Mandeville: A Package Tour of the Medieval World
By Matthew Francis
Introduction to the slides
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville first appeared in French some time around the middle of the
fourteenth century. Though the author claims to be an English knight, nothing is known for
certain about his identity, or whether the claims he makes about his life and travels have any
substance – though much of his material is undoubtedly derived from other manuscript sources.
The book had wide popularity in the Middle Ages and afterwards; Columbus is said to have
taken a copy with him on his voyage to America, which says something about the persistence of
the medieval world-view. To a modern reader, the Travels are remarkable for the way they
juxtapose the wonders of reality and those of the imagination, the crocodile and the Phoenix,
Tartars and Amazons, a round world that could theoretically be circumnavigated with a
symbolic map having Jerusalem at its centre.
My talk told how I discovered the Travels, and how I went about transforming source material
from this ‘taproot text’ – the term is from John Clute and John Grant’s The Encyclopedia of
Fantasy (London: Orbit, 1997) – into my poetry sequence Mandeville, to be published by Faber
and Faber in March 2008. The Travels is essentially a reference book, and my challenge was to
turn it into a narrative. In particular, I looked at five poems. ‘Mandeville’s Departure’, the first
poem in my sequence, transforms the opening of the Travels, an account of the various routes a
pilgrim could take to the Holy Land, into a description of a specific departure from the South
coast of England.
But it also adds the legend that barnacle geese hatched from shellfish, which is only referred to
glancingly at a different point in the original text, to give a flavour of the sort of fabulous
material that will come later in the sequence. In the early part of Mandeville, it was necessary to
give some details about the practicalities of travel in the Middle Ages, and many of these I took
from Norbert Ohler’s, The Medieval Traveller, trans. by Caroline Hillier (Woodbridge: The
Boydell Press, 1989). For example, a medieval phrasebook with useful sentences in Old High
German, quoted by Ohler, gave rise to the poem ‘Of Inns’. Typical of Mandeville’s more
fabulous pages is his description of giant gold-digging ants, which became my poem ‘Of Ants
that Dig for Gold’. On the other hand, the Tartars or Mongols, who ruled a vast empire including
China, are accurately described, with Mandeville’s characteristic open-mindedness towards
other cultures, and I turned this material into an elegy for an individual warrior, a sort of
Unknown Tartar. Finally, Mandeville, like other thinkers of his time, was well aware that the
world is round, even if he does not always think through the implications of this fact. A story he
tells about a traveller who nearly manages to circumnavigate the globe gave me the idea for my
final poem, ‘Of Circumnavigation’, which brings the sequence back to its starting point.
Thirteen-syllable lines
Three-line stanzas
Unrhymed
Sequence of 40 poems
I / you
Narrative of circumnavigation
Mandeville’s Journey (My Version)
South coast of England
North coast of France
South of France
Alps
Venice
Mediterranean islands
Holy Land
Middle East (gets lost)
India (including Africa)
Tartary
China
Unknown islands (America?)
Fringes of Paradise
England (or somewhere like it)
11
Of the
the Way
Way from
from England
England toto Constantinople
Constantinople
Of
In the
the name
name of
of God
God Almighty:
Almighty: he
he who
who wants
wants to
to pass
pass
In
over the
the sea
sea to
to Jerusalem
Jerusalem may
may go
go by
by many
many ways,
ways,
over
both by
by sea
sea and
and by
by land
land depending
depending on
on the
the countries
countries
both
he comes
comes from;
from; many
many ways
ways come
come to
to aa single
single end.
end.
he
But do
do not
not think
think II shall
shall tell
tell of
of all
all the
the towns
towns and
and
But
cities and
and castles
castles that
that men
men shall
shall go
go by;
by; for
for then
then II
cities
must make
make too
too long
long aa tale
tale of
of it.
it. But
But only
only some
some
must
countries and
and the
the most
most important
important places
places that
that men
men
countries
shall pass
pass through
through to
to go
go the
the right
right road
road do
do II briefly
briefly
shall
intend to
to touch
touch on.
on. For,
For, ifif aa man
man comes
comes from
from the
the
intend
western parts
parts of
of the
the world
world –– like
like England,
England, Wales,
Wales,
western
Scotland or
or Norway
Norway –– he
he may,
may, ifif he
he wants,
wants, go
go
Scotland
through Almayne
Almayne [Germany]
[Germany] and
and through
through the
the
through
Kingdom of
of Hungary,
Hungary, which
which borders
borders the
the lands
lands of
of
Kingdom
Polainie [Poland]
[Poland] and
and the
the land
land of
of Pannony
Pannony [Bulgaria]
[Bulgaria]
Polainie
and of
of Allesye
Allesye [Silesia]...
