Aërial Scenes continued.
Section 47.A Few Seconds of Time before the Balloon had attained its greatest Height; the Velocity of Ascent being every Instant retarded by the Escape of Gass thro’ the Opening;—the remarkable Stillness which prevailed in so elevated a State of the Atmosphere, apparently many Miles above all visible Vapour, far beyond the Sight of every living Creature, and where the human Voice was no longer heard from below; the larger Objects, with which the Surface of the distant Earth was covered, as Rivers Woods Inclosures, diminishing to the View, yet encreasing in their Beauty;—coud not but make a lively Impression on the Mind of the Aironaut.
The striking Contrast and Novelty of his Situation filled him with unusual and pleasing Sensations.
He had just left, for the first Time, his native Earth, where he had continued for a while the central Object to some thousand Spectators; whose Eyes, he knew, were still turned towards him; that he was still the Subject of their Conversation: yet no human Figure met his Sight; no human Sound vibrated on his Ear.
An universal Silence reigned! an empyrèan Calm! unknown to Mortals upon Earth.
The Sky was painted with a purer, and more transparent Azure. The Sun shone hot, and with a brighter Lustre. His Beams were white and sparkling: not surrounded with Haze or Vapour: but too fierce for the human Eye to look upon a second Time with Pleasure.[13]
Objects which filled the Mind of the Aironaut with Wonder and Delight.
48. A Chearful Serenity filled the Breast of the Aironaut.
In an erect Posture, and with the utmost Composure he gazed around: reflecting with Wonder and Delight on a Situation, where the Beautiful and Sublime were seen united, in a Manner perfectly novel and engaging.
Novel situation illustrated by a familiar Comparison.