The Blazing World · The Second Part of the Description of the New Blazing-World (3/4)

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 wondered 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 country, 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 desired. The Duchess’s soul gave her Majesty humble thanks for her great favour; and told her, that she was not covetous, nor desired any more wealth than what her lord and husband had before the Civil Wars. Neither, said she, should I desire it for my own, but my lord’s posterity’s sake. Well, said the Empress, I’ll 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 the benefit of that natural elixir that grows in your Blazing-World. I wish earnestly, said the Empress, that a passage might be found, and then both your lord and yourself, should neither want wealth, nor long-life: nay, I love you so well, that I would make you as great and powerful a monarchess, as I am of the Blazing-World. The Duchess’s soul humbly thanked her Majesty, and told her, that she acknowledged and esteemed her love beyond all things that are in nature.

After this discourse, they had many other conferences, which for brevity’s sake I’ll forbear to rehearse. At last, after several questions which the Empress’s soul asked the Duchess, she desired to know the reason why she did take such delight, when she was joined to her body, in being singular both in accoutrements, behaviour, and discourse? The Duchess’s soul answered, she confessed that it was extravagant, and beyond what was usual and ordinary: but yet her ambition being such, that she would not be like others in anything, if it were possible, I endeavour, said she, to be as singular as I can: for, it argues but a mean nature, to imitate others: and though I do not love to be imitated, if I can possibly avoid it; yet, rather than imitate others, I should choose to be imitated by others: for my nature is such, that I had rather appear worse in singularity, than better in the mode. If you were not a great lady, replied the Empress, you would never pass in the world for a wise lady: for, the world would say, your singularities are vanities. The Duchess’s soul answered, she did not at all regard the censure of this, or any other age, concerning vanities: but, said she, neither this present, nor any of the future ages, can or will truly say, that I am not virtuous and chaste: for I am confident, all that were, or are acquainted with me, and all the servants which ever I had, will or can upon their oaths declare my actions no otherwise than virtuous: and certainly, there’s none even of the meanest degree, which have not their spies and witnesses, much more those of the nobler sort, which seldom or never are without attendants; so that their faults (if they have any) will easily be known, and as easily divulged. Wherefore, happy are those natures that are honest, virtuous, and noble; not only happy to themselves, but happy to their families. But, said the Empress, if you glory so much in your honesty and virtue, how comes it that you plead for dishonest and wicked persons, in your writings? The Duchess answered, it was only to show her wit, not her nature.

At last the Empress arrived into the Blazing-World, and coming to her imperial palace, you may sooner imagine than expect that I should express the joy which the Emperor had at her safe return; for he loved her beyond his soul; and there was no love lost, for the Empress equaled his affection with no less love to him. After the time of rejoicing with each other, the Duchess’s soul begged leave to return to her noble lord: But the Emperor desired, that before she departed, she would see how he had employed his time in the Empress’s absence; for he had built stables and riding-houses, and desired to have horses of manage, such as, according to the Empress’s relation, the Duke of Newcastle had: The Emperor enquired of the Duchess, the form and structure of her lord and husband’s stables and riding-house. The Duchess answered his Majesty, that they were but plain and ordinary; but, said she, had my lord wealth, I am sure he would not spare it, in rendering his buildings as noble as could be made. Hereupon the Emperor showed the Duchess the stables he had built, which were most stately and magnificent; among the rest, there was one double stable that held a hundred horses on a side, the main building was of gold, lined with several sorts of precious materials; the roof was arched with agates, the sides of the walls were lined with cornelian, the floor was paved with amber, the mangers were mother-of-pearl; the pillars, as also the middle aisle or walk of the stables, were of crystal; the front and gate was of turquoise, most neatly cut and carved. The riding-house was lined with sapphires, topazes, and the like; the floor was all of golden-sand so finely sifted, that it was extremely soft, and not in the least hurtful to the horses’ feet, and the door and frontispiece was of emeralds curiously carved.

