The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)

by Cavendish, Margaret

  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 only 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 country; where the bear-men through their telescopes discovered a great number of ships which had beset all that kingdom, well rigged and manned.

  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 beaks36 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 show; for it appeared 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 judgement, 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 enemy’s fleet into such a fright at night, and to such wonder in the morning, or at day time, that they knew not what to judge or make of them; for they knew neither what ships they were, nor what party they belonged to, insomuch that they had no power to stir.

  In the meanwhile, 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.

  Hereupon a council was called, and the business debated; but there were so many cross and different opinions, that they could not suddenly resolve what answer to send the Empress; at which she grew angry, insomuch that she resolved to return into her Blazing World, without giving any assistance to her countrymen: but the Duchess of Newcastle entreated Her Majesty to abate her passion; for, said she, great councils are most commonly slow, because many men have several opinions: besides, every councillor striving to be the wisest, makes long speeches, and raises many doubts, which cause retardments. If I had long speeched councillors, replied the Empress, I would hang them, by reason they give more words, than advice. The Duchess answered, that Her Majesty should not be angry, but consider the differences of that and her Blazing World; for, said she, they are not both alike; but there are grosser and duller understandings in this, than in the Blazing World.

  At last a messenger came out, who returned the Empress thanks for her kind proffer, but desired withal to know from whence she came, and how, and in what manner her assistance could be serviceable to them? The Empress answered, that she was not bound to tell them whence she came; but as for the manner of her assistance, I will appear, said she, to your navy in a splendorous light, surrounded with fire. The messenger asked at what time they should expect her coming? I’ll be with you, answered the Empress, about one of the clock at night. With this report the messenger returned; which made both the poor councillors and sea-men much afraid; but yet they longed for the time to behold this strange sight.

  The appointed hour being come, the Empress appeared with garments made of the star-stone, and was born or supported above the water, upon the fish-men’s heads and backs, so that she seemed to walk upon the face of the water, and the bird-and fish-men carried the fire-stone, lighted both in the air, and above the waters.

  Which sight, when her countrymen perceived at a distance, their hearts began to tremble; but coming something nearer, she left her torches, and appeared only in her garments of light, like an angel, or some deity, and all kneeled down before her, and worshipped her with all submission and reverence: but the Empress would not come nearer than at such a distance where her voice might be generally heard, by reason she would not have that of her accoutrements anything else should be perceived, but the splendour thereof; and when she was come so near that her voice could be heard and understood by all, she made this following speech:

  Dear Country-men, for so you are, although you know me not; I being a native of this kingdom, and hearing that most part of this world had resolved to make war against it, and sought to destroy it, at least to weaken its naval force and power; have made a voyage out of another world, to lend you my assistance against your enemies. I come not to make bargains with you, or to regard my own interest, more than your safety; but I intend to make you the most powerful nation of this world; and therefore I have chosen rather to quit my own tranquility, riches and pleasure, than suffer you to be ruined and destroyed. All the return I desire, is but your grateful acknowledgment, and to declare my power, love and loyalty to my native country; for although I am now a great and absolute princess and empress of a whole world, yet I acknowledge that once I was a subject of this kingdom, which is but a small part of this world; and therefore I will have you undoubtedly believe, that I shall destroy all your enemies before this following night, I mean those which trouble you by sea; and if you have any by land, assure your self I shall also give you my assistance against them, and make you triumph over all that seek your ruin and destruction.

  Upon this declaration of the Empress, when both the General, and all the commanders in their several ships had returned their humble and hearty thanks to Her Majesty for so great a favour to them, she took her leave and departed to her own ships. But, good Lord! what several opinions and judgements did this produce in the minds of her country-men; some said she was an angel; others, she was a sorceress; some believed her a goddess; others said the devil deluded them in the shape of a fine lady.

