Besides a Dish of Tea, they had some Bread and some Jellie and a deal of little Cakes. After this the Husband goes to a Box, that stood on a Table at the side, and of a sudden a lowd Noise comes from the Box, and it was some kind of wild Musick. Thinks I, this is a new sort of Toy, but presently the Musick ceas’d, and the Voice of a Man came forth, that I quak’d for sudden fear. Then another Voice discours’d for some time, and presently ceas’d again, and the wild Musick began once more. They gave me an explanation, it was Musick from many Miles away, but how it came into their Box, they cou’d not make clear. This Box they call, a Raydeow. After that the Man remember’d his Chariot, which he call’d, his Car, and went out to conclude with his cleaning it. He shew’d it to me, and said, that it went by Burning within. When he had done with the cleaning it, he lit the Furnace in it’s Bowels, by no more then the turn of a little Key, and, seating him self in it, conducted it into it’s Stable, which he call’d, a Garraudge. He said, my Machine shou’d be more safe, within the House, and after we had measur’d it with a Measure he had of Steel, that bent round, and had measur’d the distance too, I mov’d it once again, within a commodious Porch he had.
Over a good Supper of cold Mutton, wash’d down with some bitter Ale from a glass Bottie, he assures me again, I shou’d be able to get a good Price, for a Book or a Peice of Silver. Several Pounds, says he, enough to buy you a Shirt or two. My Spirits shot up to the Heavens with the First part of his Sentence, and were blown half way back, with the Second. That a Book, purchas’d for a Shilling, cou’d be so priz’d, as to command several Pounds; and that such a vast Sum, cou’d buy no more, then a Shirt, I cou’d scarce credit. But he made me know, that a Pound was nothing today. I saw, I shou’d have to furnish my self well, upon my Excursion to my own Time. But in the mean while we fell to talking of the state of England. They took me for an Irish Man, it seems, which put me out of countenance, ‘till I saw they meant no harm by it, but were puzzled by my Speech, which indeed they found near as hard, as I theirs. So I told them, I came from a Village, where now stood his Town. And I found, the name of my Village, was now the name of a Sobbub of his Town (which is their name, for a part of a Town) and that was the part all around us. I thought his Town must be a very great City, but he says, ‘twas of but a middle size, with only fifty thousand Souls in’t. You may suppose, I open’d my Eyes at that. But it seems, they do not reckon a City is great, unless it reach above two hundred thousand; and of that reckoning they have a good number, while a few of the greatest have above a Million. How the Land cou’d support so many, I cannot tell, but where we have one Body, they have ten or twelve. Whilst we were speaking, the Lanthorns in the Road all came alight in one instant, and no Body lit ‘em. He said, ‘twas by Electricity, which they make in great Buildings from turning Wheels by Steam, or (in other places) from an Esoterick sort of Chymistry, and send many miles along Wires.
I was drowzy long before my Hosts, and they had me a Bed made in a spare Chamber above Stairs. But before I went to Rest, my Host perswaded me, to wash my self over in that Trough they had. The Dish with Holes, that hung from the Ceiling, was for Water to Rain down upon you, but I lik’d it not. They wash them selves in these Baths nigh every day, for that the Water is kept so hot with this same Electricity (by which they can accomplish well nigh every thing they wou’d), that they may keep them selves sweet-smelling (for they set great store by that), and in order to the cleansing off a kind of Soot or Dirt, that fly’s every where in the Air, and from whence comes this odour of Burning, that was about.
I had an uneasie Rest at first by reason of the many lowd Sounds without, but never-the-less I woke at the usual hour with me. My Host and his Wife made no sound, and neither within the House nor without was any Body stirring, which appear’d mighty strange to me. I thought, now ‘twill be safe, may hap, to return impuned to my House and Time, to gather what I will and bring all back here. I stole down, and after a while found how to open the Fastnings of the Door out to their Porch. There stood my Machine. I unlock’d it’s Rod, and remember’d, that I shou’d return to April, and so mov’d the Months Dial, besides the Years Dials, which I set back to my own Year. Then I saw the Green Spark rise in the Tube, that shew’d the Height, some three Metres on it’s Scale, and leave below it a Blew one. So I knew, I shou’d come out from here under the high Meadow at home, or there abouts. I study’d the Plats for moving your place narrowly, and mov’d their Buttons, untill I brought the Lines on ‘em back, to whence I begun, and the Green Spark sank down to swallow up the Blew. Now I try’d the Red Knob, letting alone the Green, and all was well, for I found my self in the Machine in the Lane at home near to the Barn, whence I had come. But I felt as if I had been in this Moment before, and a great Dizzyness and Glowdy-ness in my Head. Then I saw, that it was no dim Morning that I beheld, but a bright After-noon; and a Bird, that I had left perch’d upon a Bough close by, sate there exactly as’t had been. At length I knew, that I was back at the very Instant, when I had first mov’d the Machine, and that my Sorcerer shou’d be but now gone down the Alley, and might at once return. I had forgot my Hours and Days Dials. I mov’d ‘em straightway back eleven hours, to that day’s Sun-rise, before he had come. All my tarrying the night before was to no end, for I cou’d chuse any Time.
