The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World — John Shaqi
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
I am too sensible of the pains you have taken in the Art of Chymistry,
to discover the Principles of Natural Bodies, and wish they had been
more profitably bestowed upon some other, then such experiments; for
both by my own Contemplation, and the Observations which I have made by
my rational & sensitive perception upon Nature, and her works, I find,
that Nature is but one Infinite Self-moving Body, which by the vertue of
its self-motion, is divided into Infinite parts, which parts being
restless, undergo perpetual changes and transmutations by their infinite
compositions and divisions. Now, if this be so, as surely, according to
regular Sense and Reason, it appears no otherwise; it is in vain to look
for primary Ingredients, or constitutive principles of Natural Bodies,
since there is no more but one Universal Principle of Nature, to wit,
self-moving Matter, which is the onely cause of all natural effects.
Next, I desire you to consider, that Fire is but a particular Creature,
or effect of Nature, and occasions not onely different effects in
several Bodies, but on some Bodies has no power at all; witness Gold,
which never could be brought yet to change its interior figure by the
art of Fire; and if this be so, Why should you be so simple as to
believe that Fire can shew you the Principles of Nature? and that either
the Four Elements, or Water onely, or Salt Sulphur and Mercury, all
which are no more but particular effects and Creatures of Nature, should
be the Primitive Ingredients or Principles of all Natural Bodies?
Wherefore, I will not have you to take more pains, and waste your time
in such fruitless attempts, but be wiser hereafter, and busie your
selves with such Experiments as may be beneficial to the publick.
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