’
they suppress’d their Dissatisfaction for the present; but in Time the
Spark, which had long lain concealed under the Ashes, burst into an
open Flame, as shall be related in its proper Place. To return to my
domestick Affairs: The liberal Sciences, and the Art of War, I labour’d
to bring to the highest Perfection: And as this Country abounded with
very deep Woods, which could furnish Plenty of Timber for the building
a Fleet after the Manner of the _Europeans_, I pursued this Point with
such unweary’d Ardour, that tho’ in Reality I had a thousand other
Affairs to perplex me, it seem’d as if my whole Thoughts were directed
to this one View. The _Kispucians_ were of great Service to me in this
Case; they had a tolerable Knowledge of maritime Affairs, and their
General _Monsonius_ I appointed Lord High Admiral of the Fleet.
And now the Timber is felling, the Instruments for working it
preparing, and with such Vehemence I apply myself to the Business,
that in sixty Days from the first falling of the Wood, a Fleet of
twenty Ships now rides at Anchor in the Harbour. All this corresponding
exactly with my Wishes, I look’d upon myself as the _Alexander_ of
the subterranean World, and that below I was the Author of as great
Revolutions as he was above. The Lust of Power is infinite, and never
finds the Point to stop at. Some few Years since, the Office of a
Deacon, or that of a Writer, or Clerk, was the Height of my Ambition,
nor did I aspire to any thing greater; and now four or five Kingdoms
seem too narrow for me: So that with Respect to my Desires, which
rise in Proportion to our Wealth and Power, I never found myself more
indigent than now.
Having made myself acquainted, from the Accounts and Informations
of the _Kispucian_ Mariners, with the Nature of the Seas, and the
Situation of the Kingdoms on the Coasts, and understanding that it
was very practicable with a fair Wind to make the _Mezendoric_ Shore
in eight Days Sail, from whence it would be but a short Trip to
_Martinia_, and that over a well-known Ocean; I say, being acquainted
with all this, I made Preparation for the Voyage. Indeed, _Martinia_
was the principal Object of my Designs. I was spurr’d on by the
immense Wealth of that Nation, and the Informations I should gain from
a People of their Knowledge in maritime Affairs, since the Lights I
might receive from them would be very useful to me in the Course of
all my great Undertakings. There was also another Incentive, namely,
a Thirst of Revenge, which prompted me to subdue this Nation. I took
the Elder of the two Royal Princes along with me as an Associate in
this Expedition, pretending that a fine Occasion offer’d itself to his
Highness of exercising his Bravery and martial Virtues. But the true
Meaning of this was, that I might keep him as a Hostage or Pledge of
the Fidelity of the _Quamites_. The younger Prince indeed remain’d at
Home, but the Regency of the Empire I committed to the Empress, who
was then big with Child. The whole Fleet consisted of twenty Ships,
great and small; and were all built after the _Martinian_ Model, by the
Direction and Superintendency of _Monsonius_ the _Kispucian_ General,
to whom the sole Management of the Navy was intrusted, and who had made
Draughts and Designs of them with his own Hand. For the _Martinians_
were among the Subterraneans what the _Tyrians_ and _Sidonians_ were
in antient Days, or what the _English_ and _Dutch_ are in our Times,
that is, Sovereigns of the Seas. Yet, when we arriv’d at _Martinia_, I
perceiv’d that in the Built of our Ships we had widely err’d from their
Model.