When I press’d upon the Red Knob there was I in a grey half-light. No Body was yet about, and step by step I mov’d my Machine down the Street, ‘till I came before my House, which (of course) was bolted and barr’d. Then I mov’d it inside in the great Chamber, and in the Gloom search’d about for my Hanger, a tall Jugg of Silver, a Snuff-box, a fine Time-peice that I had, a glass Bowl, two Books of Sermons and three Broad-sheets of Satyricall Verses, and the Volume of Mr Sympkins his Travells of a dozen years heretofore. Then I thought, I will need to Shave my self, so I found my best Razour. And I now knew, who ‘twas had these Things from my House, that Night, and not the Sorcerer. I took up an old Sack, in which to carry my Goods, but the Bowl and the Snuff-Box I wrapp’d in soft Cloth, and plac’d in a little Coffer I had. I plac’d all with some labour within the Machine, and was about to take my leave, when I bethought me of the time, and how at that hour I had been in Bed asleep. Am I then there in my Bed, or am I here? thinks I, and I stole into my Bed-Chamber to see. The Day-Light was coming in now, and there in the Bed was my Body asleep, my Face being turn’d half to the Wall. But there was a kind of Shimmering Motion in it. The Hair lifted on my Head and I turn’d Cold as Ice, my Mouth parch’d and my Heart knocking fit to burst it’s House. And I felt my Body (my own that I was in, so to speak) pull’d as it were a Grain of Iron by a Loadstone, towards the Body that lay on the Bed. That Body stirr’d and turn’d, and cry’s out, Ish (or some thing such). I flung out of the Chamber, and it was like straining against Ropes, and I crept Quaking into my Machine, mov’d it beyond the House, and in the Light manag’d it to the morning of the next day in August of the Year 1964, and before the House of my Hosts. Then I brought it within their Porch, and knock’d a Box over there, but woke no Body by good chance. And I fell on my Knees in my Machine (bruising my Shins and scraping my Elbow in the doing it) and humbly sought Pardon of ALMIGHTY GOD, if I had offended against His Laws in the making such an Unnatural Journey, and besought Him to keep me, from the Snares of the Devil.
It was the hour, when I had gone from the Porch; but I had no Stomach to remain alone ‘till these Late-risers shou’d awaken, so I mov’d the Hours Dial forward two hours. And what shou’d I find, but that they were up, and had miss’d me, and were running hither and thither in Gowns, which they wore at Night, thinking that I had gone for ever. And so, methinks, was I nearly so gone. But No, says I, I have been back to my own Time, to bring back where-withall to trade, but do not ask me to do’t again. I wou’d not, for all the Gold in the Indies, untill I depart for good. Says the Wife, You look as if you had seen a Ghost. And I, Why so I have: I have seen my Self. I wou’d say no more, but I thought, If I had been Drawn into my other Body th
en, who knows the End oft?
After a time I shav’d my self with my Razour, and the Husband lent me some Cloathes of his, that I might escape Notice, which I got into, and laid aside my own. He wou’d not look into my Sack or my Coffer at the present, for said he, he must to work, where he cou’d tell me more, what might be got for my Merchandize. We three took a great Breakfast. There was some golden Biscuits, but very fine and small and broken, we ate with Milk, which they call’d, Sere-ills; there was a great Potfull of Coffee, but made too thick, and mix’d with warm Milk from a Flask; there was Bacon fry’d and Eggs fry’d, and slic’d pieces of Bread lightly brown’d, with Butter, and a Marmalade made from Oranges to spread on ‘em.
