Lamekis

by Charles de Fieux

  151 The King, as has been said, was of a different religion than his people and this statement was ironic to make the high priestess understand that he knew all about the ploys she used to assert herself and seduce the people.

  152 The room where the queens of the Amphicleocles gave birth guarded by two priestesses who were relieved every day by other virgins from the temple of Kleocles. This is still one of the customs that the politics of religious ministers use to have emissaries in the heart of the palace so that nothing can happen without their knowing about it.

  153 Let the punishment fall on my head and may the heavens be praised.

  154 The King was not allowed to give orders to the priestesses and even less so punish them when they deserved. Justice was done in the temple on the order of the high priestess, whose power was totally despotic.

  155 The Sylphs had no doubt that the soul was immortal, but they did not think that when it left the body it flew directly to the blessed or cursed places that its deeds had earned. They were convinced that the substance (that’s how they referred to the soul) went into mortal bodies on blessed or cursed planets and that they stayed there until the end of the world. Then the Universal Being, whom they call Noc-kha-dor, gathers them up into the great heaven where they are suited up with bodies made by his hand, one for each substance, whose beauty or ugliness will make them happy or miserable. When they taught their children the basic principles of their sect and asked them what Noc-kha-dor did, they answered, “He grinds down our fathers’ bodies and makes new ones for them to wear according to whether they followed his laws or not.”

  156 Dehahal had the right to favorably direct those who are thrown by chance onto the Island of the Sylphs, but he could not keep them from the constant traps that the black spirits maliciously laid out to harm them and get hold of their substance. But when a mortal chose freely to resist all the temptations of vice, then the philosopher could show up and lead him into the port of happiness.

  157 Scealgalis allowed the black Sylphs to appear to men in the most attractive forms to tempt them to evil. The trial of the 12 tables was one of the most dangerous to experience. If you were lucky enough to get through without falling into the traps, you earned the right to call yourself initiated.

  158 By this is meant the great skinning ceremony, which is when you are skinned alive. See Part 2 (above), The Ceolbhaume.

  159 Of being skinned alive: when they entered the place where this barbarous deed was done, they announced that the skinning, as cruel as it was, signified the abandonment of all things that one was most attached to. When the proselyte was ready to sacrifice everything to the glory of Scealgalis, (formal litany), the executioner Sylphs left him to prepare for the ceremony. This interval was given to the black spirits to try one last time to make him succumb to temptation. They appeared in their most attractive forms, as the most beloved of the proselyte, to arouse his desires. If he was unfortunate enough to give in to the seduction, the executioner Sylphs came back and skinned him alive. But instead of this punishment being the last step to happiness, it led to ruin. After the skinning a Sylph brought him back to earth where, to punish him for not following the good, he lived for one year in torment and despair of having lost the greatest good that could ever be hoped for and was promised to him.

  160 The Sylphs claimed that there was so much strength and energy in the way their history was written that there was not a single passage that could not move mountains, dry up the seas, etc. I felt it necessary to edit out all the advantages they attributed to this claim, which were set out in detail in my original manuscript. Today we are so strict that we can never be too restrained: the bombastic gibberish of hypocrisy is fashionable everywhere and we must conform.

  161 Dehahal was badgering the black spirit and the owl. The passage will be explained forthwith.

  162 The Sylphs believed that there was no happiness beyond their island and life on Earth and the planets was the real hell where law-breakers were cast.

  163 If a Sylph was on his island or in any other place, he had the right to be obeyed by clapping his hands seven times.

  164 The vanity of Dehahal is insupportable and his speech pretty much proves that whatever state of perfection the man had reached, he still had some traces of his former weaknesses since it would be easy for me to show in the heart of this story that Dehahal was not the first to be transported to the mysterious island, as he claims. It was written in their tradition that a certain Csekaliel, a Phoenician, had been transported by a female Sylph who had fallen in love with him and had children who made up the third species of inhabitants, which will be discussed elsewhere.

  165 I agree with the author that the Island of the Sylphs has always been regarded as the dwelling of Intelligences where all metaphysical knowledge comes from. I agree, too, that it is 70 leagues or stadia of night phase away. I know that it is said that the cloud that follows the Moon is the base of this mysterious island and this should not be doubted. Everyone knows that Fagelle, the former Calvinist minister, recently deceased, made the voyage in an extraordinary adventure that will be described elsewhere. So, I agree with all these things, but I am not of the opinion that the island is inhabited and governed with the order that is claimed. If I can reach it myself to clear the matter up, I will add a supplement to this work on my return from the island and, to leave the scholars nothing to be desired, I will provide undeniable evidence to establish the momentous proofs.

  166 It is presumed that Dehahal is talking here about the planets. Gassendi has made a very exact count of them, which the reader can use to figure out this passage.

  167 Tavernier reported that in the Atlantic Ocean he came across an island that was sailing a few miles away from his ship and he said that it was inhabited by black men who were built differently from other men.

  168 The Roc is a huge bird that is found around the South Pole. It carries cows off in the countryside, but in this country the animals are as big as elephants. Judging by this we can imagine how big their eggs must be.

