_The_ +Catastrophe+.
Having perform’d such an amazing Series of Exploits, and our Fleet
being considerably augmented, by the Addition of the _Martinian_
Ships, we now hoisted Sail, and return’d to _Quama_, where, upon our
Arrival, we triumph’d with more than _Roman_ Magnificence. And, in
good Truth, the noble Deeds we had atchiev’d, deserv’d the highest
Pomp of Festivals and publick Rejoicings. For what can be conceiv’d
more heroic, than to transform a Nation the most abject, and the
most expos’d to the Insults of their Neighbours, into the Lords and
Sovereigns of the whole Subterranean Globe? What can be conceiv’d more
glorious, or more for my Honour, as a Man, whose Fate it happen’d to
be to live among so many heterogeneous Creatures, what, I say, could
redound more to my Glory, than to have asserted that Dominion which
Nature gave Mankind over the Animal Creation? A Description of the
Splendor of this Triumph, the Crowds, and the Applauses of Men of all
Ranks and Ages, would of itself make a regular Volume, and therefore
I shall not attempt it in this short Account. I shall only observe,
that from this Time a new Æra appears in History, and there may now
be reckon’d five Monarchies, namely, the _Assyrian_, the _Persian_,
the _Grecian_, the _Roman_, and the _Quamitic_, the last of which
seems to surpass the rest in Power and Grandeur. And accordingly I
accepted the Title of _Koblu_, or +Great+, which was offer’d me, as
well by the _Quamites_, as by the other vanquish’d Nations. There is, I
confess, something excessively vain and arrogant in the Name +Great+:
But yet, when you compare me with the _Cyrus’s_, the _Alexanders_,
the _Pompeys_, and the _Cæsars_, the Title then seems perfectly
humble and modest. _Alexander_ indeed enslav’d the _East_, but with
what Forces? with hardy veteran Troops inur’d to War; for such were
the _Macedonians_ in the Time of his Father _Philip_. But I, in a
shorter Space of Time, subdued far more and fiercer Nations than the
_Persians_, and that by the Help only of a rude and barbarous People,
whom I myself had form’d and instructed. The Titles I now us’d were
these; _Nicolas the Great_, _Emperor of Quama and Mezendoria_, _King of
Tanachin_, _Alectoria and Arctouia_, _Great Duke of Kispucia_, _Lord of
Martinia and Canalisca_, &c. &c.
_Ingens jam stabat Regnum, poteramque videri
Exilio felix: sed scilicet ultima semper
Expectanda dies homini, dicique beatus
Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet._
Being thus lifted up to a Point of Power and Success, beyond even the
Wishes of a mortal Man, the same Thing happen’d to me, as to almost
all those who rise to Greatness from a sordid Original. For unmindful
of my former State, I grew intolerably vain and haughty, and instead
of all those winning Ways, which artful Princes use to procure the
popular Esteem, I became a hot and cruel Persecutor of all Orders of
Men, despising as very Slaves those Subjects, whom before I had courted
to my Interest with all imaginable Affability, insomuch, that none had
Access to my Person, without a Ceremony, almost like that of Adoration,
and when they were admitted, were receiv’d with a most disdainful Air:
All which alienated the Minds of the People from me, and chang’d their
Love into Coldness and Terror. This Disposition of my Subjects I soon
experienced, and particularly upon the following Occasion. The Empress,
my Spouse, whom I had left big with Child, was in my Absence brought
to Bed of a young Prince. Intending to acknowledge this Prince for
my Successor, I assembled the several States of my Empire, as, well
those of the conquer’d Kingdoms, as those of _Quama_, to the solemn
Inauguration of the Infant. As none dar’d disobey my Orders, the
Ceremony was perform’d with all possible Pomp and Grandeur. But it was
easy to perceive in the Visages of my Subjects, that all the Joy upon
this Occasion was forc’d, unnatural, and mix’d with hidden Discontent.
What help’d to confirm my Jealousy, was, that at this Time certain
Libels or Pasquinades, written by anonymous Authors, were handed about,
in which the Injury done to Prince _Timuso_ by this Inauguration, was
set forth with much Satyr and Acrimony. This created such Disorders in
my Spirits, that I could take no Rest till I had got rid of that best
of Princes. However, I thought it by no means adviseable to dispatch
this illustrious Rival in an arbitrary Manner, and therefore I suborn’d
certain Witnesses to accuse him of High Treason. As Sovereigns never
want for Ministers of Darkness to serve their criminal Purposes,
I quickly found out proper Persons to swear that the Prince was
projecting a Revolution, and had a Design against my Life. Upon this he
was thrown into Prison, and condemn’d by his Judges, the Majority of
whom I had corrupted. However, he was executed privately, for fear of
raising Disturbances.
As to the second Prince, because he was very young, I defer’d
sacrificing him to my Repose yet a while; so that the Weakness of
his Age was his Protection. Thus stain’d with the Parricide of his
Brother, I began now to rule with so much Cruelty and Rigour, and
carry’d my Rage to such a Height, that all Persons, whose Fidelity I
suspected, whether _Quamites_, or others, I deliver’d over to immediate
Death. Not a Day pass’d, but was remarkable for some extraordinary
Execution, which hastened the Rebellion, which the Nobles had been for
a considerable Time projecting; as will be related in its proper Place.