[Silesia]...
and
great marvel.
marvel. Nevertheless
Nevertheless II said
said to
to them
them that
that
ItIt isis aa great
did not
not seem
seem aa very
very great
great marvel
marvel to
to me,
me, for
for in
in my
my
itit did
country, II said,
said, there
there were
were trees
trees which
which bore
bore aa fruit
fruit
country,
that became
became birds
birds that
that could
could fly;
fly; men
men call
call them
them
that
bernakles, and
and there
there isis good
good meat
meat on
on them.
them.
bernakles,
Mandeville’s Departure
Departure
Mandeville’s
Barnacles were
were clinging
clinging there,
there, the
the kind
kind that
that hang
hang from
from stalks,
stalks,
Barnacles
For you
you must
must know
know that
that the
the world
world isis round.
round. In
In its
its centre
centre
For
and have
have smooth
smooth shells,
shells, like
like eggs
eggs –– they
they are
are called
called goose
goose
and
barnacles.
barnacles.
the gold
gold pin
pin of
of Jerusalem
Jerusalem holds
holds down
down the
the twelve
twelve winds
winds
the
and the
the three
threecontinents
continents ringed
ringed by
by the
the Great
Great Sea
Sea Ocean.
Ocean.
and
And our
our islands
islands on
on the
the world’s
world’s edge
edge are
are mere
mere gritty
gritty dots
dots
And
in that
that circling
circling ocean,
ocean, our
our shores
shores crumbling
crumbling into
into it,
it,
in
the hills
hills blurry
blurry with
with rain,
rain, the
theshires
shires foundering
foundering in
in mud.
mud.
the
So all
all who
who leave
leave them
them must
must step
step on
on to
to the
the up-and-down
up-and-down
So
Each stalk
stalk had
had aa nodule
nodule on
on the
the end,
end, gripping
gripping the
the post,
post,
Each
like the
the head
head and
and beak
beak of
of aa tiny
tiny goose.
goose. Underneath,
Underneath,
like
feathery tails
tails hung
hung down
down from
from the
theshells,
shells, skimming
skimming the
thesea.
sea.
feathery
On dark
dark nights,
nights, these
these outlandish
outlandish creatures
creatures hatch
hatch into
into birds
birds
On
and fluster
fluster up
up together
together into
into the
the winter
winter air,
air,
and
splaying out
out against
against the
the clouds
clouds in
in aa figure
figure of
of wings.
wings.
splaying
of aa wooden
wooden ship,
ship, as
as I,I, Sir
Sir John
John Mandeville,
Mandeville, did
did
of
Then they
they are
are called
called barnacle
barnacle geese,
geese, and
and frequent
frequent the
the winds,
winds,
Then
on Michaelmas
Michaelmas Day
Day of
of the
theyear
year 1332.
1332.
on
A little
little town
town by
by the
the shore
shorewas
was my
my last
last sight
sight of
of home.
home.
A
as once
once they
they did
did the
the waves.
waves. But
But they
they must
must return
return to
to breed.
breed.
as
was aa place
placethat
that had
had gone
gonegrey
grey staring
staring at
at the
the sea,
sea,
ItIt was
Under their
their feathers
feathers pulses
pulses the
the slime
slime of
of aa shellfish,
shellfish,
Under
where nets
nets were
were draped
draped on
on the
the shingle
shingle and
and ropes
ropes made
madetheir
their
where
nests.
nests.
felt the
the sea
sea strain
strain against
against the
the carcass
carcass of
of the
the ship
ship
II felt
likethe
the man
man rolling
rolling aa barrel
barrel on
on the
the quay,
quay, and
and watched
watched
like
as the
the waves
waves walloped
walloped aa sunk-in
sunk-in post,
post, half-green,
half-green, half-dry.
half-dry.
as
and therefore
thereforeitit isis lawful
lawful to
to eat
eat them
them on
on fast
fast days....
days....
and
Who are
are you.
you. (Wer
(Wer pist
pist du)?
du)? Where
Where are
are you
you from
from
Who
(Wanna quimis)?From
quimis)?From which
which direction
direction have
have you
you come
come
(Wanna
(Fona weliheru
weliheru latskeffi
latskeffi sindos)?
sindos)?
