to report, a very Proud and Ambitious Lady, in presuming to answer you
her own self, in this noble Assembly without your Command, in a Speech
wherein she did not onely contradict you, but preferred Honesty and
Prudence before you; saying, That her Lord was ready to serve you
honestly and prudently; which presumption is beyond all pardon; and if
you allow Honesty and Prudence to be above you, none will admire,
worship, or serve you; but you'l be forced to serve your self, and will
be despised, neglected and scorned by all; and from a Deity, become a
miserable, dirty, begging mortal in a Church-yard-Porch, or Noble-man's
Gate: Wherefore to prevent such disasters, fling as many misfortunes and
neglects on the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, and their two friends, as
your power is able to do; otherwise Prudence and Honesty will be the
chief and onely Moral Deities of Mortals.
Rashness having thus ended her Speech, Prudence rose and declared her
self in this manner:
Beautiful Truth, Great Fortune, and you the rest of my noble Friends; I
am come a great and long journey in the behalf of my dear Friend the
Duke of Newcastle; not to make more wounds, but, if it be possible, to
heal those that are made already. Neither do I presume to be a Deity;
but my onely request is, that you would be pleased to accept of my
Offering, I being an humble and devout supplicant; and since no offering
is more acceptable to the Gods, then the offering of Peace; in order to
that, I desire to make an agreement between Fortune, and the Duke of
Newcastle.
Thus she spake, and as she was going up, up started Honesty (for she has
not always so much discretion as she ought to have) and interrupted
Prudence.
I came not here, said she, to hear Fortune flattered, but to hear the
Cause decided between Fortune and the Duke; neither came I hither to
speak Rhetorically and Eloquently, but to propound the case plainly and
truly; and I'le have you know, that the Duke, whose Cause we argue, was
and is my Foster-son; for I Honesty bred him from his Childhood, and
made a perpetual friendship betwixt him and Gratitude, Charity and
Generosity; and put him to School to Prudence, who taught him Wisdom,
and informed him in the Rules of Temperance, Patience, Justice, and the
like; then I put him into the University of Honour, where he learned all
Honourable Qualities, Arts, and Sciences; afterward I sent him to travel
through the World of Actions, and made Observation his Governor; and in
those his travels, he contracted a friendship with Experience; all
which, made him fit for Heavens Blessings, and Fortunes Favours: But she
hating all those that have merit and desert, became his inveterate
Enemy, doing him all the mischief she could, until the God of Justice
opposed Fortune's Malice, and pull'd him out of those ruines she had
cast upon him: For this God's Favourites were the Dukes Champions;
wherefore to be an Enemy to him, were to be an Enemy to the God of
Justice: In short, the true cause of Fortunes Malice to this Duke is,
that he would never flatter her; for I Honesty, did command him not to
do it, or else he would be forced to follow all her inconstant ways, and
obey all her unjust commands, which would cause a great reproach to him:
but, on the other side, Prudence advised him not to despise Fortune's
favours, for that would be an obstrustion and hinderance to his worth
and merit; and He to obey both our advice and counsels, did neither
flatter nor despise Her; but was always humble and respectful to her so
far as Honour, Honesty and Conscience would permit: all which I refer to
Truth's Judgment, and expect her final Sentence.
Fortune hearing thus Honesty's plain Speech, thought it very rude, and
would not hearken to Truth's Judgment, but went away in a Passion: At
which, both the Empress and Duchess were extreamly troubled, that their
endeavours should have no better effect: but Honesty chid the Duchess,
and said, she was to be punished for desiring so much Fortune's favours;
for it appears, said she, that you mistrust the gods blessings: At which
the Duchess wept, answering Honesty, That she did neither mistrust the
gods blessings, nor relye upon Fortune's favours; but desired onely that
her Lord might have no potent Enemies. The Empress being much troubled
to see her weep, told Honesty in anger, she wanted the discretion of
Prudence; for though you are commended, said she, yet you are apt to
commit many indiscreet actions, unless Prudence be your guide. At which
reproof Prudence smiled, and Honesty was somewhat out of countenance;
but they soon became very good friends: and after the Duchess's Soul had
stayed some time with the Empress in the Blazing-World, she begg'd leave
of her to return to her Lord and Husband; which the Empress granted her,
upon condition she should come and visit her as often as conveniently
she could, promising that she would do the same to the Duchess.
