José Viera y Clavijo, Los ayres fijos: poema didáctico en seis cantos, 6.13 (1784):
Moradores de Nesle ¿Que es aquello
Que veis venir rasgando el Horizonte?
No es la ascencion de Ganimedes bello,
Ni el precipicio del audaz Faetonte,
Del Iris matizado no es destello,
Ni el Pegaso que dexa el doble monte;
Es la Nave Aërostática velera
De Argonautas que surcan la atmosféra.
I like the bit just below in 6.21 about lunar exploration. The French, the Russians and everybody sent animals up first, but the use of a donkey on one of the early Spanish expeditions reminds one of the custom of throwing donkeys off church towers in such benighted places as this. More modern animal sacrifice here.
All grist to this mill, slowly taking shape twixt other diversions.
(h/t BQ)
Similar posts
Back soon
Comments