Read Online Caltraps of Time by David I. Masson - Free Book Online

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