(Fona
Where are
are you
you from,
from, brother
brother (Guane
(Guane cumet
cumet ger,
ger,
Where
brothro)? -- From
From my
my lord’s
lord’s house.
house.
brothro)?
From what
what country
country do
do you
you come
come (Gueliche
(Gueliche lande
lande
From
cumen ger)?
ger)? -- II was
was in
in France
France (or
(or II was
was in
in another
another village).
village).
cumen
What were
were you
you doing
doing there?
there? II was
was sent
sent there.
there.
What
didn’t see
see you
you there.
there. -- And
And II didn’t
didn’t see
see you
you there
there either.
either.
II didn’t
Where did
did you
you find
find lodgings
lodgings last
last night?
night? In
In the
the Count’s
Count’s house.
house.
Where
Did you
you see
see my
my master
master at
at early
early mass?
mass? -- No.
No.
Did
Where isis your
your master?
master? -- II don’t
don’t know.
know.
Where
My master
master wishes
wishes to
to speak
speak to
to you.
you. -- II want
want to
to speak
speak to
to him
him
My
too.
too.
want to
to ride
ride on
on now.
now. (E
(E guille
guille har
har uthz
uthz rite);
rite); give
give me
me
II want
my horse
horse (Gimer
(Gimer min
min ros);
ros); saddle
saddle my
my horse
horse (Guesattilae
(Guesattilae
my
min ros);
ros); give
give me
me my
my shield
shield (my
(my spear,
spear, my
my gloves,
gloves, my
my staff,
staff,
min
my knife,
knife, aa candle).
candle).
my
Where isis your
your wife
wife (Guar
(Guar es
es taz
taz wip)?
wip)? Why
Why weren’t
weren’t you
you
Where
early mass?
mass? -- II didn’t
didn’t want
want to
to go.
go.
atat early
You went
went to
to bed
bed with
with your
your wife.
wife. IfIf your
your master
master knew
knew that,
that,
You
he would
would be
be angry
angry with
with you,
you, II warrant!
warrant!
he
would like
like something
something to
to drink
drink (Erro,
(Erro, ee guile
guile trenchen).
trenchen).
II would
Would you
you like
like some
some good
good wine?
wine?
-- Would
Yes, II would.
would. Have
Have you
you fodder
fodder for
for the
the horses?
horses? (Yes,
(Yes, II have
have
Yes,
(or no
no II haven’t,
haven’t, or
or not
not enough,
enough, or
or aa little).
little).
(or
Think of
of yourself!
yourself! -- II always
always do
do think
think of
of myself.
myself.
Think
God greet
greet you.
you. -- God
God bless
bless you.
you.
God
[Excerptedfrom
fromNorbert
NorbertOhler,
Ohler,The
TheMedieval
MedievalTraveller]
Traveller]
[Excerpted
Of Inns
Inns
Of
Bread fire
fire milk
milk candle
candle beer
beer soup
soup meat
meat wine
wine horse
horse oats
oats stable
stable
Bread
bed straw
straw blanket
blanket man
man woman
woman cloak
cloak sword
sword staff
staff saddle
saddle knife
knife
bed
ride walk
walk eat
eat drink
drink sit
sit lie
lie fight
fight make
make merry
merry say
say prayers.
prayers.
ride
Have you
you come
come far?
far? Yes,
Yes, II have
have come
come many
many miles
miles since
since dawn.
dawn.
Have
What isis the
the news?
news? There
There isis none.
none. II bring
bring news.
news. II must
must eat.
eat.
What
Will your
your boy
boy take
take my
my horse?
horse? II have
have money.
money. Give
Give me
me bread.
bread.
Will
Give me
me soup.
soup. This
This wine
wine isis bad.
bad. What
What have
have you
you put
put in
in it?
it?