We set sail about that Time of Year when the Planet _Nazar_ was at
its mean Distance from us. Having sail’d three Days, we spy’d a large
Island, the Conquest of which would be no difficult Matter, by Reason
of the Feuds and Factions into which the Inhabitants were split;
but (what is remarkable) as they were destitute of Arms, and were
ignorant of the Use of them, they fought only with their Tongues,
and gave all the hard Names, Curses, and foul Language they could
invent. This was all we had to fear. The only Punishment that in this
Country was inflicted upon Offenders, was that they were taken up
and imprison’d, and upon full Proof of the Crime were openly brought
into the Forum, there to hear themselves revil’d in the bitterest
Manner. Certain People were appointed for this very Purpose, call’d
_Sabuti_, that is, Revilers, and are there look’d upon in the same
Light, as an Executioner amongst us. As to the Make of their Body,
they differ’d only from us in one or two Circumstances, which was,
that the Women had Beards and the Men none; the Feet also of them all
were turn’d backwards. After we had made a Descent upon this Island,
about three hundred _Canaliscans_, (so the Islanders were call’d) met
us. They attack’d us in a hostile Manner with their usual Weapons,
that is to say, with a Volley of Curses and hard Names. With such
exquisite Malice, and in such a diabolical Spirit of Bitterness,
their foul Language was conceiv’d and utter’d, (as we were inform’d
by an _Alectorian_ Interpreter of the _Canaliscan_ Tongue) that they
shew’d themselves perfect Masters of their Weapons, and not inferior
to the Grammarians of our World. However, knowing that Rage alone was
insignificant without Power, I forbid any Violence to be offer’d to
them, but only to spread Terror among them. I order’d some Guns to be
fir’d, which had this Effect, that they fell upon their Knees, and
implor’d Mercy. Presently the several little Kings of the Island came
down, and made a formal Surrender of themselves and Subjects, putting
their whole Dominions under Tribute to me, making me at the same Time
a Compliment, that it was no Dishonour to be subdued by him, whom it
was Impiety to resist, nor any Disgrace to submit to him, whom Fortune
had rais’d above all the World. Thus this Island, (the Conquest of
which added something to my Power, tho’ little to my Glory, by Reason
of the Effeminacy of the Inhabitants) becoming tributary to me, we
hoisted Sail, and after a fair Voyage of some few Days, arriv’d at the
_Mezendoric_ Coast. I then call’d a Council of War, to enquire what
was best to be done, whether it were adviseable immediately to act in
a hostile Manner, or to send an Embassy to the Emperor, to know if he
would make a peaceable Surrender, or whether we must come to an open
Rupture. The Majority were for the latter. Wherefore five Persons were
commission’d for this Embassy, one of each Nation, a _Quamite_, an
_Arctonian_, an _Alectorian_, a _Tanachite_, and a _Kispucian_. Being
introduced into the Capital, they were ask’d by the chief Magistrate,
in the Name of the Emperor, the Meaning of this unexpected Visit to
the _Mezendoric_ Dominions? The Deputies reply’d, that it was not by
Accident, but by Design they came there, and forthwith they produced
their Credentials, and a Letter from me to the Emperor, the Tenour of
which was as follows:
“_Nicolas Klimius_, Embassador of the Sun, Emperor of _Quama_,
King of _Tanachin_, _Arctonia_, and _Alectoria_, Great Duke of the
_Kispucians_, and Lord of _Canalisca_, to _Miklopolatu_, Emperor of
_Mezendoria_, Greeting. Be it known unto thee, that by the immutable
Council of Heaven, it is ordain’d, that all the Empires and Kingdoms of
the World submit to the _Quamitic_ Sovereignty. And since the Decrees
of Heaven are irrevocable, it is necessary your Empire should undergo
the common Destiny of all. We exhort you therefore to a voluntary
Surrender, and cordially admonish you not to subject your Realms to the
Chance of War, by a rash Opposition to our victorious Arms. A timely
Obedience may save the Effusion of innocent Blood, and mend your own
Condition. Given aboard our Fleet, the 3d Day of the Month _Rimat_.”
In a few Days the Embassadors return’d with a fierce and haughty
Answer. Hereupon all Prospect of Peace disappearing, we made a Descent.
Having rang’d our Troops in order of Battle, we sent out Spies to
explore the Condition of the Enemy. They soon return’d with News, that
the Enemy’s Army was in Readiness, that it consisted of Lions, Bears,
Tigers, Elephants, and Birds of Prey, to the Number of sixty Thousand.