Thus the Duchess's soul, after she had taken her leave of the Empress,
as also of the Spirits, who with great civility, promised her, that they
would endeavour in time to make a Peace and Agreement between Fortune
and the Duke, returned with Prudence and Honesty, into her own World:
But when she was just upon her departure, the Empress sent to Her, and
desired that she might yet have some little conference with her before
she went; which the Duchess most willingly granted her Majesty; and when
she came to wait on her, the Empress told the Duchess, That she being
her dear Platonick Friend, of whose just and Impartial Judgment, she had
alwayes a very great esteem; could not forbear, before she went from
her, to ask her Advice concerning the Government of the Blazing-World:
For, said she, although this World was very well and wisely ordered and
governed at first, when I came to be Empress thereof; yet the nature of
Women being much delighted with Change and Variety, after I had received
an absolute Power from the Emperor, did somewhat alter the Form of
Government from what I found it; but now perceiving that the World is
not so quiet as it was at first, I am much troubled at it; especially
there are such continual Contentions and Divisions between the Worm-
Bear- and Fly-men, the Ape-men, the Satyrs, the Spider-men, and all
others of such sorts, that I fear they'l break out into an open
Rebellion, and cause a great disorder; and the ruin of the Government;
and therefore I desire your advice and assistance, how I may order it to
the best advantage, that this World may be rendred peaceable, quiet and
happy, as it was before. Whereupon the Duchess answered, That since she
heard by her Imperial Majesty, how well and happily the World had been
governed when she first came to be Empress thereof, she would advise her
Majesty to introduce the same form of Government again, which had been
before; that is, to have but one soveraign, one Religion, one Law, and
one Language, so that all the World might be but as one united Family,
without divisions; nay, like God, and his Blessed Saints and Angels:
Otherwise, said she, it may in time prove as unhappy, nay, as miserable
a World as that is from which I came, wherein are more soveraigns then
Worlds, and more pretended Governours then Government, more Religions
then Gods, and more Opinions in those Religions then Truths; more Laws
then Rights, and more Bribes then Justices; more Policies then
Necessities, and more Fears then Dangers; more Covetousness then Riches,
more Ambitions then Merits, more Services then Rewards, more Languages
then Wit, more Controversie then Knowledg, more Reports then noble
Actions, and more Gifts by partiality, then according to Merit; all
which, said she, is a great misery, nay, a curse, which your blessed
Blazing-World never knew, nor 'tis probable, will never know of, unless
your Imperial Majesty alter the Government thereof from what it was when
you began to govern it: And since your Majesty complains much of the
factions of the Bear- Fish- Fly- Ape- and Worm- men, the Satyrs,
Spider-men, and the like, and of their perpetual disputes and quarrels,
I would advise your Majesty to dissolve all their societies; for 'tis
better to be without their intelligences, then to have an unquiet and
disorderly Government. The truth is, said she, wheresoever Learning is,
there is most commonly also Controversie and quarelling; for there be
always some that will know more, and be wiser then others: some think
their Arguments come nearer to Truth, and are more rational then others;
some are so wedded to their own opinions, that they'l never yield to
Reason; and others, though they find their Opinions not firmly grounded
upon Reason, yet, for fear of receiving some disgrace by altering them,
will nevertheless maintain them against all sense and reason, which must
needs breed factions in their Schools, which at last break out into open
Wars, and draw sometimes an utter ruin upon a State or Government. The
Empress told the Duchess, that she would willingly follow her advice;
but she thought it would be an eternal disgrace to her, to alter her own
Decrees, Acts, and Laws. To which the Duchess answered, That it was so
far from a disgrace, as it would rather be for her Majesties eternal
honour, to return from a worse to a better, and would express and
declare Her to be more then ordinary wise and good; so wise, as to
perceive her own errors, and so good, as not to persist in them, which
few did: for which, said she, you will get a glorious fame in this
World, and an Eternal Glory hereafter; and I shall pray for it so long
as I live. Upon which Advice, the Empress's Soul embrac'd and kiss'd the
Duchess's Soul with an Immaterial Kiss, and shed Immaterial Tears, that
she was forced to part from her, finding her not a flattering Parasite,
but a true Friend; and in truth, such was their Platonick Friendship, as
these two loving Souls did often meet and rejoice in each others
Conversation.