I own I deserv’d all those Misfortunes, which I afterwards experienc’d.
It had doubtless been more glorious, and more worthy of a Christian
Monarch, to have guided a gross and barbarous People to the Knowledge
of the true God, rather than to have proceeded from Conquest to
Conquest, and to have shed such Torrents of innocent Blood. And,
indeed, it had been easy for me to have converted the whole Empire; for
there was a Time when all my Determinations were revered like Oracles.
But unmindful of God, and of myself, I dream’d of nothing but the vain
Splendor of a Court, and the Increase of my Power. Moreover, being
now given up to a deprav’d and reprobate Mind, I chose to aggravate
and inflame these Discontents, rather than remove them, as if the
Offences of my Injustice were to be rectify’d by my Cruelty. To all the
Remonstrances of my Friends I still urg’d,
_Necessity, the Tyrant’s hellish Plea_.
So that Misfortune on Misfortune came thick upon me, and I fell into
such Disgrace and Wretchedness, that from my Example, all Mortals may
learn what a Vicissitude there is in human Affairs, and how short is
the Duration of arbitrary Power and Violence.
My Subjects Aversion increas’d with the Severity of my Government,
and when they perceiv’d that the Vices, to which I abandon’d myself,
but ill agreed with that divine Original I boasted, and were utterly
irreconcilable with my Character, as Embassador of the Sun, they
began to examine every thing with more Attention, particularly the
Circumstance of my Arrival into these Parts, and the Condition I was
in when I landed upon their Coast. They now saw, that all the great
Things I had done, were owing more to the Savageness of the _Quamites_,
than to any extraordinary Abilities of my own, especially as they
found, after that Mist of Ignorance was dispell’d, that I had actually
committed many Errors in the Course of my Government. Above all my
Conduct was highly censur’d by the _Kispucians_, a judicious and
penetrating People. They had observ’d in my publick Edict a Multitude
of Things so crude and indigested, as betray’d the grossest Ignorance
in Politicks. Nor was the Censure unjust: For as my academical Tutors
and Instructors never dream’d of Crowns and Scepters for me, they
gave me an Education more adapted to a private Station, than that of
a Sovereign; and my Studies, which extended no farther than to some
little System of Divinity, and a few metaphysical Terms, were by no
Means equal to my present Elevation, where I had the Charge of two
Empires, and almost twenty Kingdoms upon my Hands. The _Martinians_
had also remark’d, that the Ships of War I had built, were so rude and
clumsy, that in an Engagement they were of no manner of use against
a regular and well appointed Fleet, and that all my naval Glory was
to be ascrib’d solely to the Invention of Cannon. All these cutting
Remarks they industriously dispers’d, and at the same Time call’d to
Remembrance the Manner of my first Appearance in this Country, namely,
how I had escap’d from a Shipwreck, and being ready to perish with
Hunger, was taken up by the Inhabitants all in tatter’d Garments,
an Equipage surely very unsuitable to an Embassador of the Sun.
Add to this, that these same _Martinians_, being excellent natural
Philosophers, had now given the _Quamites_ a Tincture of Astronomy,
enough to know that the Sun was an inanimate Body, plac’d in the
Centre of the Heavens by the Almighty, to give Light and Heat to all
Creatures, and that as it was a Globe of Fire, it could of Consequence
be no proper Habitation for a mortal Man.
With these and other such unlucky Discourses, was I from Day to Day
distracted. But they were mere Murmurs; since nobody through fear of
my Power dar’d talk thus with any Degree of Openness. And in Reality,
I was a long Time ignorant that the Malevolence of my Subjects had
rose to such a Pitch, as to question my Condition, till at length I
was convinc’d of it by a Book compos’d in the _Canaliscan_ Tongue,
and publish’d with this Title, +The happy Shipwreck+. For I observ’d
before, that the _Canaliscans_ were perfect Artists at Satyr and
Reproaches, which were all the Weapons they wag’d War with. The Book
in Question comprehended all those Accusations, of which I have just
now given a Detail, and was wrote in a Stile the most severe and
sarcastical, that can well be imagin’d, according to the Genius of the
_Canaliscans_, who excel in this Manner of Writing.
But such was the Weakness of my Mind at this Juncture, such my vain
Presumption and Confidence of my own Power, that no Advices or
Remonstrances whatever could make me change my Conduct, or bring me to
my Senses. The most wholesome Counsels instead of checking, contributed
only to inflame my Cruelty. Wherefore those whom I had most Reason to
suspect, I put to the Torture to discover the Author of this Libel. But
all endur’d their Torture with an astonishing Firmness, insomuch, that
this Cruelty produced no other Effect, than to irritate the Spirits of
my People still more against me. Thus my Fate would have it, and I run
headlong to my Destruction.
