Having made so many and extraordinary warlike excursions, and added to our fleet a number of Martinianic ships, we set sail for our own land, into which we entered with a splendor1 exceeding the old Roman triumphs. And really my deeds deserved all possible honors; for what heroic action could be greater and more glorious than to change a despised nation, a nation exposed to the insults of its weaker neighbors, to the acknowledged and respected ruler of the whole subterranean2 world? What could be more honorable to a man, than to reinstate the human race in that dominion3, which nature has given to it, over all other animals?
From this time a new period may be reckoned in history; a fifth monarchy4 can be added to the glorious roll of splendid empires. To the Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires, the Subterranean-Quamatic monarchy, which unquestionably exceeds them all in magnificence and power, may not be considered unworthy to be joined. I could not decline, for obvious reasons, the title of Koble, or great, with which the conquered nations saluted5 me.
I was hailed thereafter, by the following titles: “Niels the Great, Ambassador of the Sun, Emperor in Quama and Mezendore, King of Tanaqui, Alectoria, Arctonia, the Mezendoric and Martinianic dominions6, Grand Duke of Kispusianania, Ruler of Martinia, etc. etc.”
—— firmly founded, stood
The mighty7 empire; the favorite of fortune,
I seemed as firmly fixed8; not one, alas9!
May be deemed happy ‘till his latest hour.
When I had reached this splendid and powerful height, greater than any man should desire, I became, what men usually become, who are raised from a simple state to great honor in the world. I forgot my former condition, and inclined to vanity. Instead of exerting myself to retain the favor of the people, I proved myself cruel and rigorous to all classes. My subjects, whom I had formerly10 endeared by friendly and polite conduct, I now regarded and treated as slaves. For this course, I came soon to be despised; the love and reverence11 of my people were changed to indifference12 and fear. Their sentiments towards me I soon had reason to understand, when I issued a proclamation to the inhabitants.
The occasion was this: the empress, whom I left in pregnancy13 during my last expedition, had in my absence been delivered of a son. This prince I wished to have nominated as my successor. I therefore summoned a Diet, and commanded the Quamitian nobles and the great men among the conquered nations, to meet in the capital, at the crowning of the child. None dared to disobey this proclamation, and the coronation passed off with great magnificence; but I observed by the countenances14 of my subjects, that their joy was dissembled. I became more confirmed in my mistrust, when I learnt that a multitude of libels had been spread about. These libels, by unknown authors, criticised me very severely15, and asserted that prince Timuso was insulted in the choice of my son. This enraged16 me so much that I could not rest until that noble and excellent prince should be removed from my path. I therefore suborned some persons to accuse him of treason; and since rulers seldom want assistants, when they would commit crimes, I was quickly enabled to prove that Timuso had attempted my life. I had him sentenced to death by bribed17 judges, and then threw him into prison, where he was privately18 murdered; for I feared to excite a rebellion by a public execution. I had determined19 to murder the younger prince likewise; but postponed20 it. His youth procured21 for him the safety, which neither my justice nor humanity would have granted him. Having once imbued22 my hands in innocent blood, my cruelty and moroseness23 knew no bounds. I doomed24 to death several whole families, whose loyalty25 I merely suspected. Not a day passed without bloodshed. I defiled26 my soul with the blood of innocence27, virtue28 and nobleness. All these things hastened a rebellion, excited by the nobles, who had been long disgusted with me.
I will here acknowledge, that I deserved all the misfortunes that afterwards met me. It had certainly been more fit for a Christian29 king to have taught his ignorant and heathen subjects to know the true God, and to have given them an example in my own person of the sweet charities of the true religion, than to have excelled, even themselves in barbarity, sin and moral turpitude30. It would have been an easy matter for me to have reformed the whole subterranean world, for whatever I commanded was fulfilled; whatever I determined was received in perfect good faith; whenever I spoke31, my words were as those of a God. But I forgot God and myself; I thought of nothing but empty and vain splendor, and the augmentation of my power; wherefore I perpetrated many cruelties, until the people, unable to bear more, (and they were a patient people,) broke out against me.
