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
After the Empress had thus finish'd the Discourses and Conferences with
the mentioned societies of her Vertuoso's, she considered by her self
the manner of their Religion, and finding it very defective, was
troubled, that so wise and knowing a people should have no more knowledg
of the Divine Truth; Wherefore she consulted with her own thoughts,
whether it was possible to convert them all to her own Religion, and to
that end she resolved to build Churches, and make also up a Congregation
of Women, whereof she intended to be the head her self, and to instruct
them in the several points of her Religion. This she had no sooner
begun, but the Women, which generally had quick wits, subtile
conceptions, clear understandings, and solid judgments, became, in a
short time, very devout and zealous Sisters; for the Empress had an
excellent gift of Preaching, and instructing them in the Articles of
Faith; and by that means, she converted them not onely soon, but gained
an extraordinary love of all her Subjects throughout that World. But at
last, pondering with her self the inconstant nature of Mankind, and
fearing that in time they would grow weary, and desert the divine Truth,
following their own fancies, and living according to their own desires;
she began to be troubled that her labours and pains should prove of so
little effect, and therefore studied all manner of ways to prevent it.
Amongst the rest, she call'd to mind a Relation which the Bird-men made
her once, of a Mountain that did burn in flames of fire; and thereupon
did immediately send for the wisest and subtilest of her Worm-men,
commanding them to discover the cause of the Eruption of that same fire;
which they did; and having dived to the very bottom of the Mountain,
informed her Majesty, That there was a certain sort of Stone, whose
nature was such, that being wetted, it would grow excessively hot, and
break forth into a flaming-fire, until it became dry, and then it ceased
from burning. The Empress was glad to hear this news, and forthwith
desired the Worm men to bring her some of that Stone, but be sure to
keep it secret: she sent also for the Bird-men, and asked them whether
they could not get her a piece of the Sun- stone? They answered, That it
was impossible, unless they did spoil or lessen the light of the World:
but, said they, if it please your Majesty, we can demolish one of the
numerous Stars of the Sky, which the World will never miss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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