In the year 1664, after graduating at the Academy of Copenhagen, in Theology and Philosophy, I prepared to return to my father-land, and took passage in a ship bound for the city of Bergen, in Norway. I had been furnished with brilliant testimonials from both faculties1, and wanted only money; — a fate common to Norwegian students, who generally return home with empty purses from the Temple of the Muses2.
We had a good wind, and in three days arrived at my native town, Bergen.
I occupied myself now, in expanding my knowledge of natural philosophy, and for practice, geologically examined the neighboring mountains. On the top of the most interesting of these mountains, (interesting I mean to a student,) was a remarkable3 cave, which the inhabitants of the town called Florien. From its mouth, a mild and not unpleasant air issues at certain periods, as though the cave inhaled4 the breeze and gently sighed it forth5 again.
The learned in Bergen, especially the celebrated6 Abelin and Edward, had longed to examine it; but these latter, from their great age, being unable to perform so arduous7 a feat8, used every occasion to induce the young and adventurous9 to attempt the exploration. Instigated10, (and it was a foolish, and I might say, a wicked resolution,) instigated, I say, not less by the encouragement of these great men than by my own inclination11, I determined12 to descend13 into the cave. The longer I thought of the matter, the firmer I became. I prepared every thing needful for the expedition, and on a Thursday, at the morning twilight14, departed from the city. I started thus early, because I desired to finish my labors15 before dark, and make a report the same evening.
How little did I then dream that like another Pha?ton, I should be driven headlong through the air and precipitated16 to another globe, there to ramble17 for the space of ten years, before I should see my friends and native land again. The expedition took place in the year 1665. Accompanied by four men to carry the necessary implements18, and assist in letting me down, I ascended19 the mountain. Arrived at the top, near the fatal cave, we sat down to breakfast. Now, for the first time, my heart began to faint, as though it foreboded my coming misfortune; but, in a moment, my half extinguished courage blazed again. I fixed21 a rope around my body, stood on the edge of the cave, and commended my soul to God. Ordering the men to veer22 the rope steadily23, and to hold when I cried out, I took a boat-hook in my right hand, and glided24 into the abyss. Aided by the pole, I was enabled to keep clear of the jutting25 points of rock that would have impeded26 my progress, as well as have wounded me. I was somewhat anxious about the rope, for it rubbed hard against the rocks at the top; and, in fact, I had scarcely descended27 twenty to thirty feet, when it gave way, and I tumbled with strange quickness down the abyss, armed like Pluto28, with a boat-hook, however, in place of a sceptre.
Enveloped29 by thick darkness, I had been falling about a quarter of an hour, when I observed a faint light, and soon after a clear and bright-shining heaven. I thought, in my agitation30, that some counter current of air had blown me back to earth. The sun, moon and stars, appeared so much smaller here than to people on the surface, that I was at a loss with regard to my where-a-bout.
I concluded that I must have died, and that my spirit was now about to be carried to the blessed dwellings31. I immediately conceived the folly32 of this conclusion, however, when I found myself armed with a boat-hook, and dragging behind me a long strip of rope; well knowing that neither of these were needful to land me in Paradise, and that the celestial33 citizens would scarcely approve of these accessories, with which I appeared, in the manner of the giants of old, likely to attack heaven and eject the gods therefrom.
Finally, a new light glimmered34 in my brain. I must have got into the subterranean35 firmament36. This conclusion decided37 the opinion of those, who insist that the earth is hollow, and that within its shell there is another, lesser38 world, with corresponding suns, planets, stars, &c., to be well-grounded. The result proved that I guessed right.
The rapidity of my descent, continually augmented39 for a long time, now began to decrease gradually. I was approaching a planet which I had from the first seen directly before me. By degrees it grew larger and larger, when, penetrating40 the thick atmosphere which surrounded it, I plainly saw seas, mountains and dales on its surface.