While matters stood thus, I determined to lay hands on prince Hidoba. This intention I revealed to my high-chancellor32, Kalak, in whom I had great confidence. He promised to be of service to me in all things, and departed to fulfil my order: but at heart, he detested33 my cowardly fears, and left me only to discover my plot to the prince. Together they repaired to the fort, collected the garrison34, and represented, in a touching35 manner, their danger and my fears. The tears of the unfortunate prince gave weight to his words; all seized their arms, and promised that they would hazard their lives for him. The cunning chancellor took the opportunity to persuade them to swear loyalty to the prince, and sent messages to others, who, he knew, were displeased36 with me, to take arms against the tyrant37.
All armed themselves, whose hearts, through fear and horror,
Did burn towards their country’s tyrant; they met
and united with the garrison, while I awaited the return of the chancellor.
By the advice of Pomopoloko, I fled seasonably to Tanaqui, leaving my own capital before the inhabitants generally were apprised38 of the immediate39 cause of the sudden out-break. Arrived in Tanaqui, I quickly collected an army of forty thousand men, and boldly retraced40 the steps which a few days before I had pursued in fear and trembling. I had little doubt that my powers would be augmented41 by Quamites, who had been either too remote to suffer from my cruelty, or too indifferent to my infamy42, to hesitate in joining a force so overpowering, and a leader whose prospects43 were so brilliant as mine. But I was deceived in my hopes: instead of auxiliaries44 a herald45 from the prince met me. The object of his mission was to declare a formal war, and, for a commencement of hostilities46, that my wife and son had been imprisoned47. On the footsteps of the herald came the Quamitic forces. A bloody48 engagement took place, in which our part proved to be inferior. I, left to my fate, fled to a neighboring mountain, crossed its side and descended49 to a dale behind it. There I remained in concealment50 for some time, bemoaning51, the while, my misery52, as I then believed, but which I afterwards more justly named, my folly53. I was so agitated54, had so thoroughly55 lost that presence of mind for which I had in former days been distinguished56, that I did not remove from my head the crown, which, being ornamented57 with sunbeams, would have easily betrayed me. While panting like a bayed lion, I heard a nestling on the other side of the mountain, which I supposed was made by men beating the bushes to discover any hiders. I now looked around for a more secure retreat, for I doubted not that my flight had been noticed, and that these pursuers would search on my side of the mountain. Behind me was
—— A thick and matted forest, sunk between hills
All desolate58 and bare, whose dark and awful silence
Beckoned59 me.
I hurried thither60, fiercely flinging aside the thorny61 bushes that clung as fiercely to me, and came at last to the mouth of a cave. Creeping in, I observed that the cave was deep, and as far as the light penetrated62, level. I determined to explore its recesses63, though I think I should not have been so hardy64 in my days of fortune.
After treading cautiously a hundred paces, I suddenly lost my footing, and plunged65 with the quickness of lightning, into a hole that must have had perpendicular66 sides.
Having shot through this passage, the abode67 of palpable darkness and night, I suddenly perceived a faint light.
As when through clouds the moon doth gleam
With pallid68 smile.
As this light increased, my speed decreased, so that without pain or trouble, I was soon brought to a stand between two high mountains. My sensations, during this remarkable69 passage, were similar to those experienced while tossing among the billows of the ocean. On recovering, I found myself, to my great astonishment70, in the same spot from which, years before, I had plunged into the subterranean regions. A moment’s reflection gave me the means to account for the decrease of speed in the latter part of my course. The weight of the atmosphere is much greater on the surface of the globe, than below; consequently I was buoyed71 up by the increasing resistance of the air towards the surface. Had this not been the case, I should, unquestionably, at least in my own mind, have shot off to the moon.
Still, being obnoxious72 to cavil73, I will defer74 this hypothesis to the astronomer’s closer examination.
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收听单词发音
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1
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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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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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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pregnancy
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| n.怀孕，怀孕期 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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18
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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20
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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21
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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22
imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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moroseness
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24
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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26
defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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27
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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28
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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30
turpitude
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| n.可耻；邪恶 | |
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31
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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32
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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33
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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35
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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37
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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38
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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39
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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40
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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41
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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42
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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43
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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44
auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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45
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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46
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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47
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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49
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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50
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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51
bemoaning
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| v.为（某人或某事）抱怨( bemoan的现在分词 )；悲悼；为…恸哭；哀叹 | |
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52
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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53
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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54
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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55
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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56
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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57
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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59
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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62
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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63
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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64
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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65
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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66
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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67
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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69
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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71
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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72
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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73
cavil
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| v.挑毛病，吹毛求疵 | |
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74
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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