  169 It is true that sunlight makes this impression. If a reader has any doubts, he can easily check it by taking a coach to the nearest port at sunrise to see how the spectacle is produced. The first beams will barely hit the water when the oysters, which cracked open during the cool night, will close in fear of being dried up by the heat. But like all inhabitants of shells, (like with men), there will be a few lazy ones and the sunlight will take advantage of their negligence, slip in between their shells when they are not completely closed, and quickly pry them open. That’s why you always find so many empty oysters on the seashore. Common people who are not apprised of natural mysteries and take everything literally, have always believed that the sun loves oysters and before starting its day it has oyster stew for breakfast. With no disrespect to philosophical secrets I thought I should explain this passage so that we not fall victim to ignorance.

  170 This phenomenon happened in the year of the world 2,400 of the Egyptian Era. Here’s how Aristotle described it in a supplement he wrote for his Dioptric, which he forgot in his pocket on the fatal day when he fell into the Euripus Strait. His contemporaries say that the piece was finished, but we have this fragment that I publish here after a copy that the doctor of the Great Mughal sent to me a few years ago: “The Sun had not appeared over our hemisphere for three whole days, but on the fourth of the month Oklouk at the second hour of the day, it was seen in all its brightness. The people were not used to losing it for so long and breathed a sigh of relief on its return. They ran around the country to enjoy the holiday of its welcome presence. But everyone stopped in surprise when they saw a bright body rise up into the sky and gather up all the rays of the Father of Light! The ministers of the temple of Jupiter were stunned by the phenomenon and bid the people turn to the god’s mercy, saying that the comet in the skies was a powerful enemy rising up to overthrow his bright throne. The frightened people kneeled at the foot of the altars, screamed and wailed and waited f
or the universe to crumble at any moment. But the strange body was moving back and forth, sometimes totally eclipsing the sun and obscuring the Earth and then letting it reappear again like normal. The battle lasted for three hours, during which time the people were afraid that the sun would be overcome by how swiftly the phenomenon arose. However, when they were least expecting it, the comet suddenly faded away and disappeared completely. The priests of Apollo took advantage of this natural event to glorify themselves among the people by telling them that it was only through their prayers that Jupiter came to help Phoebus. Everyone believed it and ran to the temple to give thanks. For myself, not easily giving in to the errors of the common crowd and having examined things deeply, I figured that the phenomenon was a foreign body that the Sun’s heat had attracted and then dissolved when it got too close.” There’s Aristotle’s report on the matter. I thought I should cite it in this important place to prove without a doubt the passage in question. Moreover, it tells us something about Lamekis’s chronology, which is a significant benefit that should never be overlooked and that I always strive for in my works—it costs me dearly, but can we ever do too much for the public?

  171 The Sylphan philosopher says that all the atoms that make up the universe are animals of different shapes and sizes that live and breed according to the instinct of visible creatures. He offers this maxim to explain the duration of nature’s movement, demonstrating their regeneration as an indisputable point that compensates for the mortality of the species, which changes into other volatile substances to feed its kind who by their lives preserve the necessary movement that keep all the parts of the universe going. From these physics the Sylphs draw their knowledge of the creator and say that nothing offers stronger proof of its power than the variety found, according to their system, in all living atoms. Comparing it, then, with the uniformity in the human species, they show that of all animals man is the only one predestined for glory and his soul is immortal by this distinguished preference. These are the two pivotal points of the philosophy of the Island of the Sylphs.

  172 The most serious oath a Sylph could take. The word meant “on the head of Scealgalis” and when it was pronounced you were obliged to follow the advice of the speaker.

  173 The way from the Island of the Sylphs to the Moon. These Sylphs were declared enemies of the lunar inhabitants. Not only was it forbidden by law to have any communion with them, but it was mandated to kill any they happened to meet. That was why everyone found on this way was seized and mercilessly thrown into the Ceolbhaume.

  174 See note on the Ceolbhaume at the beginning of Part 2. This is the same place with the slight difference that those who were thrown in without the mark of purification burned for all eternity.

  175 The cloud that apparently joined the Island of the Sylphs with the Earth. It was a special way and the Sylph guards were forbidden to deal with anyone found there without first informing Scealgalis.

  176 In Sylphan language it means “universal force.” According to the astronomers, this place in the sky is located below Saturn. The Intelligences claim that it is where all matter dissolves into fluid and its impetus is given by the action of the fiery motive force. The sky is called glacial and changes according to the position of the Sun—when it is farthest away the sky is changed into ice, but when it gets closer the ice becomes hail, the hail turns to snow and when the sun is closest the snow becomes rain. The Sylphs look upon Lakindakis with great veneration. On coming back from a mission they purify themselves there like in a sacred bath that washes them of all the stains that they might contract in the profane atmospheres where their duties led them.

  177 Guardian of the royal pen who acted as the secretary of state.

  178 The great bee. It had the privilege of proclaiming Scealgalis’s orders. For this, every citizen living on the island had to give it a certain number of corpses, which the Sylphs got from the inhabited planets.

  179 It was forbidden on the Island of the Sylphs to date anything or have any time-measuring instruments, thinking that true happiness had no limits and was subject to no change.

