Niels Klim lived to the year 1695. His irreprehensible life and amiable disposition endeared him to all. Yet were the priests now and then angry with him for his great sedateness and reservedness, which they called pride and haughtiness. I, who knew the man, wondered much at the modesty, humility and patience with which he, who had been monarch over many nations, executed his mean and vulgar duties. So long as his strength permitted, he would, at a certain time in the year, ascend the mountain and gaze into the cave, out of which he came to the surface. His friends observedthat he always returned weeping, and immediately shut himself in his chamber, where he remained alone the rest of the day.
His wife informed me, that she frequently heard him murmur in his dreams, of armies and navies. His library consisted mostly of political works; for this selection he was blamed by several, who thought this description of books unfit for a sacristan.
Of the "subterranean travels," there is but a single copy, written by his own hand, which is in my possession.
I have often had it in mind to publish them, but several important reasons have hindered me from doing so.
FOOTNOTES:[1]A porteur is one who carries his employer in a chair, from place to place.[2]This name is taken to be predicated.
[1]A porteur is one who carries his employer in a chair, from place to place.
[1]A porteur is one who carries his employer in a chair, from place to place.
[2]This name is taken to be predicated.
[2]This name is taken to be predicated.
Transcriber's NotesPage30: form amended to from ("My European clothes were taken from me....")Page43: pennyless amended to pennilessPage50: sapplings amended to saplingsPage55: pityless amended to pitilessPage56: chrystal amended to crystal; nutricious amended to nutritiousPage70: Closing quotes added to the paragraph ending "... mitigate our torments."Page98: Martianic amended to MartinianicPage109: sea-yoyage amended to sea-voyagePage122: unwieldly amended to unwieldyPage127: indescriminately amended to indiscriminatelyPage135: Tanquites amended to TanaquitesPage144: "they have made no advance because": no punctuation at end of paragraphsicPage155: Opening quotes added to the paragraph starting "The learned and unlearned...."Page157: prëeminent amended to preëminentPage161: Kispusiania amended to KispuniananiaPage165: Tanqui amended to TanaquiPage168: Full stop after "battle array" amended to a comma.Page172: Kespusianania amended to KispuniananiaPage183: hefore amended to beforePage185: Closing quotes added after "... plunged into the mountain cave."
Page30: form amended to from ("My European clothes were taken from me....")
Page43: pennyless amended to penniless
Page50: sapplings amended to saplings
Page55: pityless amended to pitiless
Page56: chrystal amended to crystal; nutricious amended to nutritious
Page70: Closing quotes added to the paragraph ending "... mitigate our torments."
Page98: Martianic amended to Martinianic
Page109: sea-yoyage amended to sea-voyage
Page122: unwieldly amended to unwieldy
Page127: indescriminately amended to indiscriminately
Page135: Tanquites amended to Tanaquites
Page144: "they have made no advance because": no punctuation at end of paragraphsic
Page155: Opening quotes added to the paragraph starting "The learned and unlearned...."
Page157: prëeminent amended to preëminent
Page161: Kispusiania amended to Kispunianania
Page165: Tanqui amended to Tanaqui
Page168: Full stop after "battle array" amended to a comma.
Page172: Kespusianania amended to Kispunianania
Page183: hefore amended to before
Page185: Closing quotes added after "... plunged into the mountain cave."