Give
amaa pilgrim.
pilgrim. A
A merchant.
merchant. II am
amlost.
lost. Help
Help me.
me.
II am
amsick.
sick. Tired.
Tired. II am
amwounded.
wounded. II have
have hurt
hurt my
my foot.
foot.
II am
Now II will
will go
go to
to bed.
bed. Where
Where isis it?
it? Give
Give me
me aa light.
light.
Now
There isis no
no blanket.
blanket. This
This straw
straw isis fouled.
fouled. There
There isis no
no room.
room.
There
A man
man in
in my
my bed
bed isis snoring.
snoring. Singing.
Singing. Go
Go to
to sleep.
sleep.
A
Good morning,
morning, fellow.
fellow. Where
Where are
are you
you from?
from? Where
Where do
do you
you go?
go?
Good
Are you
you aa heretic?
heretic? In
In my
my country
country we
we do
do thus.
thus.
Are
need food
food for
for the
the journey.
journey. II must
must ride
ride far
far today.
today.
II need
In this
this isle
isle of
of Ceylon
Ceylon are
are great
great hills
hills of
of gold,
gold, which
which
In
ants busily
busily look
look after,
after, purifying
purifying the
the gold
gold and
and
ants
separating the
the fine
fine from
from the
the unfine.
unfine. Those
Those ants
ants are
are as
as
separating
big as
as dogs
dogs here,
here, so
so that
that no
no man
man dare
dare go
go near
near those
those
big
hills for
for fear
fear that
that the
the ants
ants might
might attack
attack them;
them;
hills
however, men
men win
win that
that gold
gold by
by aa trick...
trick... They
They take
take
however,
mares who
who have
have young
young foals
foals and
and hang
hang on
on each
each side
side of
of
mares
the each
each mare
mare an
an empty
empty container
container with
with the
the mouth
mouth of
of
the
uppermost, trailing
trailing near
near to
to the
the ground,
ground, and
and then
then
itit uppermost,
send them
them forth
forth in
in the
the early
early morning
morning to
to pasture
pasture
send
round the
the hills
hills where
where the
the gold
gold is,
is, keeping
keeping the
the foals
foals at
at
round
home. Then
Then these
these ants,
ants, when
when they
they see
see these
these empty
empty
home.
containers, go
go and
and fill
fill them
them with
with gold,
gold, for
for itit isis the
the
containers,
nature of
of the
the ant
ant to
to leave
leave nothing
nothing empty
empty near
near them
them ––
nature
there isis no
no hole
hole or
or cranny
cranny or
or anything
anything else
else that
that they
they
there
will not
not fill.
fill. And
And when
when itit isis thought
thought that
that the
the mares
mares
will
are fully
fully laden
laden with
with gold,
gold, the
the men
men let
let the
the foals
foals out,
out,
are
and they
they neigh
neigh after
after their
their dams.
dams. Then
Then the
the mares
mares hear
hear
and
their foals
foals neighing
neighing and
and hurry
hurry quickly
quickly to
to them,
them, laden
laden
their
with gold.
gold. And
And in
in this
this way
way men
men get
get aa great
great deal
deal of
of
with
gold; for
for the
the ants
ants easily
easily tolerate
tolerate all
all sorts
sorts of
of animal,
animal,
gold;
man excepted.
excepted.
man
Of Ants
Ants that
that Dig
Dig for
for Gold
Gold
Of
Who knows
knows what
what they
they want
want with
with gold?
gold? They
They will
will
Who
You have
have seen
seen ants
ants in
in the
the grass,
grass, held
held one
one on
on your
your finger.
finger.
