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
as yet which could occasion a dissolution of its interior figure, may be
made by Art, and not Tin, Lead, Iron, Copper or Silver, which yet are so
far weaker, and meaner Metals then Gold is. But the Worm-men excused
themselves, that they were ignorant in that Art, and that such questions
belonged more properly to the Ape-men, which were Her Majesties Chymists.
Then the Empress asked them, Whether by their Sensitive perceptions they
could observe the interior corporeal, figurative Motions both of
Vegetables and Minerals? They answer'd, That their Senses could perceive
them after they were produced, but not before; Nevertheless, said they,
although the interior, figurative motions of Natural Creatures are not
subject to the exterior, animal, sensitive perceptions, yet by their
Rational perception they may judg of them, and of their productions if
they be regular: Whereupon the Empress commanded the Bear-men to lend
them some of their best Microscopes. At which the Bear- men smilingly
answered her Majesty, that their Glasses would do them but little
service in the bowels of the Earth, because there was no light; for,
said they, our Glasses do onely represent exterior objects, according to
the various reflections and positions of light; and wheresoever light is
wanting, the glasses wil do no good. To which the Worm-men replied, that
although they could not say much of refractions, reflections,
inflections, and the like; yet were they not blind, even in the bowels
of the Earth: for they could see the several sorts of Minerals, as also
minute Animals, that lived there; which minute Animal Creatures were not
blind neither, but had some kind of sensitive perception that was as
serviceable to them, as sight, taste, smell, touch, hearing, &c. was to
other Animal Creatures: By which it is evident, That Nature has been as
bountiful to those Creatures that live underground, or in the bowels of
the Earth, as to those that live upon the surface of the Earth, or in
the Air, or in Water. But howsoever, proceeded the Worm-men, although
there is light in the bowels of the Earth, yet your Microscopes will do
but little good there, by reason those Creatures that live under ground
have not such an optick sense as those that live on the surface of the
Earth: wherefore, unless you had such Glasses as are proper for their
perception, your Microscopes will not be any ways advantagious to them.
The Empress seem'd well pleased with this answer of the Worm-men; and
asked them further, Whether Minerals and all other Creatures within the
Earth were colourless? At which question they could not forbear
laughing; and when the Empress asked the reason why they laught? We most
humbly beg your Majesties pardon, replied they; for we could not chuse
but laugh, when we heard of a colourless Body. Why, said the Empress,
Colour is onely an accident, which is an immaterial thing, and has no
being of it self, but in another body. Those, replied they, that
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