When we had at length got over the wood, we came again upon the sea, let fall our ship, and proceeded through crystalline pellucid water till we were forced to stop by a vast gulf, formed by a fissure of the water, which was somewhat of a similar kind with what on land is called a chasm, or great cleft made by an earthquake or other means. We came so suddenly upon the brim that the vessel narrowly escaped tumbling into this abyss, which would infallibly have been the case, if we had not struck sail at that instant. On stooping down to look into it, we beheld a depth of a thousand stadia at least, at which we were all lost in amazement. Casting our eyes to the right, however, we perceived at a distance an aquatic bridge, thrown over this abyss, which joined the sea on this side and on the other together. Plying our oars therefore, with all our might, we brought up our vessel to this bridge, and, what we could not have ventured to hope, happily, though with unspeakable labor, got her over. We now found ourselves in a smooth sea, and came to a small, very accessible and inhabited island; but its inhabitants were savages, having the head and horns of oxen, as the minotaur is usually seen in pictures; whence I suppose they have obtained the name of Oxheads. As soon as we could get on shore we went to fill our water casks, and, if possible, get something to eat, for our provisions were all spent. Water we found soon enough, but could see nothing to encourage our hopes of finding victuals, only we heard not far off a lowing that seemed to proceed from a numerous drove of horned cattle. As, however, in that expectation we went a little farther, we saw before us a species of men. They no sooner espied us than they fell upon us and seized three of our men; the rest of us fled toward the sea. But not being disposed to leave our comrades in the lurch unrevenged, in a body we armed ourselves, and made a fierce outset on the Bucephalians, whom we found in the act of dividing the flesh of our slaughtered companions. We, however, struck 1 Bucephalians. such a terror into them, that they all scampered away. We pursued them, killed about fifty of their number, took two alive, and so we returned with our prisoners. But food we could find none. Some earnestly recommended the slaying of our captives; I, however, did not approve of it, but resolved to keep them in safe custody till the elders of the Bucephalians should be inclined to ransom them. It presently appeared that I was in the right; for they came to us, and we quickly understood by the nodding of their heads, and the melancholy, supplicating tone of their lowing, what their business was. We entered, therefore, into a sort of treaty with them; they stipulating to give us, by way of ransom, a quantity of cheese, onions and dried fish, together with four three-legged stags; that is, having the hind-legs like others, but the two fore-legs grown together in one. Upon these conditions we gave back the prisoners; and after staying there one day more, we took our departure, and proceeded on our voyage. We now observed fish of various descriptions swimming about us, and birds flying over our heads; in short, all the other tokens appeared to us, whence it is customary to infer that land is nigh. In a very little time after we saw men navigating after a new fashion; for they were themselves, at once, both ship and sailor. Their contrivance is this: the man lays himself flat on his back upon the water, then erects his middle mast, fastens a sail to it, holding the rope on lower end of it in his hand, and thus sails before the wind. After them came others, sitting on a large piece of cork, and drawn by a pair of harnessed dolphins, which they managed by the bit and bridle. These people never offered us any injury, nor fled from us, but passed along quietly, without fear, wondering at the shape of our vessel, as they examined it on all sides. In the evening we landed on a small island, inhabited only by women, who, I think, spoke Greek. These too came to us, took us by the hand and kindly bade us welcome. They were all handsome, young, attired in the hetærean fashion, and wore long robes trailing on the ground. We understood from them that their island is named Cabalusa, and their city Hydamardia. These ladies were presently so familiar with us that each These, then, are all the occurrences that befell me till my arrival in that other part of the world, on the ocean, and, during my passage through the islands and in the air, then in the whale's belly, and after we got out of it, with the heroes, and among the dreams, and lastly among the Oxheads and Asslegs. What next ensued upon the firm land, I shall give a circumstantial account of in the following books.