You
You have
have watched
watched them
them weave
weave and
and unweave
unweave their
their
You
tickling footsteps,
footsteps,
tickling
fight to
to keep
keep it,
it,
fight
and everyone
everyone isis afraid
afraid of
of their
their pincering
pincering jaws,
jaws,
and
so ifif you
you want
want to
to enrich
enrich yourself
yourself you
you must
must trick
trick them,
them,
so
study their
their path
path with
with their
their horns,
horns, or
or manhandle
manhandle aa seed.
seed.
study
using aa mare
mare and
and two
two clay
clay pots,
pots, hung
hung so
so she
she drags
drags
using
And you
you were
were pleased
pleased with
with the
the fiddliness
fiddliness of
of their
their
And
concerns,
concerns,
the fumbled
fumbled meetings
meetings and
and stalk-clinging.
stalk-clinging. ItIt seemed
seemed to
to you
you
the
like aa smallness
smallness of
of your
your own
own you
you had
had stepped
stepped away
away from.
from.
like
But this
this is
is aa place
place where
where the
the ants
ants are
are as
as big
big as
as dogs,
dogs,
But
and yet
yet like
like those
those you
you know
know they
they are
are busy
busy with
with the
the earth,
earth,
and
which is
is of
of gold
gold here,
here, loose
loose hills
hills of
of itit mingled
mingled with
with dirt.
dirt.
which
All day
day long
long they
they crawl
crawl over
over the
the scree,
scree, worrying
worrying out
out
All
the nuggets
nuggets and
and letting
letting them
them roll
roll away
away down
down the
the slope,
slope,
the
then gathering
gathering them
them into
into scabby
scabby heaps
heaps of
of glitter.
glitter.
then
them
them
with their
their mouths
mouths clunking
clunking along
along the
the ground
ground towards
towards the
the
with
ants,
ants,
which cannot
cannot see
see aa hole
hole without
without putting
putting gold
gold in
in it.
it.
which
Then lead
lead her
her foal
foal as
as close
close as
as you
you dare
dare to
to call
call her
her back
back
Then
with her
her two
two pots
pots behind
behind her,
her, shaking
shaking out
out raw
raw money,
money,
with
the earth’s
earth’s shiny
shiny droppings.
droppings. Is
Is this
this what
what you
you are
are after?
after?
the
The women
women of
of that
that country
country who
who are
are married
married have
have on
on their
their
The
heads something
something like
like aa man’s
man’s foot,
foot, made
made of
of gold
gold and
and gems
gems and
and
heads
peacock feathers,
feathers, beautifully
beautifully made
made and
and glinting
glinting in
in the
the light;
light; this
this
peacock
token that
that they
they are
are under
under the
the rule
rule of
of aa man.
man.
isis aa token
plough, the
the cart
cart and
and the
the wagon;
wagon; and
and they
they are
are carpenters
carpenters as
as well
well
plough,
as men,
men, and
and make
make houses
houses and
and all
all other
other necessaries
necessaries –– bows
bows and
and
as
arrows and
and other
other weapons
weapons excepted,
excepted, which
which the
the men
men alone
alone
arrows
make. Women
Women wear
wear breeches
breeches there
there as
as well
well as
as men...
men...
make.
You must
must know
know that
that II and
and my
my companions
companions were
were living
living with
with the
the
You
Great Khan
Khan for
for sixteen
sixteen months
months as
as soldiers
soldiers against
against the
the King
King of
of
Great
Manzi, for
for they
they were
were atat war
war when
when we
we were
were there...
there...
Manzi,
When they
they go
go to
to war,
war, they
they behave
behave in
in aa very
very warlike
warlike and
and wise
wise
When
manner, and
and do
do all
all they
they can
can to
to win,
win, and
and conquer
conquer their
their enemies.
enemies.
manner,
Each one
one carries
carries two
two or
or three
three bows,
bows, many
many arrows
arrows and
and aa great
great
Each
battleaxe. The
The nobles
nobles carry
carry whort
whort sharp
sharp swords
swords atat their
their sides;
sides;
battleaxe.
they have
have breastplates
breastplates and
and helmets
helmets made
made of
of cuir-bouilli,
cuir-bouilli, and
and
they
armour for
for their
their horses
horses of
of the
the same
same material.
material. They
They slay
slay anyone
anyone
armour
who flees
flees in
in battle.
battle. When
When they
they besiege
besiege aa castle
castle or
or walled
walled town,
town,
who
they promise
promise the
the besieged
besieged such
such fair
fair terms
terms that
that itit isis aa wonder
wonder to
to
they
hear them;
them; for
for they
they will
will grant
grant whatever
whatever conditions
conditions they
they ask.
