Two Inhabitants’ Journey from Sirius and Saturn

Our two philosophers were just ready to take off into Saturn's atmosphere with a very nice provision of mathematical instrument when the ruler of Saturn, who had heard news of the departure, came in tears to remonstrate. She was a pretty, petite brunette who was only 660 fathoms tall, but who compensated for this small size with many other charms.

Our two philosophers were just about to take off into Saturn's atmosphere, well supplied with fine mathematical instruments. But the ruler of Saturn had heard about their departure and came in tears to protest. She was a pretty, petite brunette, only 660 fathoms tall. But she made up for her small size with many other charms.

"Cruelty!" she cried, "after resisting you for 1,500 years, just when I was beginning to come around, when I'd spent hardly a hundred¹⁰ years in your arms, you leave me to go on a voyage with a giant from another world; go, you're only curious, you've never been in love: if you were a true Saturnian, you would be faithful. Where are you running off to? What do you want? Our five moons are less errant than you, our ring less inconsistent. It's over, I will never love anyone ever again."

"How cruel!" she cried. "I resisted you for 1,500 years. Just when I was beginning to give in, after hardly a hundred¹⁰ years in your arms, you leave me. You're going on a voyage with a giant from another world. Go, then. You're only curious. You've never been in love. If you were a true Saturnian, you would be faithful. Where are you running off to? What do you want? Our five moons wander less than you do, and our ring is less changeable. It's over. I will never love anyone ever again."

The philosopher embraced her, cried with her, philosopher that he was; and the woman, after swooning, went off to console herself with the help of one of the dandies of the country.

The philosopher hugged her and cried with her, philosopher though he was. And the woman, after fainting, went off to comfort herself with the help of a local dandy.

Our two explorers left all the same; they alighted first on the ring, which they found to be fairly flat, as conjectured by an illustrious inhabitant of our little sphere¹¹; from there they went easily from moon to moon. A comet passed by the last; they flew onto it with their servants and their instruments. When they had traveled about one hundred fifty million leagues, they met with the satellites of Jupiter. They stopped at Jupiter and stayed for a week, during which time they learned some very wonderful secrets that would have been forthcoming in print if not for the inquisition, which found some of the propositions to be a little harsh. But I have read the manuscript in the library of the illustrious archbishop of...., who with a generosity and goodness that is impossible to praise allowed me to see his books. I promised him a long article in the first edition of Moréri, and I will not forget his children, who give such a great hope of perpetuating the race of their illustrious father.

Our two explorers left anyway. They first landed on the ring and found it fairly flat, as a distinguished inhabitant of our little world had predicted¹¹. From there, they traveled easily from moon to moon. A comet passed by the last moon. They flew onto the comet with their servants and instruments. After traveling about one hundred fifty million leagues, they reached Jupiter’s moons. They stopped at Jupiter and stayed for a week. During that time, they learned some truly wonderful secrets. These secrets would have been published if the inquisition had not found some of the claims a little harsh. But I have read the manuscript in the library of the distinguished archbishop of.... His generosity and kindness are beyond praise, and he allowed me to see his books. I promised him a long article in the first edition of Moréri. And I will not forget his children, who offer such great hope of continuing their distinguished father’s family line.

But let us now return to our travelers. Upon leaving Jupiter they traversed a space of around one hundred million leagues and approached the planet Mars, which, as we know, is five times smaller than our own; they swung by two moons that cater to this planet but have escaped the notice of our astronomers. I know very well that Father Castel will write, perhaps even agreeably enough, against the existence of these two moons; but I rely on those who reason by analogy. These good philosophers know how unlikely it would be for Mars, so far from the sun, to have gotten by with less than two moons. Whatever the case may be, our explorers found it so small that they feared not being able to land on it, and they passed it by like two travelers disdainful of a bad village cabaret, pressing on towards a neighboring city. But the Sirian and his companion soon regretted it. They traveled a long time without finding anything. Finally they perceived a small candle, it was earth; this was a pitiful sight to those who had just left Jupiter. Nevertheless, from fear of further regret, they resolved to touch down. Carried by the tail of a comet, and finding an aurora borealis at the ready, they started towards it, and arrived at Earth on the northern coast of the Baltic sea, July 5, 1737, new style.

But let us return to our travelers. After leaving Jupiter, they crossed about one hundred million leagues and approached Mars. As we know, Mars is five times smaller than our own planet. They passed two moons that serve Mars but have escaped our astronomers’ notice. I know very well that Father Castel will write against the existence of these two moons, perhaps even entertainingly. But I rely on those who reason by analogy. These good philosophers know how unlikely Mars, so far from the sun, would be to manage with fewer than two moons. Whatever the case, our explorers found Mars so small that they feared they could not land on it. So they passed Mars by, like two travelers scorning a shabby village tavern and pressing on toward a neighboring city. But the Sirian and his companion soon regretted passing Mars. They traveled for a long time without finding anything. Finally, they spotted a little candle. It was Earth, a pitiful sight to travelers who had just left Jupiter. Still, fearing more regrets, they decided to land. Riding the tail of a comet, they found the northern lights ready for them and headed toward Earth. They arrived on the northern coast of the Baltic sea on July 5, 1737, by the new calendar.