The Second Part of the Description of the New Blazing-World.
The Empress having now ordered and setled her Government to the best
advantage and quiet of her Blazing-World, lived and reigned most happily
and blessedly, and received oftentimes Visits from the Immaterial
Spirits, who gave her Intelligence of all such things as she desired to
know, and they were able to inform her of: One time they told her, how
the World she came from, was imbroiled in a great War, and that most
parts or Nations thereof made War against that Kingdom which was her
Native Country, where all her Friends and Relations did live; at which
the Empress was extreamly troubled; insomuch that the Emperor perceived
her grief by her tears, and examining the cause thereof, she told him
that she had received Intelligence from the Spirits, that that part of
the World she came from, which was her native Country, was like to be
destroyed by numerous Enemies that made War against it. The Emperor
being very sensible of this ill news, especially of the Trouble it
caused to the Empress, endeavoured to comfort her as much as possibly he
could; and told her, that she might have all the assistance which the
Blazing-World was able to afford. she answered, That if there were any
possibility of transporting Forces out of the Blazing-World, into the
World she came from, she would not fear so much the ruin thereof: but,
said she, there being no probability of effecting anysuch thing, I know
not how to shew my readiness to serve my Native Country. The Emperor
asked, Whether those Spirits that gave her Intelligence of this War,
could not with all their Power and Forces, assist her against those
Enemies? she answered, That Spirits could not arm themselves, nor make
any use of Artificial Arms or Weapons; for their Vehicles were Natural
Bodies, not Artificial: Besides, said she, the violent and strong
actions of war, will never agree with Immaterial Spirits; for Immaterial
Spirits cannot fight, nor make Trenches, Fortifications, and the like.
But, said the Emperor, their Vehicles can; especially if those Vehicles
be mens Bodies, they may be serviceable in all the actions of War. Alas,
replied the Empress, that will never do; for first, said she, it will be
difficult to get so many dead Bodies for their Vehicles, as to make up a
whole Army, much more to make many Armies to fight with so many several
Nations; nay, if this could be, yet it is not possible to get so many
dead and undissolved Bodies in one Nation; and for transporting them out
of other Nations, it would be a thing of great difficulty and
improbability: But put the case, said she, all these difficulties could
be overcome; yet there is one obstruction or hindrance which can no ways
be avoided: For although those dead and undissolved Bodies did all die
in one minute of time; yet before they could Rendezvouze, and be put
into a posture of War, to make a great and formidable Army, they would
stink and dissolve; and when they came to a fight, they would moulder
into dust and ashes, and so leave the purer Immaterial Spirits naked:
nay, were it also possible, that those dead bodies could be preserved
from stinking and dissolving, yet the Souls of such Bodies would not
suffer Immaterial Spirits to rule and order them, but they would enter
and govern them themselves, as being the right owners thereof, which
would produce a War between those Immaterial Souls, and the Immaterial
Spirits in Material Bodies; all which would hinder them from doing any
service in the actions of War, against the Enemies of my Native
Countrey. You speak Reason, said the Emperor, and I wish with all my
Soul I could advise any manner or way, that you might be able to assist
it; but you having told me of your dear Platonick Friend the Duchess of
Newcastle and of her good and profitable Counsels, I would desire you to
send for her Soul, and conferr with her about this business.
