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the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第30章

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was one of the most tremendous though magnificent figures I ever beheld。 She was harnessed with superb trappings to a large flat…bottomed boat; in which was placed an edifice of wood; exactly resembling Westminster Hall。 Two balloons were placed over it; tackled by a number of ropes to the boat; to keep up a proper equilibrium; and prevent it from overturning; or filling; from the prodigious weight of the fabric。

The interior of the edifice was decorated with seats; in the form of an amphitheatre; and crammed as full as it could hold with ladies and lords; as a council and retinue for your humble servant。 Nearly in the centre was a seat elegantly decorated for myself; and on either side of me were placed the famous Gog and Magog in all their pomp。

The Lord Viscount Gosamer being our postillion; we floated gallantly down the river; the noble Sphinx gambolling like the huge leviathan; and towing after her the boat and balloons。

Thus we advanced; sailing gently; into the open sea; being calm weather; we could scarcely feel the motion of the vehicle; and passed our time in grand debate upon the glorious intention of our voyage; and the discoveries that would result。

〃I am of opinion;〃 said my noble friend; Hilaro Frosticos; 〃that Africa was originally inhabited for the greater part; or; I may say; subjugated by lions which; next to man; seem to be the most dreaded of all mortal tyrants。 The country in generalat least; what we have been hitherto able to discover; seems rather inimical to human life; the intolerable dryness of the place; the burning sands that overwhelm whole armies and cities in general ruin; and the hideous life many roving hordes are compelled to lead; incline me to think; that if ever we form any great settlements therein; it will become the grave of our countrymen。 Yet it is nearer to us than the East Indies; and I cannot but imagine; that in many places every production of China; and of the East and West Indies; would flourish; if properly attended to。 And as the country is so prodigiously extensive and unknown; what a source of discovery must not it contain! In fact; we know less about the interior of Africa than we do of the moon; for in this latter we measure the very prominences; and observe the varieties and inequalities of the surface through our glasses

 〃Forests and mountains on her spotted orb。

〃But we see nothing in the interior of Africa; but what some compilers of maps or geographers are fanciful enough to imagine。 What a happy event; therefore; should we not expect from a voyage of discovery and colonisation undertaken in so magnificent a style as the present! what a pridewhat an acquisition to philosophy!〃



                             CHAPTER XXV

  /Count Gosamer thrown by Sphinx into the snow on the top of   TeneriffeGog and Magog conduct Sphinx for the rest of the voyage   The Baron arrives at the Cape; and unites his former chariot;   &c。; to his new retinuePasses into Africa; proceeding from the   Cape northwardsDefeats a host of lions by a curious stratagem   Travels through an immense desertHis whole company; chariot;   &c。; overwhelmed by a whirlwind of sandExtricates them; and   arrives in a fertile country。/

The brave Count Gosamer; with a pair of hell…fire spurs on; riding upon Sphinx; directed the whole retinue towards the Madeiras。 But the Count had no small share of an amiable vanity; and perceiving great multitudes of people; Gascons; &c。; assembled upon the French coast; he could not refrain from showing some singular capers; such as they had never seen before: but especially when he observed all the members of the National Assembly extend themselves along the shore; as a piece of French politeness; to honour this expedition; with Rousseau; Voltaire; and Beelzebub at their head; he set spurs to Sphinx; and at the same time cut and cracked away as hard as he could; holding in the reins with all his might; striving to make the creature plunge and show some uncommon diversion。 But sulky and ill…tempered was Sphinx at the time: she plunged indeedsuch a devil of a plunge; that she dashed him in one jerk over her head; and he fell precipitately into the water before her。 It was in the Bay of Biscay; all the world knows a very boisterous sea; and Sphinx; fearing he would be drowned; never turned to the left or the right out of her way; but advancing furious; just stooped her head a little; and supped the poor count off the water; into her mouth; together with the quantity of two or three tuns of water; which she must have taken in along with him; but which were; to such an enormous creature as Sphinx; nothing more than a spoonful would be to any of you or me。 She swallowed him; but when she had got him in her stomach; his long spurs so scratched and tickled her; that they produced the effect of an emetic。 No sooner was he in; but out he was squirted with the most horrible impetuosity; like a ball or a shell from the calibre of a mortar。 Sphinx was at this time quite sea… sick; and the unfortunate count was driven forth like a sky…rocket; and landed upon the peak of Teneriffe; plunged over head and ears in the snow/requiescat in pace!/

I perceived all this mischief from my seat in the ark; but was in such a convulsion of laughter that I could not utter an intelligible word。 And now Sphinx; deprived of her postillion; went on in a zigzag direction; and gambolled away after a most dreadful manner。 And thus had everything gone to wreck; had I not given instant orders to Gog and Magog to sally forth。 They plunged into the water; and swimming on each side; got at length right before the animal; and then seized the reins。 Thus they continued swimming on each side; like tritons; holding the muzzle of Sphinx; while I; sallying forth astride upon the creature's back; steered forward on our voyage to the Cape of Good Hope。

Arriving at the Cape; I immediately gave orders to repair my former chariot and machines; which were very expeditiously performed by the excellent artists I had brought with me from Europe。 And now everything being refitted; we launched forth upon the water: perhaps there never was anything seen more glorious or more august。 'Twas magnificent to behold Sphinx make her obeisance on the water; and the crickets chirp upon the bulls in return of the salute; while Gog and Magog; advancing; took the reins of the great John Mowmowsky; and leading towards us chariot and all; instantly disposed of them to the forepart of the ark by hooks and eyes; and tackled Sphinx before all the bulls。 Thus the whole had a most tremendous and triumphal appearance。 In front floated forwards the mighty Sphinx; with Gog and Magog on each side; next followed in order the bulls with crickets upon their heads; and then advanced the chariot of Queen Mab; containing the curious seat and orrery of heaven; after which appeared the boat and ark of council; overtopped with two balloons; which gave an air of greater lightness and elegance to the whole。 I placed in the galleries under the balloons; and on the backs of the bulls; a number of excellent vocal performers; with martial music of clarionets and trumpets。 They sung the 〃Watery Dangers;〃 and the 〃Pomp of Deep Cerulean!〃 The sun
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