It is in this country those famous balms grow of which there are some few plants in that part of Jud?a called Gilead. Musk8, ambergris, and numerous gums, so precious in Europe, are here in their native climate. It is said the Sultan of Egypt pays a vast tribute to the monarch9 of this country to hire him not to cut off the source of the Nile, which he might easily do, and cause the river to flow in some other direction, thus depriving Egypt of the source of its fertility.
At the time of Astolpho’s arrival in his dominions10, this monarch was in great affliction. In spite of his riches and the precious productions of his country, he was in danger of dying of hunger. He was a prey11 to a flock of obscene birds called Harpies, which attacked him whenever he sat at meat, and with their claws snatched, tore, and scattered12 everything, overturning the vessels13, devouring14 the food, and infecting what they left with their filthy15 touch. It was said this punishment was inflicted16 upon the king because when young, and filled with pride and presumption17, he had attempted to invade with an army the terrestrial paradise, which is situated18 on the top of a mountain whence the Nile draws its source. Nor was this his only punishment. He was struck blind.
Astolpho, on arriving in the dominions of this monarch, hastened to pay him his respects. King Senapus received him graciously, and ordered a splendid repast to be prepared in honor of his arrival. While the guests were seated at table, Astolpho filling the place of dignity at the king’s right hand, the horrid19 scream of the Harpies was heard in the air, and soon they approached, hovering20 over the tables, seizing the food from the dishes, and overturning everything with the flapping of their broad wings. In vain the guests struck at them with knives and any weapons which they had, and Astolpho drew his sword and gave them repeated blows, which seemed to have no more effect upon them than if their bodies had been made of tow.
At last Astolpho thought of his horn. He first gave warning to the king and his guests to stop their ears; then blew a blast. The Harpies, terrified at the sound, flew away as fast as their wings could carry them. The paladin mounted his Hippogriff, and pursued them, blowing his horn as often as he came near them. They stretched their flight towards the great mountain, at the foot of which there is a cavern21, which is thought to be the mouth of the infernal abodes22. Hither those horrid birds flew, as if to their home. Having seen them all disappear in the recess23, Astolpho cared not to pursue them farther, but alighting, rolled huge stones into the mouth of the cave, and piled branches of trees therein, so that he effectually barred their passage out, and we have no evidence of their ever having been seen since in the outer air.
After this labor25 Astolpho refreshed himself by bathing in a fountain whose pure waters bubbled from a cleft26 of the rock. Having rested awhile, an earnest desire seized him of ascending27 the mountain which towered above him. The Hippogriff bore him swiftly upwards29, and landed him on the top of the mountain, which he found to be an extensive plain.
A splendid palace rose in the middle of this plain, whose walls shone with such brilliancy that mortal eyes could hardly bear the sight. Astolpho guided the winged horse towards this edifice30, and made him poise31 himself in the air while he took a leisurely32 survey of this favored spot and its environs. It seemed as if nature and art had striven with one another to see which could do the most for its embellishment.
Astolpho, on approaching the edifice, saw a venerable man advance to meet him. This personage was clothed in a long vesture as white as snow, while a mantle33 of purple covered his shoulders, and hung down to the ground. A white beard descended34 to his middle, and his hair, of the same color, overshadowed his shoulders. His eyes were so brilliant that Astolpho felt persuaded that he was a blessed inhabitant of the heavenly mansions35.
The sage24, smiling benignantly upon the paladin, who from respect had dismounted from his horse, said to him: “Noble chevalier, know that it is by the Divine will you have been brought to the terrestrial paradise. Your mortal nature could not have borne to scale these heights and reach these seats of bliss36 if it were not the will of Heaven that you should be instructed in the means to succor37 Charles, and to sustain the glory of our holy faith. I am prepared to impart the needed counsels; but before I begin let me welcome you to our sojourn38. I doubt not your long fast and distant journey have given you a good appetite.”
The aspect of the venerable man filled the prince with admiration39; but his surprise ceased when he learned from him that he was that one of the Apostles of our Lord to whom he said, “I will that thou tarry till I come.”
St. John, conducting Astolpho, rejoined his companions. These were the patriarch Enoch and the prophet Elijah; neither of whom had yet seen his dying day, but, taken from our lower world, were dwelling40 in a region of peace and joy, in a climate of eternal spring, till the last trumpet41 shall sound.
