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 then, 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
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 then, 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
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