‘ took one of us home with her, desiring | land with our arms, every man catching him to be her guest. I, for my part, kept whatever he could lay hands on. a little upon the reserve, because, with all these flattering appearances, I apprehended that no good would come of it; and, on looking more carefully about, I discovered a quantity of human bones and skulls lying scattered here and there. On the discovery, to raise a cry, call my companions together and take to our arms, I judged not prudent, but, drawing out my mallow, I made my earnest prayers thereto to be delivered out of all impending perils. Within a while after, when my kind hostess came to wait upon me, I found out that she had not the feet of a woman but the hoofs of an ass. I immediately rushed upon her with my JAUNT. "WM. TOOKE." [Of all Lucian's compositions, the spirit of Aristophanes drawn sword, overpowered her, bound ICAROMENIPPUS, OR THE AERIAL her, and insisted upon her answering the several questions I should propose to her. Upon which she confessed, though reluctantly enough, that they were a sort of appears to me to be the most abundantly poured out merwomen denominated Asslegs, and fed upon this. It is in my judgment (a few passages subupon the strangers who fell into their tracted) a masterpiece of the most urbane vivacity and hands. "For," said she, "when we have the wittiest persiflage, and is distinguished from most of once made them drunk and lulled thera the others chiefly by this, that in it are employed scarcely asleep in our arms, it is all over with any but popular notions, for bantering the philosophers them." I, hearing this, left her bound and deities, and the latter, while he seems to avenge upon the place where she was, ran up to them on the former. So little is known of Menippus, the roof of the house, where I made an that even the circumstance of his having been a disci outery, called all my companions to-ple of Diogenes of Sinope is merely conjectural; this, gether, acquainted them with everything, shewed them the human bones and conducted them to my prisoner. But, before we could be aware, she dissolved into water and vanished out of sight. How-lated under his name, which Terentius Varro, the most ever, to try what would come of it, I thrust my sword into the water and' it was instantly turned into blood. however, we do know, that his disposition to view in a ridiculous light what the generality of mankind pursue with the greatest ardor and avidity, drew upon him the surname of onddoyedaîos. Various writings were circu erudite and easy writer of all the Romans, in his Menipic satires (as he styles them) took for his model. All these, however, being lost, the use which Lucian makes MENIPPUS AND HIS FRIEND. Three thousand stadia from the earth to the moon,--the first station. From thence to the sun about five hundred parasangs. From the sun to Jupitersburg in the sky, Nothing now was left for us but to make what haste we could to our ship, down to posterity. and sail away directly. When the day again began to appear we got sight of the main land, and immediately guessed it to be that directly opposite to our continent. The first thing we did was to fall on our knees and say our prayers. We next consulted what course to take. Some judged it expedient to make a short landing and then turn back again, others judged it best to quit the ship, venture up the country, and try what the inhabitants would do. While we were thus debating, some advising one thing and some another, a tremendous storm arose, which drove our vessel with such violence against the coast that it went to pieces, and it was with much ado we all swam to 1 It is highly proper that a history, made up entirely of lies, should conclude with a promise which the author intends never to keep. 2 Persian miles [farsang]; five and twenty whereof amount by computation to a degree. Or, supposing the Persian parasang equal to thirty stadia, the distance will be eighteen hundred and seventy-five miles. hough there is no high road, yet a stout | same device that Dædalus hit upon; I eagle perhaps might reach it in a day. made myself wings. Friend. What in the name of all the graces are you astronomizing and calculating there between your teeth, Menippus? I have been listening to you a good while as you were talking over to yourself a journal of some strange journey, and about suns and moons and stations and parasangs. Menippus. Marvel not, my comrade, if I appear talking to you on superterrestrial and aerial topics; the short of the matter is, that I was just recounting the journal of a voyage I have lately made. Ι Friend. How? Did you then, like the Phoenician mariners, take the stars for your guides? Menippus. Not so, but I have travelled in the stars. Friend. By Hercules! you have had long dream of it, if you have slept away whole parasangs. Menippus. You think I speak of a dream, my good sir! but there you are mistaken; I come direct from Jupiter. Friend. How say you? Friend. Most daring of all mortals! You were not afraid of encountering the fate of his son, and designating some Menippic sea by your name, as the Icarian was called after his! Menippus. No fear of that. Icarus, who cemented his feathers with wax, might have foreseen that the sun would melt it. I used no wax in the fabrication of my wings. Friend. How did you manage it, then? For by insensible degrees you have screwed me up, I cannot tell how, to believe there may be some reality in this aerial journey. Menippus. Thus I did. Having caught a huge eagle and a powerful vulture, I cut off their wings, at the first joint, and a-if you have time, however, I would rather relate to you my whole plan, from the very beginning. Menippus. Verily so. Immediately from that far-famed Jupiter, after having both seen and heard what exceeds all imagination. If you do not believe me, so much the better, as what has happened to me surpasses all belief. That is precisely what in the affair most delights me. Friend. How should I, O glorious and Olympic Menippus, I, poor son