Hereupon we posted ourselves on an advantageous Piece of Ground, and
waited their Coming. All things being now in Readiness, and the Signal
of Battle being given, suddenly there came four Embassadors, all Foxes,
from the Enemy, to renew the Negotiations, and treat of a Peace. But
having spent some Days in Conferences with our Generals, they departed
without coming to any Conclusion. It appear’d afterwards that these
were Spies, rather than Embassadors, sent for no other End but to
explore the State and Condition of out Army. They pretended indeed
that they would soon return with more ample Powers: But as we quickly
perceiv’d the whole Body of the Enemy marching briskly towards us,
we hoisted our Colours, and marched to meet them. An obstinate Fight
ensued. For tho’ our Musketeers made a furious Slaughter among them,
yet the Elephants every where kept their Rank, the Hardness of their
Hide being Proof against our Ball. But as soon as our heavy Artillery
began to thunder upon them, and the Elephants perceiv’d the horrible
Effects of it, they were seiz’d with a Panic, and left the Field. In
this Battle thirty-three thousand _Mezendorians_ were slain, and twenty
thousand taken Prisoners. Those who escap’d, fled to the Metropolis, a
City very well fortify’d, and fill’d the Inhabitants with Terror and
Consternation. We push’d our Victory, and in three Days March, came
to the Capital, which we besieg’d by Sea and Land. At our Approach,
we were saluted by a new Embassy, which brought much softer Terms of
Peace. In this the Emperor offer’d me his Daughter in Marriage, who was
esteem’d the most beautiful Lioness throughout the whole Dominions,
together with Half his Empire in Dower with her. These Conditions were
by no Means agreeable to me, especially with Respect to the Nuptials
of his Daughter; for it seem’d to me neither safe nor honourable to
divorce my Empress to marry a Lioness. Hereupon the Embassadors were
dismiss’d without any Answer. Presently our great Guns began to play
against the City-Walls, which tho’ compos’d of Stone, were soon torn
and shatter’d in many Places. And as this City was full of Animals of
all Species, it was strange to hear the Variety of Noises upon this
Occasion, such as Roaring, Howling, Bellowing, Braying, Bleating and
Hissing. The Serpents retir’d into the Clefts and Fissures of the
Earth: The Birds hover’d in the Air, and seeing the City so fiercely
assaulted, fled off to the Rocks and open Country. The Trees trembled
and drop’d their Leaves all over the City. We heard that twenty Maids
of Honour, (these were Roses and Lilies) upon the first Discharge of
our Cannon shrunk up, and wither’d away through Fear. Such a prodigious
Concourse of Animals of all Kinds, as well those of the City, as those
from the Neighbourhood, miserably straiten’d each other; and that
very Assistance, which was so necessary, was the Cause of Diseases
and Infection. The Elephants stood the Siege better than the rest;
but upon the Discharge of the great Guns, they abandon’d the Walls.
Hereupon the Emperor, despairing to hold out much longer, summon’d a
Council to deliberate upon the present Posture of Affairs. They were
all unanimous for a Peace upon any Terms; and therefore without Delay
his Imperial Highness made a formal Surrender of himself, with all his
Territories. Thus in one Day my Power was increas’d by the Addition of
an Empire, together with nine or ten lesser Realms or Principalities;
for immediately all the petty Sovereignties follow’d the Example of the
Emperor, and strove who should be foremost in their Submissions.
After such marvellous Success, having first plac’d a Garison of six
hundred Musketeers in the Capital, I order’d the captive Emperor to
be conducted aboard our Fleet. I treated him with the most perfect
Humanity, and upon our Return some time after to _Quama_, I gave him an
intire Province, the Revenues of which enabled the Royal Prisoner to
live with a good Degree of Splendor.
We now set Sail from this Place, and coasted along the _Mezendoric_
Shores. In this Voyage we demanded Hostages of all the several States
and Governments subject to the Emperor _Miklopolatu_, so that in a
small Time the very _Mezendoric_ Name and Empire were in a manner
extinguish’d. These People were for the most Part the same of which I
have formerly given some Account in my Description of my Voyage from
_Martinia_. Leaving therefore the _Mezendoric_ Territories, we steer’d
directly for _Martinia_, which, after a prosperous, tho’ long Voyage,
we happily arriv’d at. Never was the Sight of any Country so highly
grateful to me as this; and when I reflected, that in Times past I had
been condemn’d to the Oar in this very Place, to which I now return’d
as a puissant Conqueror, I was hardly able to conceal the Transport
of Joy I felt. I had at first resolv’d to declare myself, in order to
spread the greater Terror among the _Martinians_: But I chang’d that
Resolution, and determin’d to cherish the old Error concerning my
Birth, and still to pass for an Embassador of the Sun.
I flatter’d myself, that in a short time, and with a very little
Trouble, I should be able to make a compleat Conquest of the
_Martinians_, whose Effeminacy I was well acquainted with. For this
People have a strong Propensity to Pleasure, and are hurry’d on to
all vicious Excesses, not only through a natural Bent, but from that
Affluence and Abundance, which both Sea and Land conspire to indulge
them in. However, I found by Experience, that I had an arduous
Enterprize upon my Hands: For by means of that vast Commerce carry’d
on by these People, they had amass’d such endless Riches, as enabled
them to have always at their Devotion the choicest of the most warlike
Troops among the neighbouring Nations, who stood ready at their Nod
to fight their Battles for them. Add to this, that the _Martinians_
were eminent for their Skill in maritime Affairs beyond all the
Subterraneans, and our Vessels were in Comparison of theirs extremely
rude, and very slow of Motion. For it is easy to judge what sort of
Ships ours must be, which were run up in Haste under the Direction
and Supervision of a Bachelor of Philosophy, as also what a Censure
they would undergo, were they to be submitted to the Criticism of the
_Dutch_, _English_, or _Danes_. But this Defect my Artillery aton’d
for; a Method of Fighting hitherto unknown to the _Martinians_.