  The morning after, when the navies were to fight, the Empress appeared upon the face of the waters, dressed in her imperial robes, which were all of diamonds and carbuncles; in one hand she held a buckler, made of one entire carbuncle, and in the other hand a spear of one entire diamond; on her head she had a cap of diamonds, and just upon the top of the crown, was a star made of the star-stone, mentioned heretofore, and a half-moon made of the same stone, was placed on her forehead; all her other garments were of several sorts of precious jewels; and having given her fish-men directions how to destroy the enemies of her native country, she proceeded to effect her design. The fish-men were to carry the fire-stones in cases of diamonds (for the diamonds in the Blazing World are in splendour so far beyond the diamonds of this world, as pebble-stones are to the best sort of this world’s diamonds) and to uncase or uncover those fire-stones no sooner but when they were just under the enemy’s ships, or close at their sides, and then to wet them, and set their ships on fire; which was no sooner done, but all the enemy’s fleet was of a flaming fire; and coming to the place where the powder was, it straight blew them up; so that all the several navies of the enemies, were destroyed in a short time: which when her countrymen did see, they all cried out with one voice, that she was an angel sent from God to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies: neither would she return into th
e Blazing World, until she had forced all the rest of that world to submit to that same nation.

  In the meantime, the General of all their naval forces sent to their sovereign to acquaint him with their miraculous delivery and conquest, and with the Empress’s design of making him the most powerful monarch of all that world. After a short time, the Empress sent her self to the sovereign of that nation to know in what she could be serviceable to him; who returning her many thanks, both for her assistance against his enemies, and her kind proffer to do him further service for the good and benefit of his nations (for he was King over several kingdoms) sent her word, that although she did partly destroy his enemies by sea, yet they were so powerful, that they did hinder the trade and traffic of his dominions. To which the Empress returned this answer, that she would burn and sink all those ships that would not pay him tribute; and forthwith sent to all the neighbouring nations, who had any traffic by sea, desiring them to pay tribute to the King and sovereign of that nation where she was born; but they denied it with great scorn. Whereupon she immediately commanded her fish-men to destroy all strangers’ ships that trafficked on the seas; which they did according to the Empress’s command; and when the neighbouring nations and kingdoms perceived her power, they were so discomposed in their affairs and designs, that they knew not what to do: at last they sent to the Empress, and desired to treat with her, but could get no other conditions than to submit and pay tribute to the said King and sovereign of her native country, otherwise, she was resolved to ruin all their trade and traffic by burning their ships. Long was this treat, but in fine, they could obtain nothing, so that at last they were forced to submit; by which the King of the mentioned nations became absolute master of the seas, and consequently of that world; by reason, as I mentioned heretofore, the several nations of that world could not well live without traffic and commerce, by sea, as well as by land.

  But after a short time, those neighbouring nations finding themselves so much enslaved, that they were hardly able to peep out of their own dominions without a chargeable tribute, they all agreed to join their forces against the King and sovereign of the said dominions; which when the Empress received notice of, she sent out her fish-men to destroy, as they had done before, the remainder of all their naval power, by which they were soon forced again to submit, except some nations which could live without foreign traffic, and some whose trade and traffic was merely by land; these would no ways be tributary to the mentioned King. The Empress sent them word, that in case they did not submit to him, she intended to fire all their towns and cities, and reduce them by force, to what they would not yield with a good will. But they rejected and scorned Her Majesty’s message, which provoked her anger so much, that she resolved to send her bird- and worm-men thither, with order to begin first with their smaller towns, and set them on fire (for she was loath to make more spoil than she was forced to do) and if they remained still obstinate in their resolutions, to destroy also their greater cities. The only difficulty was, how to convey the worm-men conveniently to those places; but they desired that her Majesty would but set them upon any part of the earth of those nations, and they could travel within the earth as easily, and as nimbly as men upon the face of the earth; which the Empress did according to their desire.

  But before both the bird- and worm-men began their journey, the Empress commanded the bear-men to view through their telescopes what towns and cities those were that would not submit; and having a full information thereof, she instructed the bird- and bear-men what towns they should begin withal; in the meanwhile she sent to all the princes and sovereigns of those nations, to let them know that she would give them a proof of her power, and check their obstinacies by burning some of their smaller towns; and if they continued still in their obstinate resolutions, that she would convert their smaller loss into a total ruin. She also commanded her bird-men to make their flight at night, lest they be perceived. At last when both the bird- and worm-men came to the designed places, the worm-men laid some fire-stones under the foundation of every house, and the bird-men placed some at the tops of them, so that both by rain, and by some other moisture within the earth, the stones could not fail of burning. The bird-men in the meantime having learned some few words of their language, told them, that the next time it did rain, their towns would be all on fire; at which they were amazed to hear men speak in the air; but withal they laughed when they heard them say that rain should fire their towns, knowing that the effect of water was to quench, not produce fire.