of earth, presume to refuse my belief to a man who comes immediately from the clouds! But tell me, then, if you will be so condescending, how you contrived to climb so high, and whence you procured such a monstrous ladder? Because, to imagine that you were caught up by an eagle, in order to relieve Ganymede in his high office of cup-bearer; for that, you are not handsome enough. Menippus. You are still jocular, I perceive; and it is no wonder if you believe my strange reports to be all a fable. But in my ascent I had no need of a ladder nor of an admiring eagle; I had my own wings. Friend. Well, this outdoes even Dædalus! So, while the rest of us knew no thing of the matter, you were metamorphosed into a hawk or a kite. Menippus. You come somewhat nearer the mark, neighbor! In fact, I tried the Friend. My time cannot be better employed. For really, at your narration, it is with me just as if I was wafted among the clouds; or rather, as though by your keeping me thus in suspense, I were hanging by the ears. Menippus. Be all attention, then. From the time when I began to take a nearer survey of human life and observed the emptiness of those things on which mankind set the highest value, in which they seek to satisfy their avarice, their ambition, their lust of domination,-how ridiculous, petty and insecure they are,since that time all such things are to me become utterly contemptible. I consider all endeavors after their attainment just so much lost time for that which is truly deserving the trouble, and therefore essayed to give my mind a nobler aim, and apply my attention to the contemplation of the whole. Here I found myself thrown into no small perplexity at the very outset; what conception was I to form of what in the language of the wise is termed the universe or the all? For I could not possibly make out how this said all originated, or who was the artificer of it, or what the beginning of it was. or what may be the end of it. But or attempting to examine it in detail, my perplexity was continually increased; since the more I pondered, for example, the stars which seemed scattered at random about the sky, and the sun itself, the less possibility I saw of fathoming what these really are. But what puzzled me most was the moon, whose properties were to me altogether strange and unaccountable, and its alternate aspects I thought must involve some mysterious and inexplicable cause. The all-pervading lightning and the sudden bursts of thunder, the rain, the snow and the hail, all these things were so singular and surprising to me that I could not tell what to make of them. Unable by my own reflections to extricate myself from these difficulties, I thought my best way would be to consult our philosophers, and be instructed by them touching these matters, article by article. For I doubted not that it depended solely on their inclination to tell me the simple truth upon these points. I accordingly looked about for the principal among them, that is, for such as were distinguished by the gloomiest countenance, the sallowest complexion and the dirtiest beard; it cannot otherwise be, thought I, than that men who in speech and appearance differ so much from the common dwellers upon earth, must understand more than other people of the affairs of heaven. So, then, to them I went for instruction, paid hard money beforehand, bound myself to pay the like sum afterwards, when I should have ascended the summit of sapience, hoping to learn the theory of superterrestrial matters and the whole order and construction of the universe to the very bottom. But so far were these gentlemen from helping me out of my former ignorance that, by their causalities and finalities, their atoms and empty spaces, and matters and forms and ideas and the rest of their terms in their jargon with which I was daily overwhelmed, they plunged me into greater doubts and difficulties than I had to encounter before. But what appeared to me least of all to be endured was that, notwithstanding they could not agree in any one point, and were perpetually thwarting and overthwarting one another, each wanted to persuade me that he was in the right, and to lead me to the obedience of his system. Friend. Absurd enough! that people who pretend to be masters of science should contradict one another, and not have the same conceptions of the same things. 1 Namely, with the great bulk of mankind to whom this covert stroke of satire may be properly applied. Menippus. How ridiculous would it appear to you, my friend, if you had heard their arrogance and vaunting sermocinations! if you had heard how these people, who, after all, walk upon the earth like the rest of us, and, instead of being more sharpsighted than ourselves,-nay some of them, either through age or laziness are decrepit and purblind,-nevertheless profess to see beyond the boundaries of heaven, to measure the sun, to expatiate upon objects above the moon, and, precisely as if they had dropped from the stars, compose a dissertation on their bulk and fashion, state exactly the height of the atmosphere, the depth of the ocean and the circumference of the earth; in short, by means of "God knows what " circles, triangles,quadrangles and spheres, parcel out the sky as they would lots of land, and presume to say how many yards the moon is distant from the sun, though they frequently do not know how many stadia you have to go