In this State of Affairs I determin’d to sacrifice the surviving Prince
_Hicoba_. I open’d my Design to the High Chancellor _Kalac_, in whom I
plac’d great Confidence. He promised me all Obedience and Assistance,
and strait withdrew on Pretence of contriving the Means of putting
this Scheme in Execution. But detesting the Villany in his Heart,
he discover’d the Plot to the Prince. Both of them retir’d into the
Citadel, which was well fortify’d and there the Chancellor harangu’d
the Guards, and in the most pathetick Manner laid open their present
Condition. His Discourse, together with the Tears of the young Prince
which added considerable Weight to it, produc’d the desir’d Effect.
The Soldiers run to their Arms, and vow’d they would die to save their
Prince. Upon this the dexterous Chancellor did not give their Ardour
Time to cool, but persuaded them immediately to swear Allegiance to
their Prince, and then out of hand sent private Messengers to those
whom he knew to be exasperated against me, exhorting them to take
Arms against a Tyrant, who attempted the Extinction of the whole
Royal Progeny. Upon this all the Disaffected rose and join’d with
the Garison. While I was expecting the Return of the Chancellor, a
Messenger brought me the News of this grand Insurrection. My Friend
_Tomopoloko_ advis’d me by all Means to retreat to _Tanachin_. There,
says he, we can quickly raise an Army, and bring these Mutineers
to Reason. These Words produc’d in me various Agitations of Mind,
and Hope and Fear alternately govern’d me each Moment. At length in
Compliance with his Admonition I fled from _Quama_, and that with
little or no Difficulty, as the Bulk of the _Quamites_ were yet
unacquainted with the Reasons of this Sedition. Soon after this, I
return’d with an Army of forty thousand Soldiers, the greatest Part of
which were _Tanachites_, expecting a considerable Augmentation from
such _Quamites_ as continued in their Duty. But I deceiv’d myself
egregiously: For instead of those Auxiliaries I flatter’d myself with,
I met a Herald who brought me Letters from the Prince, to acquaint me,
that War was declar’d against me as an Usurper and Invader, and that my
Wife and Son were Prisoners of State. Soon after the Departure of the
Herald, I beheld the _Quamitic_ Army advancing with my young Rival at
their Head. As they had a fine Artillery, I would not run the Risque
of an Engagement, till I was reinforc’d with fresh Troops: Therefore I
made a Stop, and entrench’d myself in the best Manner I could. But when
I perceiv’d that my own Soldiers deserted to the Enemy, who besides
expected hourly new Supplies, I took Advice of my General Officers,
and resolv’d to engage directly; nor did _Tomopoloko_ oppose this
Resolution. We fought upon the same Plain, where some Years ago in a
decisive Battle the _Tanachites_ were entirely routed. The Enemy’s
Cannon now threw our Ranks into great Disorder, and it griev’d me
to the Soul to be baffled by my own Invention, and be conquer’d by
those very Arms I myself had devis’d. For a while however my Soldiers
sustained the Attack of the rebellious Army, till a Ball took off
_Tomopoloko_. Then every one lost his Courage, and we all turn’d our
Backs and fled to the Woods and Mountains. I, for my Part, climb’d to
the Top of a Rock, from whence I descended into the Valley on the other
Side. There I paus’d a while to curse my Fate, or rather my Folly,
and to pour out my Soul in Tears and Sighs. But, alas! it was all too
late. So great was the Disorder of my Spirits, that I forgot to throw
off my Diadem, which was the very thing that in all likelihood must
have discover’d me. After I had sat trembling for half an Hour in that
Valley, I heard the Voices of some Persons climbing the Rock, and
roaring out Vengeance against me if they found me. I then look’d all
round me for a Place to conceal myself in. There was hard by a deep
Wood overgrown with Trees and Bushes. I presently enter’d into it, and
having pick’d out something like a Path, I walk’d on till I came to a
Cave. Here I stopp’d some Moments to take Breath. By and by I crept
into the Cave, like a Serpent, upon my Belly, and as I perceiv’d it to
be very deep and shelving, yet of easy Descent, I resolv’d to penetrate
to the Bottom of it. But I had scarce walk’d a Quarter of a Mile, when
all on a Sudden I tumbled down, and as if Thunder drove me, was hurry’d
headlong through the thickest Darkness, till at last a faint glimmering
Light dawn’d in upon me. With the Increase of that Light the Force of
my Motion was proportionably diminish’d, so that by little and little,
and in the gentlest Manner, like a Person rising out of the Water, I
found myself among some Mountains, which to my unutterable Amazement, I
observ’d to be the very same from whence some Years ago I was hurry’d
down into the subterranean World. The Reason of that Abatement of my
Motion, I found after some Reflection to be owing to the Quality of
our Atmosphere, which is much denser, and consequently resists more
than the subterranean Atmosphere. Unless it were so, the same Thing
would have happen’d to me in my Ascent, as in my Descent, and in all
likelihood I must then have been carry’d aloft through the Air as far
as the Region of the Moon. Yet I submit this Hypothesis to the maturer
Examination of Philosophers.