A Sudden Change in the Author's Fortunes

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 splendor 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 subterranean world? What could be more honorable to a man, than to reinstate the human race in that dominion, which nature has given to it, over all other animals?

After so many extraordinary military expeditions, we had added a number of Martinianic ships to our fleet. We set sail for our own land and entered it in a spectacle grander than the triumphs of ancient Rome. And indeed, my deeds deserved every possible honor. What heroic act could be greater or more glorious than transforming a despised nation into a respected ruler? It had suffered insults from its weaker neighbors, but now it was acknowledged as ruler of the entire subterranean world. What could be more honorable for a man than restoring humanity to its natural dominion over all other animals?

From this time a new period may be reckoned in history; a fifth monarchy 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 saluted me.

A new period in history can be counted from this time. A fifth monarchy can be added to the glorious list of splendid empires. The Subterranean-Quamatic monarchy unquestionably surpasses them all in magnificence and power. It may be considered worthy of joining the Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires. For obvious reasons, I could not refuse the title of Koble, or great, which the conquered nations gave 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 dominions, Grand Duke of Kispusianania, Ruler of Martinia, etc. etc."

After that, I was called by these titles: "Niels the Great, Ambassador of the Sun, Emperor in Quama and Mezendore, King of Tanaqui, Alectoria, Arctonia, the Mezendoric and Martinianic dominions, Grand Duke of Kispusianania, Ruler of Martinia, etc. etc."

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 formerly 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 reverence of my people were changed to indifference and fear. Their sentiments towards me I soon had reason to understand, when I issued a proclamation to the inhabitants.

When I reached this splendid height of power, greater than any man should desire, I became like others raised from humble beginnings to great honor. I forgot my former condition and grew vain. Instead of trying to retain the people’s favor, I treated all classes cruelly and harshly. My friendly and polite conduct had once won my subjects’ affection. Now I regarded and treated them as slaves. For this, I soon came to be despised. My people’s love and respect turned to indifference and fear. I soon had reason to understand their feelings toward me when I issued a proclamation to the inhabitants.

The occasion was this: the empress, whom I left in pregnancy 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 countenances 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 severely, and asserted that prince Timuso was insulted in the choice of my son. This enraged 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 bribed judges, and then threw him into prison, where he was privately murdered; for I feared to excite a rebellion by a public execution. I had determined to murder the younger prince likewise; but postponed it. His youth procured for him the safety, which neither my justice nor humanity would have granted him. Having once imbued my hands in innocent blood, my cruelty and moroseness knew no bounds. I doomed to death several whole families, whose loyalty I merely suspected. Not a day passed without bloodshed. I defiled my soul with the blood of innocence, virtue and nobleness. All these things hastened a rebellion, excited by the nobles, who had been long disgusted with me.

The reason was this: the empress had been pregnant when I left on my last expedition. While I was away, she gave birth to a son. I wanted the prince named as my successor. So I summoned a Diet and ordered the Quamitian nobles and the leaders of the conquered nations to meet in the capital for the child’s coronation. None dared disobey the proclamation. The coronation was magnificent, but I could see from my subjects’ faces that their joy was feigned. My mistrust grew when I learned that many libels had been circulated. Written by unknown authors, they criticized me severely. They claimed that choosing my son was an insult to prince Timuso. This so enraged me that I could not rest until that noble and excellent prince was out of my way. So I paid people to accuse him of treason. Rulers rarely lack helpers when they wish to commit crimes, and I was soon able to prove that Timuso had attempted to kill me. I bribed judges to sentence him to death, then threw him into prison, where he was murdered in secret. I feared that a public execution would provoke a rebellion. I had also decided to murder the younger prince, but I put it off. His youth kept him safe, though neither my sense of justice nor my humanity would have spared him. Once I had stained my hands with innocent blood, my cruelty and ill temper knew no bounds. I sentenced several entire families to death because I merely suspected their loyalty. Not a day passed without bloodshed. I defiled my soul with the blood of the innocent, the virtuous, and the noble. All this hastened a rebellion stirred up by the nobles, who had long been 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 Christian 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 turpitude. 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 spoke, 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.

I admit that I deserved all the misfortunes that later befell me. As a Christian king, I should have taught my ignorant and heathen subjects to know the true God. I should have shown them, by my own example, the gentle kindnesses of the true religion. Instead, I surpassed even them in barbarity, sin, and wickedness. I could easily have reformed the whole subterranean world. Whatever I commanded was done, and whatever I decided was accepted in complete good faith. Whenever I spoke, my words were treated as those of a God. But I forgot God and myself. I thought only of empty, vain splendor and increasing my power. So I committed many cruelties, until the people could bear no more and rose against me. And they were a patient people.

While matters stood thus, I determined to lay hands on prince Hidoba. This intention I revealed to my high-chancellor, 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 detested my cowardly fears, and left me only to discover my plot to the prince. Together they repaired to the fort, collected the garrison, and represented, in a touching 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 displeased with me, to take arms against the tyrant.

