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Page 33
I gave Notice to the Caravan, that we would set forward the next
Morning, which we accordingly did, and as near as I could compute,
we flew that Day, 180 Miles. What surpriz'd me was, that in less
than an Hour and half's Ascent, _Volatilio_, who would not go in his
_Palanquin_, folded his Wings, and came to me on Foot, and told me I
might get out and stretch my Limbs. My _Palanquineers_ stood still, and
confirm'd what he said; and more, that they had not for a Quarter of an
Hour past been sensible of my Weight, which had lessen'd by Degrees, so
as not to be felt at all.
I left my _Palanquin_, and found what _Volatilio_ had conjectur'd, and
his Report verified; for I could with as much Ease lift a _Palanquin_ of
Provisions, which did not on Earth weigh less than 500 Weight, as I
could on our Globe raise a Feather. The Cold was very much abated, and
I found my Spirits rais'd.
I would here have sent back half the _Palanquin_-Bearers, but
_Volatilio_ was of Opinion we should keep them a Day longer; for,
perhaps, said he, we may send them all (except those which carry you)
away; for if the Universal Spirit included in the Air should suffice for
our Nourishment, we have no Business with Provisions.
I approv'd his Reason, and we proceeded on, sure of falling first into
the Attraction of the Moon, it being the nearest Planet to us.
I shall not detain the Reader with my Observations in this aerial
Journey; _Gallileus_, who by his Writings gives me room to believe he
had, before me, visited this Planet, whatever were his Reasons for not
owning it, having left nothing, which is not mentioned in his _Systema
Mundi_.
I observ'd only, which I take Notice of for those who have not read him,
that when the Moon has but a small Part of his Body enlighten'd, that
the Earth, the other Moon, has a proportionable Part of its Hemisphere
visibly darken'd; I mean a Part in proportion to that of the Moon which
is enlighten'd; and that both these Moons, of which ours is much the
larger, mutually participate the same Light of the Sun, and the same
Obscurity of the Eclipses, and mutually assist each other: For when the
Moon is in Conjunction with the Sun, and its _pars superior_ receives
all the Light, then its inferior Hemisphere is enlighten'd by the
Earth's reflecting the Rays of the Sun, otherwise it would be intirely
dark; and when those two Planets are in Opposition, then that Part of
the Earth which is deprived of the Rays of the Sun, is enlighten'd by a
full Moon.
The next Day _Volatilio_ was for sending back the Provisions, but I
judg'd it proper not to go forward, but to stay the Space of a natural
Day, in the same Situation, because in that time, or in no other in the
Journey, we should require Sustenance, and also because their Return
would be easier, than if we carried them still forward.
This was agreed to, and none of us finding any Appetite, Weakness, or
Sinking of our Spirits, dismiss'd all but those who carried my
_Palanquin_, and proceeded forward with an incredible Swiftness.
We were about a Month before we came into the Attraction of the Moon, in
all which time none of us had the least Inclination to Sleep or Meat, or
found our selves any way fatigued, nor, till we reach'd that Planet, did
we close our Eyes; the Attraction was so great, that it was all the
Bearers and _Volatilio_ could do to prevent our being dash'd to Pieces
on a Mountain; we descended with that inconceivable Swiftness, that I
apprehended it impossible, in our Return, to avoid that Misfortune in
the World we left; since the Attraction, if its Virtue was augmented in
proportion to its Magnitude, must be much stronger.
This Thought made me very uneasy for those who return'd. I spoke of it
to _Volatilio_ who bid me apprehend nothing; for, said he, the Magnetick
Virtue of the Load-stone is so far from being in Proportion to its Size,
that the very large ones have less attractive Power than those which are
middling.
When I had recover'd from the Fright, which the Rapidity of our Descent
had put me into, I view'd the circumjacent Country with equal Wonder and
Delight; Nature seem'd here to have lavish'd all her Favours; on
whatsoever Side I turn'd my Eye, the most ravishing Prospect was offer'd
to my Sight. The Mountain yielded a gradual Descent to most beautiful
Meadows, enamell'd with Cowslips, Roses, Lilies, Jessamines, Carnations,
and other fragrant Flowers, unknown to the Inhabitants of our Globe,
which were as grateful to the Smell, as entertaining to the Eye. The
chrystal Rivulets which smoothly glided thro' these inchanting Meads,
seem'd so many Mirrors reflecting the various Beauties of those
odoriferous Flowers which adorn'd their Banks. The Mountain, which was
of considerable Height, afforded us a great Variety in our Prospect, and
the Woods, Pastures, Meads, and small Arms of the Sea, were intermingled
with that surprizing Beauty and Order, that they seem'd rather dispos'd
by Art, than the Product of Nature; the Earth it self yielded a grateful
and enlivening Scent, and is so pure, that it does not sully the Hands.
The Cedars, which cloath'd the middle Part of the Summit, were streight,
tall, and so large, that seven Men would hardly fathom the Bowl of one;
round these twin'd the grateful Honey-suckle, and encircling Vine, whose
purple Grapes appearing frequent from among the Leaves of the wide
extended Branches, gave an inconceivable Pleasure to the Beholder. The
Lily of the Valley, Violet, Tuberose, Pink, Julip and Jonquil, cloath'd
their spacious Roots, and the verdant Soil afforded every salutiferous
Herb and Plant, whose Vertues diffus'd thro' the ambient Air (without
the invenom'd and the griping Fist of the _Cacklogallinian_ Empiricks)
Preservatives to the blessed Inhabitants of the Lunar World.
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