The three holy inhabitants of the terrestrial paradise received Astolpho with the greatest kindness, carried him to a pleasant apartment, and took great care of the Hippogriff, to whom they gave such food as suited him, while to the prince they presented fruits so delicious that he felt inclined to excuse our first parents for their sin in eating them without permission.
Astolpho, having recruited his strength, not only by these excellent fruits, but also by sweet sleep, roused himself at the first blush of dawn, and as soon as he left his chamber42 met the beloved Apostle coming to seek him. St. John took him by the hand, and told him many things relating to the past and the future. Among others, he said, “Son, let me tell you what is now going on in France. Orlando, the illustrious prince who received at his birth the endowment of strength and courage more than mortal, raised up as was Samson of old to be the champion of the true faith, has been guilty of the basest ingratitude43 in leaving the Christian44 camp when it most needed the support of his arm, to run after a Saracen princess, whom he would fain marry, though she scorns him. To punish him his reason has been taken away, so that he runs naked through the land, over mountains and through valleys, without a ray of intelligence. The duration of his punishment has been fixed45 at three months, and that time having nearly expired, you have been brought hither to learn from us the means by which the reason of Orlando may be restored. True, you will be obliged to make a journey with me, and we must even leave the earth, and ascend28 to the moon, for it is in that planet we are to seek the remedy for the madness of the paladin. I propose to make our journey this evening, as soon as the moon appears over our head.”
As soon as the sun sunk beneath the seas, and the moon presented its luminous46 disk, the holy man had the chariot brought out in which he was accustomed to make excursions among the stars, the same which was employed long ago to convey Elijah up from earth. The saint made Astolpho seat himself beside him, took the reins47, and giving the word to the coursers, they bore them upward with astonishing celerity.
At length they reached the great continent of the Moon. Its surface appeared to be of polished steel, with here and there a spot which, like rust48, obscured its brightness. The paladin was astonished to see that the earth, with all its seas and rivers, seemed but an insignificant49 spot in the distance.
The prince discovered in this region so new to him rivers, lakes, plains, hills, and valleys. Many beautiful cities and castles enriched the landscape. He saw also vast forests, and heard in them the sound of horns and the barking of dogs, which led him to conclude that the nymphs were following the chase.
The knight50, filled with wonder at all he saw, was conducted by the saint to a valley, where he stood amazed at the riches strewed51 all around him. Well he might be so, for that valley was the receptacle of things lost on earth, either by men’s fault, or by the effect of time and chance. Let no one suppose we speak here of kingdoms or of treasures; they are the toys of Fortune, which she dispenses52 in turning her wheel; we speak of things which she can neither give nor take away. Such are reputations, which appear at one time so brilliant, and a short time after are heard of no more. Here, also, are countless53 vows54 and prayers for unattainable objects, lovers’ sighs and tears, time spent in gaming, dressing55, and doing nothing, the leisure of the dull and the intentions of the lazy, baseless projects, intrigues56, and plots; these and such like things fill all the valley.
Astolpho had a great desire to understand all that he saw, and which appeared to him so extraordinary. Among the rest, he observed a great mountain of blown bladders, from which issued indistinct noises. The saint told him these were the dynasties of Assyrian and Persian kings, once the wonder of the earth, of which now scarce the name remains57.
Astolpho could not help laughing when the saint said to him, “All these hooks of silver and gold that you see are the gifts of courtiers to princes, made in the hope of getting something better in return.” He also showed him garlands of flowers in which snares58 were concealed59; these were flatteries and adulations, meant to deceive. But nothing was so comical as the sight of numerous grasshoppers60 which had burst their lungs with chirping61. These, he told him, were sonnets62, odes, and dedications63, addressed by venal64 poets to great people.
The paladin beheld65 with wonder what seemed a lake of spilled milk. “It is,” said the saint, “the charity done by frightened misers66 on their death-beds.” It would take too long to tell all that the valley contained: meanness, affectations, pretended virtues67, and concealed vices68 were there in abundance.
Among the rest Astolpho perceived many days of his own lost, and many imprudent sallies which he had made, and would have been glad not to have been reminded of. But he also saw among so many lost things a great abundance of one thing which men are apt to think they all possess, and do not think it necessary to pray for,—good sense. This commodity appeared under the form of a liquor, most light and apt to evaporate. It was therefore kept in vials, firmly sealed. One of these was labelled, “The sense of the Paladin Orlando.”
