The Baron¹ insists on the veracity² of his former Memoirs³—Forms a design of making discoveries in the interior parts of Africa—His discourse⁴ with Hilaro Frosticos about it—His conversation with Lady Fragrantia—The Baron goes, with other persons of distinction, to Court; relates an anecdote⁵ of the Marquis de Bellecourt.  
All that I have related before, said the Baron, is gospel; and if there be any one so hardy⁶ 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 condemn⁷ him to swallow this decanter, glass and all perhaps, and filled with kerren-wasser [a kind of ardent⁸ spirit distilled⁹ 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 embellish¹⁰ his adventures as he pleases, and it is very unpolite to refuse that deference¹¹ and applause they deserve.
 
Having passed some time in England since the completion of my former memoirs, I at length began to revolve¹² in my mind what a prodigious¹³ field of discovery must be in the interior part of Africa. I could not sleep with the thoughts of it; I therefore determined¹⁴ to gain every proper assistance from Government to penetrate¹⁵ the celebrated¹⁶ 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 precisely¹⁷ nine hundred and ninety-nine leash¹⁸ of languages. What! gentlemen, do you stare? Well, I allow there are not so many languages spoken in this vile²⁰ world; but then, have I not been in the moon? and trust me, whenever I write a treatise²¹ 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 pedagogues²² 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 vigour²³ of fancy, he gravely considered my words, and after some awful meditations²⁴ thus he spoke¹⁹: 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 perils²⁵ and the multitudinous dangers in the way of that wight who thus advanceth in all the perambulation of adventures: and verily, most valiant²⁶ sire and Baron, I hope thou wilt²⁷ 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 esteem²⁸, 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 extremity²⁹ 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 honourable³⁰ 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 this favour, as a mark of the esteem in which I hold thy valorous disposition³¹."
 
The Lady Fragrantia, my dear friends, was one of the most divine creatures in all Great Britain, and was desperately³² in love with me. She was drawing my po............