ask. But
But
hear
as soon
soon as
as the
the besieged
besieged have
have capitulated,
capitulated, they
they slay
slay them
them and
and cut
cut
as
off their
their ears,
ears, and
and souse
souse them
them in
in vinegar
vinegar to
to make
make aa dainty
dainty dish
dish
off
for their
their great
great lords...
lords...
for
In the
the land
land of
of the
the Great
Great Khan
Khan every
every man
man has
has as
as many
many wives
wives as
as
In
he want,
want, for
for some
some have
have aa hundred,
hundred, some
some forty,
forty, some
some more,
more,
he
some less...
less...
some
Their houses
houses are
are made
made of
of sticks,
sticks, are
are round,
round, and
and have
have but
but one
one
Their
window, where
where the
the light
light comes
comes in
in and
and the
the smoke
smoke goes
goes out.
out. The
The
window,
roof-covering and
and the
the doors
doors are
are of
of felt.
felt. And
And when
when they
they go
go to
to
roof-covering
war they
they carry
carry their
their houses
houses with
with them
them upon
upon carts,
carts, as
as men
men in
in
war
other countries
countries carry
carry tents
tents and
and pavilions.
pavilions. They
They make
make the
the fire
fire in
in
other
the middle
middle of
of their
their houses...
houses... They
They believe
believe in
in one
one God
God who
who
the
made all
all things;
things; but
but nevertheless
nevertheless they
they have
have idols
idols of
of gold
gold and
and
made
silver, of
of felt
felt and
and cloth
cloth to
to which
which they
they offer
offer the
the first
first milk
milk of
of their
their
silver,
animals and
and the
the first
first morsels
morsels of
of their
their meat
meat and
and drink
drink before
before
animals
they themselves
themselves eat
eat or
or drink
drink any
any of
of it...
it...
they
All the
the men
men and
and women
women of
of that
that land
land are
are good
good archers,
archers, and
and the
the
All
women are
are as
as good
good warriors
warriors as
as the
the men
men and
and will
will run
run as
as fast.
fast.
women
And the
the [women]
[women] do
do all
all kinds
kinds of
of crafts,
crafts, for
for example
example tailoring
tailoring
And
and cobbling
cobbling and
and other
other such
such trades.
trades. They
They commonly
commonly drive
drive the
the
and
very dangerous
dangerous to
to pursue
pursue the
the Tartars
Tartars when
when they
they flee
flee in
in
ItIt isis very
battle; for
for they
they will
will shoot
shoot to
to their
their rear
rear and
and kill
kill men
men as
as well
well as
as ifif
battle;
they were
were in
in front
front of
of them...
them...
they
All the
the Tartars
Tartars have
have small
small eyes
eyes and
and small,
small, thin
thin beards.
beards. They
They are
are
All
usually treacherous,
treacherous, for
for they
they keep
keep no
no promises
promises they
they make...
make...
usually
When any
any of
of them
them isis dying
dying they
they stick
stick aa spear
spear in
in the
the earth
earth by
by
When
him; and
and when
when he
he draws
draws near
near to
to death,
death, everyone
everyone leaves
leaves the
the
him;
house until
until he
he isis dead;
dead; and
and when
when he
he is,
is, they
they carry
carry him
him into
into the
the
house
open plains
plains and
and bury
bury him
him in
in the
the earth.
earth.
open
Of the
the Tartars
Tartars
Of
When one
one of
of these
these men
men is
is dying,
dying, his
his friends
friends stab
stab his
his spear
spear
When
into the
the earth
earth floor,
floor, and
and leave
leave him
him in
in the
the tent
tent of
of sticks
sticks
into
he lived
lived in,
in, letting
letting the
the felt
felt door
door flop
flop down
down behind
behind them.
them.
he
He has
has taken
taken this
this house
house to
to war
war with
with him
him on
on aa cart.
cart.
