Chapter-4
The continent to which that kingdom belonged extended itself eastward to that unknown tract of America westward of California; and north to the Pacific Ocean which was about a hundred and fifty miles from Lagado. There was a strict alliance between the Japanese emperor and the king of Luggnagg which afforded frequent opportunities of sailing from one island to the other. I was determined to direct my course that way in order to return to Europe. I hired two mules with a guide to show me the way and carry my small baggage.
When I arrived at the port of Maldonada, there was no ship in the harbour bound for Luggnagg. The town was as large as Portsmouth. I was soon acquainted with a person who welcomed me very hospitably. He said to me, “The ships bound for Luggnagg could not be ready in less than a month; hence it might be a good opportunity for you to take a trip to the little island of Glubbdubdrib which was about five leagues off to the south-west.” He and a friend of his decided to accompany me.
The word Glubbdubdrib as I interpreted signified the island of sorcerers or magicians. It was governed by the head of a tribe who were all magicians. This tribe married only among one another and the eldest in succession was the prince or governor. The governor and his family were served and attended by some unusual people. By his skill in necromancy, he had a power of calling anybody who was already dead and commanded their service for twenty-four hours. Anyhow, he did not have the power of calling the same person again before three months, except upon very extraordinary occasions.
We arrived at the island at about eleven in the morning. One of the gentlemen who accompanied me went to the governor, and desired admittance for me. This was immediately granted, and all three of us entered the gate of the palace. We passed between two rows of guards who were armed and dressed in a very antics manner. We passed through several apartments until we came to the chamber of the king. Before we entered, we were asked a few general questions. Then we were permitted to sit on three stools near the lowest step of Majesty’s throne. He understood the language of Balnibarbi, although it was different from that of the island.
The king wished that I gave him some account of my travels. To my great astonishment, he dismissed all his attendants with a turn of his finger. All of them vanished in an instant like visions in a dream when awake up suddenly. It took me a few seconds to recover from this shock. The governor assured me that I would not be harmed. I observed that both my companions were normal as they had often been entertained in the same manner. Then I began to narrate to the king a short history of several of my adventures. I had the honour to dine with the governor where a new set of ghosts served us. By then, I was less terrified than I had been in the morning.
I desired to see Alexander the Great at the head of his army, just after the battle of Arbela. With the click of a finger he immediately appeared in a large field under the window where we stood. Alexander was called up into the room. I had a great difficulty to understand his Greek. He assured me that he was not poisoned, but died of a bad fever by excessive drinking.
The next person I saw was Hannibal passing the Alps. He told me that he did not have a drop of vinegar in his camp.
I saw Caesar and Pompey at the head of their troops just ready to engage. I saw the former in his last great triumph. I requested the governor to call for Caesar and Brutus.
I felt happy to see that these two persons were in good relationship with each other. Caesar confessed to me, “The greatest actions of Brutus during his own life did not make him popular. He gained popularity only after taking away my life.”
Now, I had a desire to see some of those ancient people who were most renowned for their wit and learning. I proposed that Homer and Aristotle might appear at the head of all their commentators. But they were so numerous that some hundreds gathered in the court and the rooms of the palace. But I could easily distinguish those two heroes at the first sight not only from the crowd, but from each other.
Homer was the taller and comelier person of the two. He walked very straight despite his age and his eyes were the most quick and piercing I had ever seen. Aristotle stooped and used a staff to walk. His features were small, his hair was dull and thin and his voice was depressing. I soon discovered that both of them were perfect strangers to the rest of the people in the court and had never seen or heard of them before.
I then requested the governor to call upon Descartes and Gassendi, with whom I prevailed to explain their systems to Aristotle. This great philosopher freely acknowledged his own mistakes in natural philosophy because he proceeded in many things upon assumption as all men must do. He found that Gassendi who had made the doctrine of Epicurus as agreeable as he could and the vortices of Descartes were equally to be exploded.
Every person called up made exactly the same appearance as he had done in the world. I was depressed to observe how much the race of human kind was degenerated among us within these hundred years past.