After the view of these glorious and magnificent buildings, which the Duchess’s soul was much delighted withal, she resolved to take her leave; but the Emperor desired her to stay yet some short time more, for they both loved her company so well, that they were unwilling to have her depart so soon: several conferences and discourses passed between them; amongst the rest, the Emperor desired her advice how to set up a theatre for plays. The Duchess confessed her ignorance in this art, telling his Majesty that she knew nothing of erecting theatres or scenes, but what she had by an immaterial observation, when she was with the Empress’s soul in the chief city of E. entering into one of their theatres, whereof the Empress could give as much account to his Majesty, as herself. But both the Emperor and the Empress told the Duchess, that she could give directions how to make plays. The Duchess answered, that she had as little skill to form a play after the mode, as she had to paint or make a scene for show. But you have made plays, replied the Empress: Yes, answered the Duchess, I intended them for plays; but the wits of these present times condemned them as uncapable of being represented or acted, because they were not made up according to the rules of art; though I dare say, that the descriptions are as good as any they have writ. The Emperor asked, whether the property of plays were not to describe the several humours, actions and fortunes of mankind? ’Tis so, answered the Duchess. Why then, replied the Emperor, the natural humours, actions and fortunes of mankind, are not done by the rules of art: But, said the Duchess, it is the art and method of our wits to despise all descriptions of wit, humour, actions and fortunes that are without such artificial rules. The Emperor asked, are those good plays that are made so methodically and artificially? The Duchess answered, they were good according to the judgment of the age, or mode of the nation, but not according to her judgment: for truly, said she, in my opinion, their plays will prove a nursery of whining lovers, and not an academy or school for wise, witty, noble and well-behaved men. But I, replied the Emperor, desire such a theatre as may make wise men; and will have such descriptions as are natural, not artificial. If your Majesty be of that opinion, said the Duchess’s soul, then my plays may be acted in your Blazing-World, when they cannot be acted in the Blinking-World of wit; and the next time I come to visit your Majesty, I shall endeavour to order your Majesty’s theatre, to present such plays as my wit is capable to make. Then the Empress told the Duchess, that she loved a foolish farce added to a wise play. The Duchess answered, that no world in nature had fitter creatures for it than the Blazing-World: for, said she, the Louse-men, the Bird-men, the Spider- and Fox-men, the Ape-men and Satyrs appear in a farce extraordinary pleasant.

Hereupon both the Emperor and Empress entreated the Duchess’s soul to stay so long with them, till she had ordered her theatre, and made plays and farces fit for them; for they only wanted that sort of recreation: but the Duchess’s soul begged their Majesties to give her leave to go into her native world; for she longed to be with her dear lord and husband, promising, that after a short time she would return again. Which being granted, though with much difficulty, she took her leave with all civility and respect, and so departed from their Majesties.

After the Duchess’s return into her own body, she entertained her lord (when he was pleased to hear such kind of discourses) with foreign relations; but he was never displeased to hear of the Empress’s kind commendations, and of the characters she was pleased to give of him to the Emperor. Amongst other relations, she told him all what had passed between the Empress, and the several monarchs of that world whither she went with the Empress; and how she had subdued them to pay tribute and homage to the monarch of that nation or kingdom to which she owed both her birth and education. She also related to her lord what magnificent stables and riding-houses the Emperor had built, and what fine horses were in the Blazing-World, of several shapes and sizes, and how exact their shapes were in each sort, and of many various colours, and fine marks, as if they had been painted by art, with such coats or skins, that they had a far greater gloss and smoothness than satin; and were there but a passage out of the Blazing-World into this, said she, you should not only have some of those horses, but such materials as the Emperor has, to build your stables and riding-houses withal; and so much gold, that I should never repine at your noble and generous gifts. The Duke smilingly answered her, that he was sorry there was no passage between those two worlds; but, said he, I have always found an obstruction to my good fortunes.