rds two guns were fired at them； loaded with balls； one of which took place in a bladder of liquor that hung to my waist； the other entered the breast of the foremost eagle； who fell to the ground； while that which I rode； having received no injury； flew away with amazing swiftness。
This circumstance alarmed me exceedingly； and I began to think it was impossible for me to escape with my life； but recovering a little； I once more looked down upon the earth； when； to my inexpressible joy； I saw Margate at a little distance； and the eagle descending on the old tower whence it had carried me on the morning of the day before。 It no sooner came down than I threw myself off； happy to find that I was once more restored to the world。 The eagle flew away in a few minutes； and I sat down to compose my fluttering spirits； which I did in a few hours。
I soon paid a visit to my friends； and related these adventures。 Amazement stood in every countenance； their congratulations on my returning in safety were repeated with an unaffected degree of pleasure； and we passed the evening as we are doing now； every person present paying the highest compliments to my COURAGE and VERACITY。
THE SECOND VOLUME
PREFACE
TO THE SECOND VOLUME
Baron Munchausen has certainly been productive of much benefit to the literary world； the numbers of egregious travellers have been such； that they demanded a very Gulliver to surpass them。 If Baron de Tott dauntlessly discharged an enormous piece of artillery； the Baron Munchausen has done more； he has taken it and swam with it across the sea。 When travellers are solicitous to be the heroes of their own story； surely they must admit to superiority； and blush at seeing themselves out…done by the renowned Munchausen： I doubt whether any one hitherto； Pantagruel； Gargantua； Captain Lemuel； or De Tott； has been able to out…do our Baron in this species of excellence： and as at present our curiosity seems much directed to the interior of Africa； it must be edifying to have the real relation of Munchausen's adventures there before any further intelligence arrives； for he seems to adapt himself and his exploits to the spirit of the times； and recounts what he thinks should be most interesting to his auditors。
I do not say that the Baron； in the following stories； means a satire on any political matters whatever。 No； but if the reader understands them so； I cannot help it。
If the Baron meets with a parcel of negro ships carrying whites into slavery to work upon their plantations in a cold climate； should we therefore imagine that he intends a reflection on the present traffic in human flesh？ And that； if the negroes should do so； it would be simple justice； as retaliation is the law of God！ If we were to think this a reflection on any present commercial or political matter； we should be tempted to imagine； perhaps； some political ideas conveyed in every page； in every sentence of the whole。 Whether such things are or are not the intentions of the Baron the reader must judge。
We have had not only wonderful travellers in this vile world； but splenetic travellers； and of these not a few； and also conspicuous enough。 It is a pity； therefore； that the Baron has not endeavoured to surpass them also in this species of story…telling。 Who is it can read the travels of Smellfungus； as Sterne calls him； without admiration？ To think that a person from the North of Scotland should travel through some of the finest countries in Europe； and find fault with everything he meetsnothing to please him！ And therefore； methinks； the Tour to the Hebrides is more excusable； and also perhaps Mr。 Twiss's Tour in Ireland。 Dr。 Johnson； bred in the luxuriance of London； with more reason should become cross and splenetic in the bleak and dreary regions of the Hebrides。
The Baron； in the following work； seems to be sometimes philosophical； his account of the language of the interior of Africa； and its analogy with that of the inhabitants of the moon； show him to be profoundly versed in the etymological antiquities of nations； and throw new light upon the abstruse history of the ancient Scythians； and the Collectanea。
His endeavour to abolish the custom of eating live flesh in the interior of Africa； as described in Bruce's Travels； is truly humane。 But far be it from me to suppose； that by Gog and Magog and the Lord Mayor's show he means a satire upon any person or body of persons whatever： or； by a tedious litigated trial of blind judges and dumb matrons following a wild goose chase all round the world； he should glance at any trial whatever。
Nevertheless； I must allow that it was extremely presumptuous in Munchausen to tell half the sovereigns of the world that they were wrong； and advise them what they ought to do； and that instead of ordering millions of their subjects to massacre one another； it would be more to their interest to employ their forces in concert for the general good； as if he knew better than the Empress of Russia； the Grand Vizier； Prince Potemkin； or any other butcher in the world。 But that he should be a royal Aristocrat； and take the part of the injured Queen of France in the present political drama； I am not at all surprised； but I suppose his mind was fired by reading the pamphlet written by Mr。 Burke。
CHAPTER XXI
/The Baron insists on the veracity of his former MemoirsForms a design of making discoveries in the interior parts of AfricaHis discourse with Hilaro Frosticos about itHis conversation with Lady FragrantiaThe Baron goes； with other persons of distinction； to Court； relates an anecdote of the Marquis de Bellecourt。/
All that I have related before； said the Baron； is gospel； and if there be any one so hardy as to deny it； I am ready to fight him with any weapon he pleases。 Yes； cried he； in a more elevated tone； as he started from his seat； I will condemn him to swallow this decanter； glass and all perhaps； and filled with kerren…wasser ＇a kind of ardent spirit distilled from cherries； and much used in some parts of Germany＇。 Therefore； my dear friends and companions； have confidence in what I say； and pay honour to the tales of Munchausen。 A traveller has a right to relate and embellish his adventures as he pleases； and it is very unpolite to refuse that deference and applause they deserve。
Having passed some time in England since the completion of my former memoirs； I at length began to revolve in my mind what a prodigious field of discovery must be in the interior part of Africa。 I could not sleep with the thoughts of it； I therefore determined to gain every proper assistance from Government to penetrate the celebrated source of the Nile； and assume the viceroyship of the interior kingdoms of Africa； or； at least； the great realm of Monomotapa。 It was happy for me that I had one most powerful friend at court； whom I shall call the illustrious Hilaro Frosticos。 You perchance know him not by that name； but we had a language among ourselves； as well we may； for in the course of my peregrinations I have acquired precisely nine hundred and ninety…nine leash of languages。 What！ gentlemen； do you stare？ Well； I allow there are not so many languages spoken in this vile world； but then； have I not been in the moon？ and trust me； whenever I write a treatise upon education； I shall delineate methods of inculcating whole dozens of languages at once； French； Spanish； Greek； Hebrew； Cherokee； &c。； in such a style as will shame all the pedagogues existing。
Having passed a whole night without being able to sleep for the vivid imagination of African discoveries； I hastened to the levee of my illustrious friend Hilaro Frosticos； and having mentioned my intention with all the vigour of fancy； he gravely considered my words； and after some awful meditations thus he spoke： /Olough； ma genesat； istum fullanah； cum dera kargos belgarasah eseum balgo bartigos triangulissimus！/ However； added he； it behoveth thee to consider and ponder well upon the perils and the multitudinous dangers in the way of that wight who thus advanceth in all the perambulation of adventures： and verily； most valiant sire and Baron； I hope thou wilt demean thyself with all that laudable gravity and precaution which； as is related in the three hundred and forty…seventh chapter of the Prophilactics； is of more consideration than all the merit in this terraqueous globe。 Yes； most truly do I advise thee unto thy good； and speak unto thee； most valiant Munchausen； with the greatest esteem； and wish thee to succeed in thy voyage； for it is said； that in the interior realms of Africa there are tribes that can see but just three inches and a half beyond the extremity of their noses； and verily thou shouldest moderate thyself； even sure and slow； they stumble who walk fast。 But we shall bring you unto the Lady Fragrantia； and have her opinion of the matter。 He then took from his pocket a cap of dignity； such as described in the most honourable and antique heraldry； and placing it upon my head； addressed me thus：〃As thou seemest again to revive the spirit of ancient adventure； permit me to place upon thy head