  At last a rain came, and upon a sudden all their houses appeared of a flaming fire, and the more water there was poured on them, the more they did flame and burn; which struck such a fright and terror into all the neighbouring cities, nations and kingdoms, that for fear the like should happen to them, they and all the rest of the parts of that world granted the Empress’s desire, and submitted to the monarch and sovereign of her native country, the King of ESFI; save one, which having seldom or never any rain, but only dews, which would soon be spent in a great fire, slighted her power: the Empress being desirous to make it stoop, as well as the rest, knew that every year it was watered by a flowing tide, which lasted some weeks; and although their houses stood high from the ground, yet they were built upon supporters which were fixed into the ground. Wherefore she commanded both her bird- and worm-men to lay some of the fire-stones at the bottom of those supporters, and when the title came in, all their houses were of a fire, which did so rarefy the water, that the title was soon turned into vapour, and this vapour again into air; which caused not only a destruction of their houses, but also a general barrenness over all their country that year, and forced them to submit as well as the rest of the world had done.

  Thus the Empress did not only save her native country, but made it the absolute monarchy of all that world; and both the effects of her power and her beauty did kindle a great desire in all the greatest princes to see her; who hearing that she was resolved to return into her own Blazing World, they all entreated the favour, that they might wait on Her Majesty before she went. The Empress sent word, that she should be glad to grant their requests; but having no other place of reception for them, she desired that they should be pleased to come into the open seas with their ships, and make a circle of a pretty large compass, and then her own ships should meet them, and close up the circle, and she would present her self to the view of all those that came to see her: which answer was joyfully received by all the mentioned princes, who came, some sooner, and some later, each according to the distance of his country, and the length of the voyage. And being all met in the form and manner aforesaid, the Empress appeared upon the face of the water in her imperial robes; in some part of her hair she had placed some of the star-stone, near her face, which added such a lustre and glory to it, that it caused a great admiration in all that were present, who believed her to be some celestial creature, or rather an uncreated goddess, and they all had a desire to worship her; for surely, said they, no mortal creature can have such a splendid and transcendent beauty, nor can any have so great a power as she has, to walk upon the waters, and to destroy whatever she pleases, not only whole nations, but a whole world.

  The Empress expressed to her own countrymen, who were also her interpreters to the rest of the princes that were present, that she would give them an entertainment at the darkest time of night; which being come, the fire-stones were lighted, which made both air and seas appear of a bright shining flame, insomuch that they put all spectators into an extreme fright, who verily believed, they should all be destroyed; which the Empress perceiving, caused all the lights of the fire-stones to be put out, and only showed herself in her garments of light: the bird-men carried her upon their backs into the air, and there she appeared as glorious as the sun. Then she was set down upon the seas again, and presently there was heard the most melodious and sweetest consort of voices, as ever was heard out of the seas, which was made by the fish-men; this consort was answered by another, made by the bird-men in th
e air, so that it seemed as if sea and air had spoke and answered each other by way of singing dialogues, or after the manner of those plays that are acted by singing voices.

  But when it was upon break of day, the Empress ended her entertainment, and at full daylight all the princes perceived that she went into the ship wherein the prince and monarch of her native country was, the King of ESFI with whom she had several conferences; and having assured him of the readiness of her assistance whensoever he required it, telling him withal, that she wanted no intelligence, she went forth again upon the waters, and being in the midst of the circle made by those ships that were present, she desired them to draw somewhat nearer, that they might hear her speak; which being done, she declared her self in this following manner:

  Great, heroic, and famous monarchs: I came hither to assist the King of ESFI against his enemies, he being unjustly assaulted by many several nations, which would Jain take away his hereditary rights and prerogatives of the narrow seas; at which unjustice Heaven was much displeased; and for the injuries he received from his enemies, rewarded him with an absolute power, so that now he is become the head-monarch of all this world; which power, though you may envy, yet you can no ways hinder him; for all those that endeavour to resist his power, shall only get loss for their labour, and no victory for their profit. Wherefore my advice to you all is, to pay him tribute justly and truly, that you may live peaceably and happily, and be rewarded with the blessings of Heaven, which I wish you from my soul.