Then the Husband bade me climb into his Chariot beside him, and fastned me in with a Harness, that I might not be tost about, and him self in too, with my Sack and Coffer in the back part, and he rode this Chariot with me, to the middle part of the Town. I had new terrors, with the Noise, and all the other Chariots (which were scores, nay hundreds) and a Throng of Folk, and all rushing hither and thither like a People possess’d of Devils. I shou’d have been more frightned, if I had not been full of strange Feelings in my Body, that put me in mind of a Sea-voyage, for I seem’d to be push’d to one side and then to another, and anon back into my Seat; which made my Stomach very uneasie, the more because of several thick Odours in the Chariot. We were going the slowest of almost all the Chariots, or Cars, that I saw, for all hurtled past us. There were great Wagons, like Hulks full of Slaves, two Tiers of them, all painted Red. My Host said (as well as I cou’d hear him, for the Noise), they were publick Coaches, which he call’d, Busses (as tho’ they were Boats), and that you pay’d to be carry’d so far. From the Cars issu’d flashing Lights, to shew, said he, what they meant to do. I saw great Pictures (when we were brought to a stop for several minutes together) as high as a House, in many Colours, by the Road side, but got no chance, to ask him what they meant. He leaves his Car in a great Place full of others, and taking me by the Arm, marches me a fair way round past tall Windows where were all manner of Wares shewn for Sale, and at length into his Shop, where he and others sold, for the one part House-Furniture, for the rest Books (but bound in Leather, not like those I had seen in the Colledge) and a great many sorts of Baubles and Silver Ware. He left me for a time, and spoke with another, then brings me into an inner Chamber, and bids me open my Sack and Coffer. First he looks in my Books. The first he took was that Volume of Travells, and his Eye lit up, and he reads it’s Title Page, and looks quickly thro’ it, and goes to some cloth-bound Volumes he has in a Corner, and reads in various of ‘em, and comes back, muttering to himself, Not in Wing either (what ever he meant by that). Then he looks at me, and says, I’l give you fifty Pound for that. I was ready to swallow his Offer, but I saw his Tongue licking his Lips, and his Hand shook a little, so I took counsel with my self, and I says, It grieves me, but I cou’d never part from my old Companion in many Lands, unless for three hundred Pound (for I knew now, these Pounds here wou’d not go far). He laugh’d at that, scornfully, but we fell to chaffering, and in the end, we agreed upon one hundred and seventy five Pound, against a Bottle of good Wine, which I forgot to tell you, I had snatch’d up and put in the Sack. And, says he, I cou’d yet have the Words of Sympkins, for he had in his Shop at the back a wonderful Engine, that wou’d take Pictures of what ever was put before it, that were perfect Likenesses, and that in the twinckling of an Eye each. He calls this Engine, a Zerrocks. But, said he, with so many Pages, ‘twill take time. Then I cou’d bring these Likenesses, but on loose Sheets, back with me to my own Time.
For the rest of the Books and Tracts he settled upon some tens of Pounds each, but more for the Silver and Glass, and especially for the Snuff-Box, which surpriz’d me not a little. The Hanger too, which had a good Blade, pleas’d him mightily. In the end I was rich enough for a long Stay, as he assur’d me, as soon as he cou’d draw out his Money, from a House, where he had lent it, and that he wou’d do at the middle of the day. Then he told me, I shou’d do best, to stay quietly in his Inner Room for that morning, while he did much Business in his Shop. But first he takes me to the Zerrocks, which was like a Vat cover’d with Glass, with nothing in it, but great Coyls, and Peices of Metal, and a Green Light, which came and went. He gives my Book to another, and bids him take much care with it, and begin to copy it therewith. The Light goes to and fro like a Loom, and after a time Sheets of Paper come down at one Side, with (as I saw) a very perfect Picture, of what was turn’d towards the Light.
My Host gave me a Dictionarie, printed very small on thin Paper, a Duodecimo Atlas of the World, and the Courant he had had that morning, but had not read. There was much, that I cou’d not understand, but I learnt, that there was now a great Nation in America, many Nations in Africa and in the West and East Indies, an Antipodaean Continent call’d Australia betwixt India and the Southern Pole, and a barren Continent about that Pole. Ships ply’d betwixt these Continents, and all knew each others business. Terra Incognita there was none, for the whole Globe was mapp’d out, or well-nigh so. Men, and Women too, were trying to cross the Seas from Dover to Calais by Swimming, for the meer Sport oft; if there were no Gyants, they were Gyants in strength.
