the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第18章
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d； they began to cut that first。 I woke with the voices of the people who had ascended the ladders to begin at the top； and got up； totally ignorant of my situation： in attempting to run away I fell upon the farmer to whom the hay belonged； and broke his neck； yet received no injury myself。 I afterwards found； to my great consolation； that this fellow was a most detestable character； always keeping the produce of his grounds for extravagant markets。
CHAPTER XX
/The Baron slips through the world： after paying a visit to Mount Etna he finds himself in the South Sea； visits Vulcan in his passage； gets on board a Dutchman； arrives at an island of cheese； surrounded by a sea of milk； describes some very extraordinary objectsLose their compass； their ship slips between the teeth of a fish unknown in this part of the world； their difficulty in escaping from thence； arrive in the Caspian SeaStarves a bear to deathA few waistcoat anecdotesIn this chapter； which is the longest； the Baron moralises upon the virtue of veracity。/
Mr。 Drybones' 〃Travels to Sicily；〃 which I had read with great pleasure； induced me to pay a visit to Mount Etna； my voyage to this place was not attended with any circumstances worth relating。 One morning early； three or four days after my arrival； I set out from a cottage where I had slept； within six miles of the foot of the mountain； determined to explore the internal parts； if I perished in the attempt。 After three hours' hard labour I found myself at the top； it was then； and had been for upwards of three weeks； raging： its appearance in this state has been so frequently noticed by different travellers； that I will not tire you with descriptions of objects you are already acquainted with。 I walked round the edge of the crater； which appeared to be fifty times at least as capacious as the Devil's Punch…Bowl near Petersfield； on the Portsmouth Road； but not so broad at the bottom； as in that part it resembles the contracted part of a funnel more than a punch…bowl。 At last； having made up my mind； in I sprang feet foremost； I soon found myself in a warm berth； and my body bruised and burnt in various parts by the red…hot cinders； which； by their violent ascent； opposed my descent： however； my weight soon brought me to the bottom； where I found myself in the midst of noise and clamour； mixed with the most horrid imprecations； after recovering my senses； and feeling a reduction of my pain； I began to look about me。 Guess； gentlemen； my astonishment； when I found myself in the company of Vulcan and his Cyclops； who had been quarrelling； for the three weeks before mentioned； about the observation of good order and due subordination； and which had occasioned such alarms for that space of time in the world above。 However； my arrival restored peace to the whole society； and Vulcan himself did me the honour of applying plasters to my wounds； which healed them immediately； he also placed refreshments before me； particularly nectar； and other rich wines； such as the gods and goddesses only aspire to。 After this repast was over Vulcan ordered Venus to show me every indulgence which my situation required。 To describe the apartment； and the couch on which I reposed； is totally impossible； therefore I will not attempt it； let it suffice to say； it exceeds the power of language to do it justice； or speak of that kind…hearted goddess in any terms equal to her merit。
Vulcan gave me a very concise account of Mount Etna： he said it was nothing more than an accumulation of ashes thrown from his forge； that he was frequently obliged to chastise his people； at whom； in his passion； he made it a practice to throw red…hot coals at home； which they often parried with great dexterity； and then threw them up into the world to place them out of his reach； for they never attempted to assault him in return by throwing them back again。 〃Our quarrels；〃 added he； 〃last sometimes three or four months； and these appearances of coals or cinders in the world are what I find you mortals call eruptions。〃 Mount Vesuvius； he assured me； was another of his shops； to which he had a passage three hundred and fifty leagues under the bed of the sea； where similar quarrels produced similar eruptions。 I should have continued here as an humble attendant upon Madam Venus； but some busy tattlers； who delight in mischief； whispered a tale in Vulcan's ear； which roused in him a fit of jealousy not to be appeased。 Without the least previous notice he took me one morning under his arm； as I was waiting upon Venus； agreeable to custom； and carried me to an apartment I had never before seen； in which there was； to all appearance； /a well/ with a wide mouth： over this he held me at arm's length； and saying； 〃/Ungrateful mortal； return to the world from whence you came/；〃 without giving me the least opportunity of reply； dropped me in the centre。 I found myself descending with an increasing rapidity； till the horror of my mind deprived me of all reflection。 I suppose I fell into a trance； from which I was suddenly aroused by plunging into a large body of water illuminated by the rays of the sun！！
I could； from my infancy； swim well； and play tricks in the water。 I now found myself in paradise； considering the horrors of mind I had just been released from。 After looking about me some time； I could discover nothing but an expanse of sea； extending beyond the eye in every direction； I also found it very cold； a different climate from Master Vulcan's shop。 At last I observed at some distance a body of amazing magnitude； like a huge rock； approaching me； I soon discovered it to be a piece of floating ice； I swam round it till I found a place where I could ascend to the top； which I did； but not without some difficulty。 Still I was out of sight of land； and despair returned with double force； however； before night came on I saw a sail； which we approached very fast； when it was within a very small distance I hailed them in German； they answered in Dutch。 I then flung myself into the sea； and they threw out a rope； by which I was taken on board。 I now inquired where we were； and was informed； in the great Southern Ocean； this opened a discovery which removed all my doubts and difficulties。 It was now evident that I had passed from Mount Etna through the centre of the earth to the South Seas： this； gentlemen； was a much shorter cut than going round the world； and which no man has accomplished； or ever attempted； but myself； however； the next time I perform it I will be much more particular in my observations。
I took some refreshment； and went to rest。 The Dutch are a very rude sort of people； I related the Etna passage to the officers； exactly as I have done to you； and some of them； particularly the Captain； seemed by his grimace and half…sentence to doubt my veracity； however； as he had kindly taken me on board his vessel； and was then in the very act of administering to my necessities； I pocketed the affront。
I now in my turn began to inquire where they were bound？ To which they answered； they were in search of new discoveries； 〃/and if/；〃 said they； 〃/your story is true； a new passage is really discovered； and we shall not return disappointed/。〃 We were now exactly in Captain Cook's first track； and arrived the next morning in Botany Bay。 This place I would by no means recommend to the English government as a receptacle for felons； or place of punishment； it should rather be the reward of merit； nature having most bountifully bestowed her best gifts upon it。
We stayed here but three days； the fourth after our departure a most dreadful storm arose； which in a few hours destroyed all our sails； splintered our bowsprit； and brought down our topmast； it fell directly upon the box that enclosed our compass； which； with the compass； was broken to pieces。 Every one who has been at sea knows the consequences of such a misfortune： we now were at a loss where to steer。 At length the storm abated； which was followed by a steady； brisk gale； that carried us at least forty knots an hour for six months！ ＇we should suppose the Baron has made a little mistake； and substituted /months/ for /days/＇ when we began to observe