  180 Peculiar favor and one of the greatest that a Sylph could give to a mortal. It consisted in breaking a tooth. For even greater distinction Kaagilgon broke four of his for Dehahal. History says that such grace was never given to any other man, which makes gives all scholars great respect for this philosopher.

  181 Tower in which they kept the skins of those who rendered great service to the island. The skins were used as dowries for the daughters whom the state married—it was the greatest good that they could bring to their husband, a sure proof of their special nobility. In the grand ceremonies the women wore them like long coats and were thereby set apart from the ordinary nobles.

  182 The Sylphs claimed that before being skinned the mind was weighed down by matter and saw things through a cloud making it impossible to tell the difference between the true and false.

  183 It seems that the author wanted to slip this in: that one cannot truly be an upright man without being thoroughly instructed in the laws of one’s country.

  184 Dehahal gives an important lesson in this passage to those whom the ministry has put in charge of leading other men by teaching them that a good example is the best way to put and keep them on the right path. You can glory in your good just like you must recognize your faults. The first produces admiration, the other punishes pride.

  185 The philosopher insinuates here that it is not enough to strive for the good, you must persevere in it. He also seems to be saying that the loss of happiness because of our own fault drags in its wake such cruel regrets that it is the worst imaginable punishment. See Hensius, On Suffering, p. 42, vol. 5, Holland Edition.

  186 Built of tiles of thunder just like the tower of archives and all material places. The author is mistaken in saying that no body suffered on this island, unless he tacitly omitted the earthly exhalations petrified by the sun where everything was created in the air, as unique to their substance.

  187 To really understand this passage you have to have an idea of what the opacity of the island was like. The best comparison is to the way Venice was built. Put the sky in place of the sea or, if you’d like, imagine that there were solid clouds that could carry the third-class inhabitants of this region. For, no offense to the original but the Island of the Sylphs is of a mixed nature. It is so well known today that I would be abusing the reader’s pleasure by trying to prove such a basic truth. Enough Frenchmen have returned to back up what can only be mentioned in passing here, but since life is full of unbelievers, who spend their time doubting everything, let’s pray they are honest enough to make the journey themselves to the Island of the Sylphs. The story of the philosopher Dehahal shows the way to get there. With such clear details it cannot be hard to reach and we can hope that after coming back they will want to do justice to the truth.

  188 We see here that the philosopher was also an orator and could not help making such a rich comparison. The text translated word for word says that the instruments called Triton horns were human bladders with three holes that they continually blew with their lips. The wind coming out of the holes made a very sweet, very odd sound.

  189 Semi-Sylphs changing species every 12 hours. What the common people call sprites or pixies.

  190 Which shows that patience and perseverance are the necessary virtues to reach the greatest happiness. Yet it seems that the author gives philosophy a slap in the face here because he is tired and fed up.

  191 Composed of normal men who were favored or recruited by the Sylphs.

  192 The first condition that a man had to fulfill when he became an inhabitant was to always carry his dish. It looked like the bottom of a lamp hanging from an iron handle and in it he had to keep a very pungent gum burning in order to keep away the black spirits. In the course of time they became so used to it that they could never live without it, even if it were outlawed.

  193 Women appeared only in public celebrations. There are
two kinds on the island. The first kind, born of the Sylphan race looks like them. Despite their extraordinary figures they are so beautiful that mortals can fall passionately in love with them. The second kind of woman is normal like ours. Whatever the Sylphs might say about how crude we are, they are naturally inclined to love our women. When they find one on Earth who pleases them, they find a way to kidnap them and reasons to get them accepted on the island. Later on we will see some special features that will explain this passage better, which is pretty difficult in the original.

  194 Ashes of burned fingernails that the women had to cover their foreheads with to show that they were nothing but dust compared to their husbands. Fortunately there is a passage in Gregory of Tours’ Ceremonies where he deals with the subordination of women toward their husbands. He says that on the Island of the Sylphs the women are so respectful and so subordinate that they were not allowed to walk on both legs. The greatest favor a husband could give his wife was to let her change feet, but it was only given on special occasions. The learned minister from Charenton goes even further and assures us that if by chance a woman stumbled or was caught on both her feet, they cut one off right then and there and she was forced to wear it around her neck for the rest of her life. The author gives the credible example of the wife of a chief minister, which would be too long to reproduce here.

  195 Women married by the state who had the right to attend the grand ceremonies.

  196 Sign of particular distinction when a Sylph meets another inhabitant of the island and wants to show his respect; he pulls his ears and drags him around like that, which means “I respect you, you’re a good man, you can count on me.”

  197 The applause was made by picking up stones and throwing them at the head of the speaker. The more contusions he got the more people liked him. After the speech there were men with the specific duty of picking up the stones that had been thrown. Then they put them in a balance and invited the critics to get onto the other side. They were accepted, however many of them there were, and when there were no more they hung the scales. If the stones were heavier they recorded the approval of the speech and it was used as a model for young orators. As for the critics who had stood firm against it, they threw them in a well that was heaped with the same stones that proved their envy and treachery.