The Empress was very glad of this motion of the Emperor, and immediately
sent for the Soul of the said Duchess, which in a minute waited on her
Majesty. Then the Empress declared to her the grievance and sadness of
her mind, and how much she was troubled and afflicted at the News
brought her by the Immaterial Spirits, desiring the Duchess, if
possible, to assist her with the best Counsels she could, that she might
shew the greatness of her love and affection which she bore to her
Native Countrey. Whereupon the Duchess promised her Majesty to do what
lay in her power; and since it was a business of great Importance, she
desired some time to consider of it; for, said she, Great Affairs
require deep Considerations; which the Empress willingly allowed her.
And after the Duchess had considered some little time, she desired the
Empress to send some of her Syrens or Mear men, to see what passages
they could find out of the Blazing-World, into the World she came from;
for, said she, if there be a passage for a Ship to come out of that
World into this; then certainly there may also a Ship pass thorow the
same passage out of this World into that. Hereupon the Mear- or Fish-men
were sent out; who being many in number, employ'd all their industry,
and did swim several ways; at last having found out the passage, they
returned to the Empress, and told her, That as their Blazing World had
but one Emperor, one Government, one Religion, and one Language, so
there was but one Passage into that World, which was so little, that no
Vessel bigger than a Packet-Boat could go thorow; neither was that
Passage always open, but sometimes quite frozen up. At which Relation
both the Empress and Duchess seemed somewhat troubled, fearing that this
would perhaps be an hindrance or obstruction to their Design.
At last the Duchess desired the Empress to send for her Ship-wrights,
and all her Architects, which were Giants; who being called, the Duchess
told them how some in her own World had been so ingenious, as to
contrive Ships that could swim under Water, and asked, Whether they
could do the like? The Giants answered, They had never heard of that
Invention; nevertheless, they would try what might be done by Art, and
spare no labour or industry to find it out. In the mean time, while both
the Empress and Duchess were in a serious Counsel, after many debates,
the Duchess desired but a few Ships to transport some of the Bird- Worm-
and Bear- men: Alas! said the Empress, What can such sorts of Men do in
the other World? especially so few? They will be soon destroyed, for a
Musket will destroy numbers of Birds in one shot. The Duchess said, I
desire your Majesty will have but a little patience, and relie upon my
advice, and you shall not fail to save your own Native Country, and in a
manner become a Mistress of all that World you came from. The Empress,
who loved the Duchess as her own Soul, did so; the Giants returned soon
after, and told her Majesty, that they had found out the Art which the
Duchess had mentioned, to make such Ships as could swim under water;
which the Empress and Duchess were both very glad at, and when the Ships
were made ready, the Duchess told the Empress, that it was requisite
that her Majesty should go her self in body, as well as in Soul; but I,
said she, can onely wait on your Majesty after a Spiritual manner, that
is, with my Soul. Your Soul, said the Empress, shall live with my Soul,
in my Body; for I shall onely desire your Counsel and Advice. Then said
the Duchess, Your Majesty must command a great number of your Fish-men
to wait on your Ships; for you know that your Ships are not made for
Cannons, and therefore are no ways serviceable in War; for though by the
help of your Engines, they can drive on, and your Fish-men may by the
help of Chains and Ropes, draw them which way they will, to make them go
on, or flye back, yet not so as to fight: And though your Ships be of
Gold, and cannot be shot thorow, but onely bruised and battered; yet the
Enemy will assault and enter them, and take them as Prizes; wherefore
your Fish-men must do you Service instead of Cannons. But how, said the
Empress, can the Fish-men do me service against an Enemy, without
Cannons and all sorts of Arms? That is the reason, answered the Duchess,
that I would have numbers of Fish-men, for they shall destroy all your
Enemies Ships, before they can come near you. The Empress asked in what
manner that could be? Thus, answered the Duchess: Your Majesty must send
a number of Worm-men to the Burning-Mountains (for you have good store
of them in the Blazing-World) which must get a great quantity of the
Fire-stone, whose property, you know, is, that it burns so long as it is
wet; and the Ships in the other World being all made of Wood, they may
by that means set them all on fire; and if you can but destroy their
Ships, and hinder their Navigation, you will be Mistress of all that
World, by reason most parts thereof cannot live without Navigation.