With matters as they were, I decided to seize prince Hidoba. I revealed my plan to my high-chancellor, Kalak, in whom I had great confidence. He promised to help me in every way and left to carry out my order. But he secretly despised my cowardly fears and left only to reveal my plot to the prince. Together they went to the fort and gathered the garrison. In a moving appeal, they spoke of their danger and my fears. The unfortunate prince’s tears gave weight to his words. All took up their arms and promised to risk their lives for him. The cunning chancellor took the opportunity to persuade them to swear loyalty to the prince. He also sent messages to others he knew were displeased with me, urging them to take up arms against the tyrant.

and united with the garrison, while I awaited the return of the chancellor.

and joined the garrison, while I waited for the chancellor to return.

By the advice of Pomopoloko, I fled seasonably to Tanaqui, leaving my own capital before the inhabitants generally were apprised of the immediate cause of the sudden out-break. Arrived in Tanaqui, I quickly collected an army of forty thousand men, and boldly retraced the steps which a few days before I had pursued in fear and trembling. I had little doubt that my powers would be augmented by Quamites, who had been either too remote to suffer from my cruelty, or too indifferent to my infamy, to hesitate in joining a force so overpowering, and a leader whose prospects were so brilliant as mine. But I was deceived in my hopes: instead of auxiliaries a herald from the prince met me. The object of his mission was to declare a formal war, and, for a commencement of hostilities, that my wife and son had been imprisoned. On the footsteps of the herald came the Quamitic forces. A bloody 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 descended to a dale behind it. There I remained in concealment for some time, bemoaning, the while, my misery, as I then believed, but which I afterwards more justly named, my folly. I was so agitated, had so thoroughly lost that presence of mind for which I had in former days been distinguished, that I did not remove from my head the crown, which, being ornamented 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

On Pomopoloko's advice, I fled to Tanaqui in time. I left my capital before most inhabitants knew the immediate cause of the sudden uprising. In Tanaqui, I quickly gathered an army of forty thousand men. Then I boldly retraced the route I had followed in fear and trembling a few days earlier. I had little doubt that Quamites would swell my ranks. Some had been too far away to suffer from my cruelty. Others were too indifferent to my disgrace to hesitate to join such an overwhelming force and a leader with such brilliant prospects as mine. But my hopes were disappointed. Instead of reinforcements, a herald from the prince met me. He came to declare formal war and announce that my wife and son had been imprisoned as the first act of hostilities. The Quamitic forces followed close behind him. A bloody battle took place, and our side proved weaker. Left to my fate, I fled to a nearby mountain, crossed its slope, and descended into a valley behind it. I hid there for some time, lamenting what I then believed was my misery. Later, I more rightly called it my folly. I was so agitated that I had completely lost the presence of mind for which I had once been known. I did not even take the crown off my head. Its sunbeam ornaments could easily have betrayed me. As I panted like a lion cornered by hunters, I heard rustling on the other side of the mountain. I supposed it was men searching the bushes for anyone hiding there. I now looked around for a safer hiding place. I had no doubt that my flight had been noticed and that my pursuers would search my side of the mountain. Behind me was

I hurried thither, fiercely flinging aside the thorny 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 penetrated, level. I determined to explore its recesses, though I think I should not have been so hardy in my days of fortune.

I hurried there, fiercely pushing aside the thorny bushes that clung just as fiercely to me. At last, I reached the mouth of a cave. I crept inside and saw that it was deep. As far as the light reached, the floor was level. I decided to explore its depths, though I doubt I would have been so bold in better times.

After treading cautiously a hundred paces, I suddenly lost my footing, and plunged with the quickness of lightning, into a hole that must have had perpendicular sides.

After walking carefully for a hundred paces, I suddenly lost my footing. I plunged like lightning into a hole that must have had vertical sides.

Having shot through this passage, the abode of palpable darkness and night, I suddenly perceived a faint light.

After shooting through this passage, a place of almost tangible darkness and night, I suddenly saw a faint light.

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 remarkable passage, were similar to those experienced while tossing among the billows of the ocean. On recovering, I found myself, to my great astonishment, 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 buoyed 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.

As the light grew brighter, I slowed down. Soon I came to a stop between two high mountains, without pain or trouble. During this remarkable passage, I felt as though I were being tossed about by ocean waves. When I recovered, I was astonished to find myself in the same spot where I had plunged underground years earlier. After a moment’s thought, I understood why I had slowed down near the end of my journey. The atmosphere is much heavier on the surface of the globe than below it. As I approached the surface, the growing resistance of the air held me up. If it had not, I would unquestionably have shot off to the moon, at least in my own mind.

Still, being obnoxious to cavil, I will defer this hypothesis to the astronomer's closer examination.

Still, since this hypothesis is open to criticism, I will leave it to the astronomer for closer examination.