Before I attempted any Thing in a hostile Manner, I sent an Embassy to
the Senate with the same Tenders of Peace, which I had lately offer’d
the Emperor of _Mezendoria_. But while we waited for an Answer, all
on a Sudden we beheld a Fleet of Ships coming full Sail upon us, in
order of Battle. At Sight hereof, we rang’d our Vessels in as much
order on our Side, as the Hurry would permit, and immediately gave out
the Signal for Engagement. The Battle was fought with equal Bravery
and Ardor on both Sides. The _Martinians_ instead of Guns, made use
of a Machine, which flung Stones of an enormous Size and Weight, and
which grievously gall’d our Sailors. They had also Fire-ships loaded
with Pitch, Brimstone, Sulphur, and other combustible Materials.
These set Fire to our best Ship, and utterly consum’d it. Victory
was a long Time in Suspence, and my Forces even began to deliberate
whether they had best fight, or fly. But at last, the Explosion of
the great Guns chang’d the Face of Things, and so sunk the Courage of
the _Martinians_, that they retir’d precipitately into their Harbour.
Yet we took not one of the Enemy’s Ships, because, as they were light
Sailors, they could at any Time escape from us. After this Fight,
we landed our Forces, and with all Speed made directly towards the
Metropolis of _Martinia_. In our March we met our own Embassadors
returning from the Senate, by whom they had been receiv’d in a proud
and lofty Manner, and dismiss’d with much such a Message as _Neptune_
gave to the Winds.
_Maturate fugam, Regique hæc dicite vestro;
Non illi imperium Pelagi; sævumq; tridentem,
Nobis sorte datum: tenet ille immania saxa._
For the _Martinians_ claiming the Sovereignty of the Seas, receiv’d my
Offers with all imaginable Disdain.
And now they levy’d a vast Body of Forces, for besides the mercenary
Troops, the whole military Power of _Martinia_ took the Field upon
this Occasion. We had not march’d far before we espy’d a numerous
Army, compos’d of different Nations, advancing directly against us.
This Confidence and Presumption of the Enemy, notwithstanding their
late Defeat at Sea, occasioned a good deal of Uneasiness on our Side.
But all this was but a Meteor which suddenly appears, and as suddenly
vanishes: For at the very first Discharge of our Artillery, they all
turn’d their Backs, and fled. We pursued the flying Foe, and made
a prodigious Slaughter of them. What the Number of the Slain were,
appear’d from that of the Perriwigs, which we collected after the
Action, and which upon a moderate Computation amounted to the Number
of five Thousand. The Make of these Perriwigs was pretty much alter’d
since my Time, and I observ’d above twenty different Fashions of them;
nor is that at all strange; for so ingenious a Nation would give a
thousand Improvements to any Invention whatever.
After this successful Battle, or rather Carnage, we immediately set
about the Siege of the Capital. But, when we had prepared every Thing
for the Enterprize, and dispos’d our Cannon in proper Order, the whole
Body of Senators came in a suppliant Manner to our Camp, and made a
voluntary Surrender of the City, together with the whole Republick.
Hereupon, Peace being declar’d, we enter’d in Triumph into this most
splendid City. Upon our Entrance into the Gates, there was not that
Tumult and Hurry, as is generally observable in conquer’d Towns, but a
sorrowful Silence, and an universal Sadness every where prevail’d. But
when we declar’d that we would not do the least Injury to the Citizens,
their Sadness was chang’d into Joy. The first Thing I did, was to make
a Visit to the publick Treasury. I was beyond Measure astonish’d at
the immense Stores of Riches deposited there; great Part of which I
distributed among my Soldiers, reserving the rest for my own Finances.
I left a Garison at _Martinia_, and took several of the Senators aboard
the Fleet, by way of Hostages. Among these, was my old Friend the
Syndic, together with his Wife, who had falsly accused me of the Crime
for which I was condemned to the Gallies. Yet I entertain’d no Thoughts
of Vengeance, as thinking it beneath an Emperor of _Quama_ to resent an
Injury done to a Chairman.
After this compleat Conquest of the _Martinians_, I resolv’d to reduce
the several neighbouring Powers. But while I was upon the Point of
executing this Design, the Embassadors of four different Realms
arriv’d, and made their Submissions. I had already so many States and
Kingdoms under my Dominion, that I did not so much as give myself the
Trouble to enquire the Names of these four surrender’d Territories,
but was contented to comprehend them under the general Name of the
_Martinian_ Provinces.