Besides, said she, the Fire-stone will serve you instead of Light or
Torches; for you know, that the World you are going into, is dark at
nights (especially if there be no Moon-shine, or if the Moon be
overshadowed by Clouds) and not so full of Blazing-Stars as this World
is, which make as great a light in the absence of the Sun, as the Sun
doth when it is present; for that World hath but little blinking Stars,
which make more shadows then light, and are onely able to draw up
Vapours from the Earth, but not to rarifie or clarifie them, or to
convert them into serene air.
This Advice of the Duchess was very much approved; and joyfully embraced
by the Empress, who forthwith sent her Worm-men to get a good quantity
of the mentioned Fire-stone. she also commanded numbers of Fish-men to
wait on her under Water, and Bird-men to wait on her in the Air; and
Bear- and Worm-men to wait on her in Ships, according to the Duchess's
advice; and indeed the Bear-men were as serviceable to her, as the North
Star; but the Bird-men would often rest themselves upon the Deck of the
Ships; neither would the Empress, being of a sweet and noble Nature,
suffer that they should tire or weary themselves by long flights; for
though by Land they did often fly out of one Countrey into another, yet
they did rest in some Woods, or on some Grounds, especially at night,
when it was their sleeping time: And therefore the Empress was forced to
take a great many Ships along with her, both for transporting those
several sorts of her loyal and serviceable Subjects, and to carry
provisions for them: Besides, she was so wearied with the Petitions of
several others of her Subjects who desired to wait on her Majesty, that
she could not possibly deny them all; for some would rather chuse to be
drowned, then not tender their duty to her.
Thus after all things were made fit and ready, the Empress began her
Journey; I cannot properly say, she set Sail, by reason in some Part, as
in the passage between the two Worlds (which yet was but short) the
Ships were drawn under water by the Fish-men with Golden Chains, so that
they had no need of Sails there, nor of any other Arts, but onely to
keep out water from entering into the Ships, and to give or make so much
Air as would serve, for breath or respiration, those Land-Animals that
were in the Ships; which the Giants had so Artificially contrived, that
they which were therein, found no inconveniency at all: And after they
had passed the Icy Sea, the Golden Ships appeared above Water, and so
went on until they came near the Kingdom that was the Empress's Native
Countrey; where the Bear-men through their Telescopes discovered a great
number of Ships which had beset all that Kingdom, well rigg'd and mann'd.
The Empress before she came in sight of the Enemy, sent some of her
Fish- and Bird-men to bring her intelligence of their Fleet; and hearing
of their number, their station and posture, she gave order that when it
was Night, her Bird-men should carry in their beeks some of the
mentioned Fire-stones, with the tops thereof wetted; and the Fish-men
should carry them likewise, and hold them out of the Water; for they
were cut in the form of Torches or Candles, and being many thousands,
made a terrible shew; for it appear'd as if all the Air and Sea had been
of a Flaming-Fire; and all that were upon the Sea, or near it, did
verily believe, the time of Judgment, or the Last Day was come, which
made them all fall down, and Pray.
At the break of Day, the Empress commanded those Lights to be put out,
and then the Naval Forces of the Enemy perceived nothing but a Number of
Ships without Sails, Guns, Arms, and other Instruments of War; which
Ships seemed to swim of themselves, without any help or assistance:
which sight put them into a great amaze; neither could they perceive
that those Ships were of Gold, by reason the Empress had caused them all
to be coloured black, or with a dark colour; so that the natural colour
of the Gold could not be perceived through the artificial colour of the
paint, no not by the best Telescopes. All which put the Enemies Fleet
into such a fright at night, and to such wonder in the morning, or at
day-time, that they know not what to judg or make of them; for they know
neither what Ships they were, nor what Party they belonged to, insomuch
that they had no power to stir.
In the mean while, the Empress knowing the Colours of her own Country,
sent a Letter to their General, and the rest of the chief Commanders, to
let them know, that she was a great and powerful Princess, and came to
assist them against their Enemies: wherefore she desired they should
declare themselves, when they would have her help and assistance.