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
One time the Duchess chanced to discourse with some of her acquaintance,
of the Empress of the Blazing-World, who asked her what Pastimes and
Recreations her Majesty did most delight in? The Duchess answered, That
she spent most of her time in the study of Natural Causes and Effects,
which was her chief delight and pastime; and that she loved to discourse
sometimes with the most Learned persons of that World: And to please the
Emperor and his Nobles, who were all of the Royal Race, she went often
abroad to take the air, but seldom in the day-time, always at night, if
it might be called Night; for, said she, the Nights there, are as light
as Days, by reason of the numerous Blazing-Stars, which are very
splendorous, onely their Light is whiter than the Sun's Light; and as
the Sun's Light is hot, so their Light is cool; not so cool as our
twinkling Starr-light, nor is their Sun-light so hot as ours, but more
rate: And that part of the Blazing-World where the Empress resides, is
always clear, and never subject to any Storms, Tempests, Fogs or Mists,
but has onely refreshing-Dews that nourish the Earth: The air of it is
sweet and temperate, and, as I said before, as much light in the Sun's
absence, as in its presence, which makes that time we call Night, more
pleasant there than the Day: And sometimes the Empress goes abroad by
Water in Barges, sometimes by Land in Chariots, and sometimes on
Horse-back; her Royal Chariots are very Glorious, the Body is one intire
green Diamond; the four small Pillars that bear up the Top-cover, are
four white Diamonds, cut in the form thereof; the top or roof of the
Chariot, is one intire blew Diamond, and at the four corners are great
springs of Rubies; the Seat is made of Cloth of Gold, stuffed with
Ambergreece beaten small: the Chariot is drawn by Twelve Unicorns, whose
Trappings are all Chains of Pearl; and as for her Barges, they are onely
of Gold. Her Guard of State (for she needs none for security, there
being no Rebels or Enemies) consists of Giants, but they seldom wait on
their Majesties abroad, because their extraordinary height and bigness
does hinder their prospect. Her Entertainment when she is upon the
Water, is the Musick of the Fish- and Bird-men; and by Land are Horse
and Foot-matches; for the Empress takes much delight in making
Race-matches with the Emperor, and the Nobility; some Races are between
the Fox- and Ape-men, which sometimes the Satyrs strive to outrun; and
some are between the Spider-men and Lice-men. Also there are several
Flight-matches, between the several sorts of Bird-men, and the several
sorts of Fly-men; and swimming-matches, between the several sorts of
Fish-men. The Emperor, Empress, and their Nobles, take also great
delight to have Collations; for in the Blazing-World, there are most
delicious Fruits of all sorts, and some such as in this World were never
seen nor tasted; for there are most tempting sorts of Fruit: After their
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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