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From Lucian’s Wonderland, being a Translation of the ‘Vera Historia,’ by St J. Basil Wynne Willson, M. A., illustrated by A. Payne Garnett; Edinburgh and London: Blackwood and Sons; 1899, pp. 45-51.
BOOK I
45
CHAPTER IV.
A VISIT TO LAMPOPOLIS — — THE STRANGE NATURE OF THE TOWN — A FLEETING VIEW OF CLOUD-CUCKOO-TOWN — DESCENT TO EARTH.
ENTERING
THE
ZODIAC.
N our voyage we passed by many lands without visiting them, but put in to Lucifer at the very time that the colony was being settled there, and disembarking we took in water. Once more on board, we entered the Zodiac and passed the Sun on our left, sailing so close to land as almost to touch it. We did not disembark, in spite of the eagerness
46
of my companions to do so, as the wind did not allow it. However, we went close enough to observe that the country was fertile, rich, well-watered, and full of many good things.
When the Cloud-Centaurs, who were serving as mercenaries with Phaethon, spied us, they flew in haste towards the ship, but hearing that we were in treaty with their leader, departed.
Here the Horse-Griffins turned back. After sailing on the whole of the next day and night on a downward course, about evening we arrived at the city called Lampopolis. This city lies between the Pleiads and the airy realm of the Hyads, but it is on a lower level than the Zodiac.
On disembarking we found no human being, but many Lamps running to and fro occupying
LAMPOPOLIS.47
themselves in the market and harbour. Some were small and, as one might say, poor, but a few belonging to the great and wealthy class were very bright and luminous.
They each had a separate dwelling and Lamp-room, and also individual names, like men, and we heard them talking together. They did us no harm, but greeted us on friendly terms. Yet we were afraid, and none of us dared either to eat or sleep.
They have a Town-hall built in the midst of the city, where the chief magistrates sit all through the night, summoning each citizen individually by name. Any one who does not answer to his name is condemned to death, on the charge of deserting his post. Death takes the form of being snuffed out.
We stood by and watched all that was passing, and heard the Lamps pleading their
48
defence and relating the causes of their dilatoriness. Amongst them I recognised by own Lamp, and inquired of him the condition of affairs at home, and he told me all.
On the following day we weighed anchor and sailed away near the clouds. There we saw Cloud-Cuckoo-Town, which filled us with amazement; but we did not disembark, as the wind did not permit of it. However, we heard that Chough, the son of Blackbird, was king, and I called to mind Aristophanes, a clever and truthful poet, whose words are absurdly discredited.
On the third day from this we could clearly see the ocean, but not a sign of land save in the sky. There the worlds shone exceedingly bright like fire.
About noon on the fourth day the wind sank and we dropped down to the sea. It
[49]
CLOUD-CUCKOO-LAND.
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51
isDESCENT
TO THE
SEA. impossible to describe the sense of overwhelming joy on feeling ourselves once more on the water. We gave the whole crew a feast such as our provisions could afford, and afterwards took advantage of the calmness of the sea to jump into the water and swim about.
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