The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-WorldNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Science
The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Science fiction; Utopias -- Fiction; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
Their Priests and Governors were Princes of the Imperial Blood, and made
Eunuches for that purpose; and as for the ordinary sort of men in that
part of the World where the Emperor resided, they were of several
Complexions; not white, black, tawny, olive or ash-coloured; but some
appear'd of an Azure, some of a deep Purple, some of a Grass-green, some
of a Scarlet, some of an Orange-colour, &c. Which Colours and
Complexions, whether they were made by the bare reflection of light,
without the assistance of small particles; or by the help of well-ranged
and order'd Atoms; or by a continual agitation of little Globules; or by
some pressing and re-acting motion, I am not able to determine. The rest
of the Inhabitants of that World, were men of several different sorts,
shapes, figures, dispositions, and humors, as I have already made
mention, heretofore; some were Bear-men, some Worm-men, some Fish- or
Mear-men, otherwise called Syrens; some Bird-men, some Fly-men, some
Ant-men, some Geese-men, some Spider-men, some Lice-men, some Fox-men,
some Ape-men, some Jack daw-men, some Magpie-men, some Parrot-men, some
Satyrs, some Gyants, and many more, which I cannot all remember; and of
these several sorts of men, each followed such a profession as was most
proper for the nature of their Species, which the Empress encouraged
them in, especially those that had applied themselves to the study of
several Arts and Sciences; for they were as ingenious and witty in the
invention of profitable and useful Arts, as we are in our world, nay,
more; and to that end she erected Schools, and founded several
Societies. The Bear-men were to be her Experimental Philosophers, the
Bird-men her Astronomers, the Fly- Worm- and Fish-men her Natural
Philosophers, the Ape-men her Chymists, the Satyrs her Galenick
Physicians, the Fox-men her Politicians, the Spider- and Lice-men her
Mathematicians, the Jackdaw- Magpie- and Parrot-men her Orators and
Logicians, the Gyants her Architects, &c. But before all things, she
having got a Soveraign power from the Emperor over all the World,
desired to be informed both of the manner of their Religion and
Government; and to that end she called the Priests and States men, to
give her an account of either. Of the States men she enquired, first,
Why they had so few Laws? To which they answered, That many Laws made
many Divisions, which most commonly did breed Factions, and at last
brake out into open Wars. Next, she asked, Why they preferred the
Monarchical form of Government before any other? They answered, That as
it was natural for one Body to have but one Head, so it was also natural
for a Politick body to have but one Governor; and that a Common-wealth,
which had many Governors was like a Monster with many Heads. Besides,
said they, a Monarchy is a divine form of Government, and agrees most
with our Religion: For as there is but one God, whom we all unanimously
worship and adore with one Faith; so we are resolved to have but one
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