from Megara to Athens. Then, how preposterously and unsupportably insolent it is to discourse of such uncertain and inaccessible objects not as upon likelihood or probability, but leave to others no possibility to outspeak them, but are almost ready to make oath that the sun is a glowing mass of fire, that the moon is inhabited, that the stars drink water, while the sun draws up the vapor as with a bucket,3 and then regularly measures out its portion to each! But how very opposite these gentlemen are in their assertions I will give a few instances to show you. In the first place, they cannot agree in their opinion respecting the world; for one maintains that it never began and will never cease; another, on the contrary, presumes so far as even to name its architect and accurately to state how he went to work. These latter I find particularly admirable, inasmuch as while they make at least a god to have been the artificer of the whole, it had never occurred to them to be prepared with an answer, if they were asked whence he came, and where he stood while he was about his work; since 2 A Pythagorico pinion. A piece of Menippic buffoonery on a perhaps misunderstood doctrine of Heraclitus. See Plutarch, de Plac. Philos. ii. 17. 4 This is applicable to the divine Plato, and particularly to Timæus. prior to the existence of the whole neither time nor place is conceivable. Friend. The people of whom you speak must be arrant braggadocios, posture-masters and tumblers! Menippus. If you had but heard them dispute about ideas and incorporalities and finites and infinites! For on these topics they scold one another like blackguards; some hedging in the whole with a ring fence, others being of opinion that it is without end. A third party give out that there are a great many worlds, and take it very ill of those who speak of the world in the singular number. Another, again, not the most peaceable man upon earth, I presume, takes it into his head to make war upon the author of all things.' As to their opinions respecting the deities, nothing can positively be affirmed; since with one a specific number is god,' another swears by dogs, geese and plane trees, others, again, make a riddance of the rest of the gods, and ascribe the government to one sole: so that it frequently appeared to me truly pitiable for the poor world to be left with such a scarcity of gods, whereas others are so lavish as to set up an infinite multitude, and then sort them, so that one is the first, while the rest must be content with the second and third rank. Moreover, some maintain that the deity is without body and without shape; others, on the contrary, conceive it as somewhat corporeal. Again, all do not make it appear that the deities do not charge themselves with providing for our affairs, but there were some who subtract from all such concerns, and, as we commonly act by old servants, exempt them from work, and set them, as it were, at rest; so that in the mundane comedy of these gentlemen the deities, so to speak, play the mutes. To conclude, there were some who surpassed all the rest, and point blank affirmed there were no gods at all, but that the world was left without governors and without government, to go on as well as it could. Now upon hearing all this, though I could not attempt to urge anything against these high-bawling and well-bearded personages, yet I could not, after turning and twisting it every way, find one of their affirmations against which I had not many things to object, and which had not been overset by one or other of themselves. I was directly in the same predicament with the Homerican Ulysses: the thought struck me to throw myself blindfolded into the faith of some of them. "But still a different thought drew back my mind." Now, not knowing how to help myself in these critical conjunctures, and having lost all hope of discovering the truth of such matters upon earth, there seemed but one method left for extricating myself out of these difficulties; and that was, to procure wings of some kind or other, and by their assistance to ascend in my own person to heaven.10 The hope of being able to effect this was principally excited by the vehemency of my desire, and next by the encouragement of sop, the fable-maker, who tells us of eagles and chafers; aye, even of camels that have gone up to heaven. That even feathers and wings would grow out of my back I thought pure impossibility; if, however, I should find out the art of grafting eagle-wings or vulture-wings, which appear to be of proportionate magnitude, to the human body, I had no doubt that I should succeed in the attempt. Whereupon I caught those two birds, and dextrously cutting off the right wing of the eagle and the left wing of the vulture, I next fastened them with proper thongs about my shoulders, and fixed to the extremities of the long feathers a sort of handle, by which I designed to regulate the wings. This done, I made a trial of what I could do by leaping upwards and began with as is usual with geese, raised myself above my winged arms to steer, and by degrees, the ground, endeavoring by constantly striving upwards to bring all the muscles 10 This certainly would be the shortest way of getting out of all our metaphysical and hyperphysical perplexities. 11 An invention in the taste of Aristophanes, not unworthy of the physical and mathematical science of our Menippus, |