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 finished her Speech to the Princes of the
several Nations of that World, she desired that in their Ships might
fall back; which being done, her own Fleet came into the Circle, without
any visible assistance of Sails or Tide; and her self being entred into
her own Ship, the whole Fleet sunk immediately into the bottom of the
Seas, and left all the Spectators in a deep amazement; neither would she
suffer any of her Ships to come above the Waters, until she arrived into
the Blazing-World.
In time of the Voyage, both the Empress's and the Duchess's Soul, were
very gay and merry; and sometimes they would converse very seriously
with each other. Amongst the rest of their discourses, the Duchess said,
she wondred much at one thing, which was, That since her Majesty had
found out a passage out of the Blazing-World, into the World she came
from, she did not enrich that part of the World where she was born, at
least her own Family, though she had enough to enrich the whole World.
The Empress's Soul answered, That she loved her Native Countrey, and her
own Family, as well as any Creature could do; and that this was the
reason why she would not enrich them: for, said she, not only particular
Families or Nations, but all the World, their Natures are such, that
much Gold, and great store of Riches, makes them mad; insomuch as they
endeavour to destroy each other for Gold or Riches sake. The reason
thereof is, said the Duchess, that they have too little Gold and Riches,
which makes them so eager to have it. No, replied the Empress's Soul,
their particular Covetousness, is beyond all the wealth of the richest
World, and the more Riches they have, the more Covetous they are; for
their Covetousness is Infinite. But, said she, I would there could a
Passage be found out of the Blazing-World, into the World whence you
came, and I would willingly give you as much Riches as you desir'd. The
Duchess's Soul gave her Majesty humble thanks for her great Favour; and
told her, that she was not covetous, nor desir'd any more wealth than
what her Lord and Husband had before the Civil-Warrs. Neither, said she,
should I desire it for my own, but my Lord's Posterities sake. Well,
said the Empress, I'le command my Fish-men to use all their Skill and
Industry to find out a Passage into that World which your Lord and
Husband is in. I do verily believe, answered the Duchess, that there
will be no Passage found into that World; but if there were any, I
should not Petition your Majesty for Gold and Jewels, but only for the
Elixir that grows in the midst of the Golden Sands, for to preserve Life
and Health; but without a Passage, it is impossible to carry away any of
it: for, whatsoever is Material, cannot travel like Immaterial Beings,
such as Souls and Spirits are. Neither do Souls require any such thing
that might revive them, or prolong their Lives, by reason they are
unalterable: for, were Souls like Bodies, then my Soul might have had
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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