All the bottles were ticketed, and the sage placed one in Astolpho’s hand, which he found was his own. It was more than half full. He was surprised to find there many other vials which contained almost the whole of the wits of many persons who passed among men for wise. Ah, how easy it is to lose one’s reason! Some lose theirs by yielding to the sway of the passions; some in braving tempests and shoals in search of wealth; some by trusting too much to the promises of the great; some by setting their hearts on trifles. As might have been expected, the bottles which held the wits of astrologers, inventors, metaphysicians, and above all, of poets, were in general the best filled of all.
Astolpho took his bottle, put it to his nose, and inhaled69 it all; and Turpin assures us that he was for a long time afterwards as sage as one could wish; but the Archbishop adds that there was reason to fear that some of the precious fluid afterwards found its way back into the bottle. The paladin took also the bottle which belonged to Orlando. It was a large one, and quite full.
Before quitting the planetary region Astolpho was conducted to an edifice on the borders of a river. He was shown an immense hall full of bundles of silk, linen70, cotton, and wool. A thousand different colors, brilliant or dull, some quite black, were among these skeins. In one part of the hall an old woman was busy winding71 off yarns72 from all these different bundles. When she had finished a skein another ancient dame73 took it and placed it with others; a third selected from the fleeces spun74, and mingled75 them in due proportions. The paladin inquired what all this might be. “These old women,” said the saint, “are the Fates, who spin, measure, and terminate the lives of mortals. As long as the thread stretches in one of those skeins, so long does the mortal enjoy the light of day; but nature and death are on the alert to shut the eyes of those whose thread is spun.”
Each one of the skeins had a label of gold, silver, or iron, bearing the name of the individual to whom it belonged. An old man, who, in spite of the burden of years, seemed brisk and active, ran without ceasing to fill his apron76 with these labels, and carried them away to throw them into the river, whose name was Lethe. When he reached the shore of the river the old man shook out his apron, and the labels sunk to the bottom. A small number only floated for a time, hardly one in a thousand. Numberless birds, hawks77, crows, and vultures hovered78 over the stream, with clamorous79 cries, and strove to snatch from the water some of these names; but they were too heavy for them, and after a while the birds were forced to let them drop into the river of oblivion. But two beautiful swans, of snowy whiteness, gathered some few of the names, and returned with them to the shore, where a lovely nymph received them from their beaks80, and carried them to a temple placed upon a hill, and suspended them for all time upon a sacred column, on which stood the statue of Immortality82.
Astolpho was amazed at all this, and asked his guide to explain it. He replied, “The old man is Time. All the names upon the tickets would be immortal81 if the old man did not plunge83 them into the river of oblivion. Those clamorous birds which make vain efforts to save certain of the names are flatterers, pensioners84, venal rhymesters, who do their best to rescue from oblivion the unworthy names of their patrons; but all in vain; they may keep them from their fate a little while, but ere long the river of oblivion must swallow them all.
“The swans, that with harmonious86 strains carry certain names to the temple of Eternal Memory, are the great poets, who save from oblivion worse than death the names of those they judge worthy85 of immortality. Swans of this kind are rare. Let monarchs87 know the true breed, and fail not to nourish with care such as may chance to appear in their time.”
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1
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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falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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musk
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| n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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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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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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12
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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13
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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14
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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16
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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20
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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39
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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40
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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41
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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42
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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43
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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44
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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45
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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46
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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47
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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48
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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49
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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50
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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51
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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52
dispenses
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| v.分配，分与；分配( dispense的第三人称单数 )；施与；配（药） | |
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53
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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54
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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55
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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56
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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57
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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58
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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60
grasshoppers
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| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
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61
chirping
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的现在分词 ) | |
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sonnets
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| n.十四行诗( sonnet的名词复数 ) | |
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63
dedications
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| 奉献( dedication的名词复数 )； 献身精神； 教堂的)献堂礼； （书等作品上的）题词 | |
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64
venal
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| adj.唯利是图的，贪脏枉法的 | |
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65
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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66
misers
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| 守财奴，吝啬鬼( miser的名词复数 ) | |
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67
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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68
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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69
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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71
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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72
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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73
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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74
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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75
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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76
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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77
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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78
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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79
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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80
beaks
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| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
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81
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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82
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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83
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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84
pensioners
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| n.领取退休、养老金或抚恤金的人( pensioner的名词复数 ) | |
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85
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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86
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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87
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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