As the bold bird, between the billow’s top
And mountain’s summit, sweeps around
The muscle-clothed rock, and with light wing
Sports on the foam41, my body hovered42.
I found now that I did not hang in the atmosphere, buoyed43 up by the strong current of which I have spoken, but that the perpendicular44 line of my descent was changed to a circle. I will not deny that my hair rose up on my head in fear. I knew not but that I might be metamorphosed to a planet or to a satellite; to be turned around in an eternal whirl. Yet my courage returned, as I became somewhat accustomed to the motion. The wind was gentle and refreshing45. I was but little hungry or thirsty; but recollecting46 there was a small cake in my pocket, I took it out and tasted it. The first mouthful, however, was disagreeable, and I threw it from me. The cake not only remained in the air, but to my great astonishment47, began to circle about me. I obtained at this time a knowledge of the true law of motion, which is, that all bodies, when well balanced, must move in a circle.
I remained in the orbit in which I was at first thrown three days. As I continually moved about the planet nearest to me, I could easily distinguish between night and day; for I could see the subterranean sun ascend20 and descend — the night, however, did not bring with it darkness as it does with us. I observed, that on the descent of the sun, the whole heavens became illuminated48 with a peculiar49 and very bright light. This, I ascribed to the reflection of the sun from the internal arch of the earth.
But just as I began to fancy myself in the near presence of the immortal50 gods, about to become myself a new heavenly light and wondered at as a brilliant star — behold51! a horrible, winged monster appeared, who seemed to threaten me with instant destruction. When I saw this object in the distance I supposed it to be one of the celestial signs, but when it came near I perceived it to be an enormous eagle, which followed in my wake as if about to pounce52 upon me. I observed that this creature noticed me particularly, but could not determine whether as a friend or enemy.
Had I reflected, I should not have wondered that a human being, swinging round in the air, with a boat-hook in his hand, and a long rope dragging behind him, like a tail, should attract the attention of even a brute53 creature.
My uncommon54 figure gave, as I afterwards understood, occasion for strange reports to the inhabitants on my side of the planet.
The astronomers55 regarded me as a comet, with a very long tail. The superstitious56 thought my appearance to be significant of some coming misfortune. Some draughtsmen took my figure, as far as they could descry57 it, so that when I landed I found paintings of myself, and engravings taken from them, and hawked58 about.
But to return; the eagle flew towards me and attacked me with his wings very furiously. I defended myself as well as I could with my boat-hook, and even vigorously, considering my unstable59 situation. At last, when he attempted to grapple with me, I thrust the hook in between his wings so firmly that I could not extricate60 it.
The wounded monster fell, with a terrible cry, to the globe beneath; and holding the hook, I, well tired of my pendant attitude, was dragged to the planet.
At first my descent was violent, but the increasing thickness of the atmosphere as I approached the planet, made me sink with an easy and soft fall to the earth. Immediately on touching61 it the eagle died of its wounds.
It was now night; or rather the sun was down, for it was not dark. I could see clearly to read the papers I had in my pocket.
The light, as I have already said, comes from the firmament or internal shell of our earth, half of it being brightened at one time like our moon. The only difference between night and day is that the absence of the sun makes the weather a little colder.
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1
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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2
muses
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的第三人称单数 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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3
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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4
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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6
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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7
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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8
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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9
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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10
instigated
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| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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12
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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13
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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14
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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15
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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16
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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17
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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18
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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19
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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21
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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22
veer
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| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
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23
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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24
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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25
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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26
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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28
Pluto
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| n.冥王星 | |
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29
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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31
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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32
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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33
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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34
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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36
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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37
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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38
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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39
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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40
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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41
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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42
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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43
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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44
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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45
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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46
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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47
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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48
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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49
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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50
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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51
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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52
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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53
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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54
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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55
astronomers
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| n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 ) | |
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56
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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57
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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58
hawked
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| 通过叫卖主动兜售（hawk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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59
unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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60
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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61
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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