Part 20

A little after this Promotion, a Match was propos’d to me with the Daughter of a Merchant of _Bergen_, whose Name was _Magdalen_. The Lady pleas’d me highly: But as it was very likely that the Empress of _Quama_ was still alive, I was afraid lest by this Marriage with _Magdalen_, I should be guilty of Polygamy. But my Friend _Abeline_, to whom I unbosom’d myself on this Occasion, ridicul’d my Fears, and by so many Arguments demonstrated the Folly of my Scruples, that I no longer hesitated to conclude the Match. I liv’d six Years with this Wife in the utmost Love and Friendship; altho’ in all that Time, I never once related my subterranean History to her. But as I could never entirely lose the Remembrance of that Height of Glory from which I was fallen, some sudden Starts and Gestures would now and then escape me, which did not seem to agree with my present Condition. By this second Venter I had three Sons, _Christiern_, _John_, and _Jasper_; so that in the whole I have four, if so be that the Prince of _Quama_ is still alive.

_Thus far the Manuscript of_ +Nicholas Klimius+ _reaches. What follows is the Appendix of Master_ +Abeline+.

_Nicholas Klimius_ lived to the Year 1695. He was belov’d and esteem’d for the Sobriety of his Life, and the Purity of his Manners. The Rector however was now and then displeas’d at his excessive Gravity, which he thought proceeded from Pride. But I, who knew the Man, and knew his History, rather wonder’d at his exemplary Modesty and Patience, who from the Government of so many Kingdoms, could humbly accomodate himself to such an Employment. However, with other Men, to whom his amazing Metamorphosis was unknown, he could not altogether escape the Charge of Pride. It was his Custom, at certain Times of the Year, while his Strength permitted him, to ascend the old Mountain, and take an earnest View of the famous Cavern. His Friends observ’d, that he always return’d from thence with his Eyes swoln, and his Face all bath’d in Tears; that he would afterwards shut himself up whole Days in his Study, and seem’d to shun the Conversation of Mankind. His Wife also assured me, that he would often talk in his Sleep, about Land Armies and Forces at Sea. This Absence of Mind went so far once, as to give Orders for the Governor of _Bergen_ to come immediately before him. His Spouse imagin’d these Disorders of his Brain proceeded from an excessive Application to his Studies. His Library consisted chiefly of political Books, and as such a Choice but ill agreed with the Office of a Curate, he could not avoid some Censures upon that Head. He himself wrote his own Adventures, and his Manuscript, which is the only one in Being, is at present in my Custody. Tho’ I always intended it for the Press, yet I have hitherto been hinder’d from publishing it by very important Reasons.

_FINIS._

Transcriber’s Notes:

• Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). • Text enclosed by pluses is in small caps (+small caps+). • Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.