He
His life
life weighed
weighed as
as little
little as
as the
the smoke
smoke that
that breathes
breathes out
out
His
through
through
In his
his silk
silk undershirt,
undershirt, his
his breastplate
breastplate of
of boiled
boiled leather,
leather,
In
with three
three bows
bows and
and aa battleaxe,
battleaxe, he
he was
was to
to be
be feared
feared
with
riding away,
away, for
for he
he could
could turn
turn right
right round
round like
like an
an owl.
owl.
riding
No one
one could
could trust
trust his
his promises.
promises. He
He has
has killed
killed many
many
No
and cut
cut off
off their
their ears
ears to
to be
be pickled
pickled in
in vinegar
vinegar
and
and served
served to
to the
the lords
lords after
after the
the town
town has
has been
been taken.
taken.
and
the chimney-window,
chimney-window, and
and itit leaves
leaves him
him now
now the
the same
same
the
He believed
believed in
in one
one God,
God, who
who made
made all
all things,
things, and
and offered
offered
He
way.
way.
the first
first milk
milk of
of his
his animals,
animals, the
the first
first lump
lump of
of meat
meat
the
By this
this fire
fire he
he has
has eaten
eaten the
the meat
meat of
of dogs
dogs and
and rats,
rats,
By
to the
the idols
idols of
of felt
felt and
and cloth
cloth he
he carried
carried with
with him.
him.
to
horses and
and lions,
lions, and
and wiped
wiped the
the grease
grease from
from his
his fingers,
fingers,
horses
A man
man with
with small
small eyes
eyes and
and aa scrap
scrap of
of beard,
beard, one
one of
of those
those
A
making himself
himself tipsy
tipsy on
on the
the sour
sour froth
froth of
of mare’s
mare’s milk.
milk.
making
who rode
rode with
with the
the Great
Great Khan
Khan over
over the
the plains
plains of
of Asia,
Asia,
who
He will
will die
die alone,
alone, who
who had
had thirty
thirty or
or forty
forty wives
wives
He
and II rode
rode among
among them
them against
against the
the King
King of
of Manzi.
Manzi.
and
to wear
wear the
the wiry
wiry shape
shape of
of his
his foot
foot as
as aa head-dress,
head-dress,
to
Now the
the hut
hut is
is cooling
cooling and
and he
he lies
lies in
in the
the smoke
smoke haze
haze
Now
and visited
visited them
them in
in their
their huts
huts to
to have
have dalliance,
dalliance,
and
as his
his friends
friends return
return to
to take
take him
him out
out and
and bury
bury him
him
as
women who
who could
could shoot
shoot with
with aa bow
bow as
as straight
straight as
as he
he
women
could,
could,
and run
run without
without aa sound
sound in
in their
their loose
loose shirts
shirts and
and breeches,
breeches,
and
drive aa plough
plough or
or aa wagon,
wagon, put
put together
together aa hut.
hut.
drive
in the
the flat
flat green
green that
that is
is their
their idea
idea of
of forever.
forever.
in
have often
often thought
thought of
of aa story
story II have
have heard,
heard, when
when II was
was
II have
young, of
of aa worthy
worthy man
man of
of our
our own
own country
country who
who went
went once
once
young,
upon aa time
time to
to see
see the
the world.
world. He
He passed
passed India
India and
and many
many isles
isles
upon
beyond India,
India, where
where there
there are
are more
more than
than 5,000
5,000 isles,
isles, and
and
beyond
travelled so
so far
far by
by land
land and
and sea,
sea, girdling
girdling the
the globe,
globe, that
that he
he
travelled
found an
an isle
isle where
where he
he heard
heard his
his own
own language
language being
being spoken.
spoken.
found
For he
he heard
heard one
one who
who was
was driving
driving aa plough
plough team
team say
say such
such
For
words to
to them
them as
as he
he had
had heard
heard men
men say
say to
to oxen
oxen in
in his
his own
own
words
land when
when they
they were
were working
working atat the
the plough.
plough. He
He marvelled
marvelled
land
greatly, for
for he
he did
did not
not understand
understand how
how this
this could
could be.
be. But
But II
greatly,
conjecture that
that he
he had
had travelled
travelled so
so far
far over
over land
land and
and sea,
sea,
conjecture
circumnavigating the
the earth,
earth, that
that he
he had
had come
come to
to his
his own
own
circumnavigating
borders; for
for ifif he
he had
had gone
gone aa bit
bit further,
further, he
he would
would have
have come
come
borders;
to his
his own
own district.
district. But
But after
after he
he heard
heard that
that marvel,
marvel, he
he could
could
to
not get
get transport
transport any
any further,
further, so
so he
he turned
turned back
back the
the way
way he
he
not
had come;
come; so
so he
he had
had aa long
long journey!