About Noon, as he knew by a marvellous small Watch, that was held to his left Wrist by a close Chain of metallick Peices, my Host carry’d me to an Ordinary, which he call’d, Launsh. Men and Women together, and even Children, came up behind each other in a long Line, and waited, to take from a long Bench, what ever Meats wou’d take their fancy, with Knives and Forks, and pay’d at last, when they sought a small Table, whereat to sit and eat. I cou’d understand little yet, but what my Host (or his Wife at home) spoke to me slowly, so I sate like one abroad in a far Countrey. Afterwards he brought me to his Bank, the House where he had his Money in loan. He told them, he wou’d draw an extraordinary Fund out of his Moneys, which he was pleas’d to name, the Antiquitys Account, and before me he paid into this Fund, all the Moneys he had agreed to pay me for my Goods, but all was done meerly upon Paper, with much writing and signing. He told me privatly, he durst not make me a Customer of this House, for fear, too many Questions shou’d be ask’d, but I stood by and they were to think, I was a Man of his. Then he draws out twenty Pound for smaller Expences, which he gives to me, some of it Coyn, but what they call Pounds, are nothing but Scraps of Paper, with green Pictures on ‘em; yet he assures me, they shou’d buy a Pounds worth of Goods, and indeed ‘twas so, as I found (except that a Pound goes such a little way with them). He takes me to the Taylors, and buys me a Suit of Cloathes, with all kind of Linnen, and pays for all out of a new Book of Papers, that he calls Checks, subscrib’d for this new Account, and shews me, how much it comes to, which was a great number of Pounds, that I was still not us’d to.
When at length we were got back, to his Shop, ‘twas half an hour after Three. I spent the next three hours studying, but got little further. He carries me back to his Home in his Car. I was standing by it near to the House, when I saw in the Heavens a Meteor, like a shining Thread, growing ever at one end. I was astonish’d but he told me, ‘twas a Plentrail, or a Plaintrail, or some such thing, which I did not understand. But anon there came a Rumbling, and in another Part of the Sky a Thing like a huge Bird, but that mov’d not it’s Parts. Says he, that was another Plain. He gave me to understand, that Men may travell in these Plains, which are like Shipps that go in the Air, but driven like his Car by a manner of Burning. In truth, they also call ‘em Air-Craft.
When we were come in, where his Wife had a Welcome for us, she gives us a Glass full (but very small) of a Sherry Wine, but the Tast was strange to me. While she prepares a Meal, he turns to a Box with a Window in’t, and there Shines in it’s Window a Picture, that mov’d and chang’d continually, and Sounds withall, like as it had been a Comedy play’d within the Box by Dwarfs, but the Colour was but Black, and White, with a Blew Cast to’t. Some part was News, but chiefly Folly. This to
o they have in every House, and from this great Servant Electricity. I fetch’d now my old Cloathes and Shoes and ty’d them in a Bundle, which I left on the Floor of the Machine. My Host took a great Cloth, and cover’d the Machine, that it be not try’d of curious Fingers, or set too many Tongues wagging.
At the Meal and after it (when they were not staring upon this Box with the Window, which they call a Tellie) they talk’d with me, upon the State of the World. I shou’d make too great an Excursion, if I shou’d take upon me to Communicate every Thing that befell me in this Adventure. You will wonder especially, what sort of People they were indeed, that I was fallen among; and tho’ it took many Weeks in the Learning, yet I shall make bold to take only as many Minutes, in the Telling it. They spoke much then, of the Insolence of Youth, which they thought new, but it seem’d to me, that there was nothing new but Wealth and Idleness, that feed this Insolence. There are no poor unruly Apprentices here, but good Money is to be earn’d easily by a Stripling. If these live too easily, so too in a manner do the Children (for all their Schooling is so hard, as I shall tell you later); which is the Seed of the other Trouble. They are not brought up to Obedience and Godliness, but (as I found) to Rail upon their Parents, when they are scarce five year old, and make Sport with them. But the Spring of this, is in the Wives, for these own no Man’s Controul, not even in Law, but manage all things equally with ‘em, and take all manner of Work, as bold as Men (for they are as well school’d), and High and Low dress them selves in Finery, and leave their Children to bring them selves up (so that many run wild), and are fix’d upon Folly and Man-catching, as I saw from a Journal, made in Colours (and more like a great Quarto, then a Journal) that is printed for Women alone. They go bare-legg’d or with Legs cover’d in bright Stockings but marvellous fine, and close-fitting; and their Legs shewing immodestly above the Knee. In this Journal I saw all manner of sawcy Pictures. (But some Journals for Men, are full of Lewdness and Filth, both in Pictures and Writing.) As to Man-catching, Marriages are made every where, not as the Parents shall agree, but as a Young Man and Girl shall fancy each other, and Divided as lightly, by an easie Divorce. Religion has little to say to all this, for our Tollerance, is become their Indifference, and tho’ there be Churches, few go to ‘em, and of Enthusiasts there are scarce any. They have for this cause nought to live for, but to get as much as they can, whether it be Pleasure, or Money.
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