journey!
had
...That could
could well
well be,
be, even
even ifif men
men of
of limited
limited understanding
understanding
...That
do not
not believe
believe that
that men
men can
can travel
travel on
on the
the underside
underside of
of the
the
do
globe without
without falling
falling off
off into
into the
the firmament.
firmament. For
For just
just as
as itit
globe
seems to
to us
us that
that those
those men
men there
there are
are under
under us,
us, so
so itit seems
seems to
to
seems
them that
that we
we are
are under
under them.
them. For
For ifif itit were
were possible
possible for
for aa
them
man to
to fall
fall off
off the
the earth
earth to
to the
the firmament,
firmament, all
all the
the more
more
man
reason for
for the
the earth
earth and
and sea,
sea, which
which are
are very
very heavy,
heavy, to
to fall
fall
reason
thither too.
too. But
But that
that cannot
cannot happen,
happen, as
as God
God himself
himself
thither
witnesses when
when he
he says,
says, Non
Non timeas
timeas me,
me, qui
qui suspendi
suspendi terram
terram exex
witnesses
nihilo, that
that isis to
to say,
say, ‘Have
‘Have no
no fear
fear of
of me,
me, who
who have
have hanged
hanged
nihilo,
the earth
earth from
from nothing.’
nothing.’
the
Of Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation
Of
Earth water
water sky
sky clouds
clouds field
field hill
hill house
house farm
farm village
village
Earth
church man.
man.
church
have heard
heard of
of aa man
man who
who left
left our
our shores
shores and
and set
set sail
sail
II have
They were
were the
the same
same words
words with
with aa different
different heft
heft on
on the
the
They
for France,
France, then
then crossed
crossed the
the Alps
Alps to
to Venice,
Venice, where
where he
he
for
tongue.
tongue.
took ship
ship
took
past the
the islands
islands of
of the
the West
West Sea
Sea to
to the
the Holy
Holy Land.
Land.
past
He was
was lost
lost in
in the
the mountains,
mountains, found
found the
the Great
Great Sea
Sea Ocean
Ocean
He
and the
the many
many Indias,
Indias, one
one after
after another,
another,
and
and afterwards
afterwards journeyed
journeyed to
to Tartary
Tartary and
and Cathay,
Cathay,
and
and islands
islands whose
whose people
people were
were melted
melted into
into strangeness.
strangeness.
and
He sailed
sailed past
past the
the fringes
fringes of
of Paradise,
Paradise, and
and arrived
arrived
He
at aa grey
grey country
country where
where aa man
man was
was ploughing
ploughing aa field.
field.
at
He thought
thought he
he had
had been
been there
there before,
before, or
or somewhere
somewhere like
like
He
it:
it:
the smell
smell of
of rainy
rainy wind,
wind, the
the man’s
man’s bow-legged
bow-legged trudging
trudging
the
as he
he turned
turned the
the clods
clods hoping
hoping to
to scrape
scrape up
up aa summer.
summer.
as
What do
do you
you call
call this,
this, fellow?
fellow? Ox.
Ox. What
What isis this?
this? A
A plough.
plough.
What
He turned
turned to
to his
his companions.
companions. We
We have
have almost
almost reached
reached
He
home.
home.
Over that
that hill
hill we
we may
may find
find aa road
road to
to take
take us
us there.
there.
Over
But his
his friends
friends stayed
stayed clumped
clumped together
together under
under the
the drizzle.
drizzle.
But
We have
have travelled
travelled across
across the
the world
world and
and received
received only
only
We
sores, blisters,
blisters, fever,
fever, wounds,
wounds, chills,
chills, sunburn,
sunburn, hunger
hunger and
and
sores,
thirst.
thirst.
We are
are tired.
tired. And
And this
this may
may be
be some
some spell
spell or
or delusion.
delusion.
We
So the
the man
man and
and his
his friends
friends sailed
sailed back
back where
where they
they had
had
So
come from.
from.
come
Yet II believe
believe they
they might
might have
have gone
gone aa few
few miles
miles further
further
Yet
and arrived
arrived home.
home. For
For you
you must
must know
know that
that the
the world
world isis
and
round.
round.