A discovery of new worlds from the French, made English by A. Behn.

THE First Night.

WE went one Evening af∣ter Supper to walk in the Park, the Air was cool and refreshing, which made us sufficient amends for the exces∣sive heat of the Day, and of which I find I shall be obliged to make you a Description, which I cannot well avoid, the fineness of it lead∣ing me so necessarily to it.

The Moon was about an hour high, which shining through the Boughs of the Trees, made a most agreeable Mixture, and checker'd the Paths beneath with a most re∣splendent white upon the green, which appeared to be black by that

Light; there was no Cloud to be seen that could hide from us, or ob∣scure the smallest of the Stars, which lookt all like pure polisht Gold, whose Luster was extreamly heigh∣tened by the deep Azure Field on which they were placed: These pleasant Objects set me a thinking, and had it not been for Madam la Marquiese, I might have continued longer in that silent Contemplati∣on; but the Presence of a Person of her Wit and Beauty hindered me from giving up my Thoughts intirely to the Moon and Stars. Do not you believe, Madam, said I, that the clearness of this Night exceeds the Glory of the brightest day? I confess, said she, the Day must yield to such a Night; the day which resembles a fair Beauty, which though more sparkling, is not so charming as one of a brown Complexion, who is a true Em∣blem of the Night. You are very generous, Madam, said I, to give the advantage to the brown, you who

are so admirably fair your self: Yet without dispute, day is the most beautiful thing in Nature; and most of the Heroines in Roman∣ces, which are modelled after the most perfect Idea fancy can repre∣sent by the most ingenious of man∣kind, are generally described to be fair. But, said she, Beauty is insi∣pid, if it want the pleasure and pow∣er of charming; and you must ac∣knowledge that the brightest day that ever you saw could never have engaged you in so agreeable an Ec∣stasie, as you were just now like to have faln into by the powerful at∣tractions of this Night.

I agree to what you say, Madam, said I, but I must own at the same time, that a Beauty of your com∣plexion would give me another sort of transport than the finest Night with all the advantages ob∣scurity can give it.

Though that were true, said she, I should not be satisfied; since those fair Beauties that so resemble the

day, produce not those soft Effects of the other. How comes it, that Lovers who are the best Judges of what is pleasing and touching, do always address themselves to the Night, in all their Songs and Ele∣gies? I told her, that they most certainly paid their acknowledg∣ments to the Night; for she was ever most favourable to all their Designs. But, Sir, replied the Mar∣quiese, she receives also all their Complaints, as a true Confident of all their Entrigues; from whence proceeds that? The silence and gloom of the Night, said I, inspires the restless Sigher with thoughts very passionate and languishing, which the busier day diverts a thousand little ways (though one would think the Night should charm all things to repose) and though the day affords Solitudes, dark Recesses, Groves and Grottoes, equally obscure and silent as the Night it self; yet we fansy that the Stars move with a more silent mo∣tion

than the Sun, and that all the Objects which the Heavens repre∣sent to our view, are softer, and stay our sight more easily; and flatte∣ring our selves that we are the only Persons at that time awake, we are vain enough to give a loose to a thousand thoughts extravagant and easing. Besides, the Scene of the Universe by day-light appears too Uniform, we beholding but one Great Luminary in an Arched Vault of Azure, of a Vast Extent, while all the Stars appear confusedly dis∣persed, and disposed as it were by chance in a thousand different Fi∣gures, which assists our roving Fan∣cies to fall agreeably into silent thoughts. Sir, replied Madam la Marqueise, I have always felt those effects of Night you tell me of, I love the Stars, and could be hearti∣ly angry with the Sun for taking them from my sight. Ah, cry'd I, I cannot forgive his taking from me the sight of all those Worlds that are there. Worlds, said she,

what Worlds? And looking earnest∣ly upon me, asked me again, what I meant? I ask your Pardon, Ma∣dam, said I, I was insensibly led to this fond discovery of my weak∣ness. What weakness, said she, more earnestly than before? Alass, said I, I am sorry that I must con∣fess I have imagined to my self, that every Star may perchance be ano∣ther World, yet I would not swear that it is so; but I will believe it to be true, because that Opinion is so pleasant to me, and gives me very diverting Idea's, which have fixed themselves delightfully in my Ima∣ginations, and 'tis necessary that e∣ven solid Truth should have its a∣greeableness. Well, said she, since your Folly is so pleasing to you, give me a share of it; I will be∣lieve whatever you please concern∣ing the Stars, if I find it pleasant. Ah, Madam, said I, hastily, it is not such a Pleasure as you find in one of Mullier's Plays; it is a Pleasure that is—I know not where, in

our Reason, and which only trans∣ports the Mind. What, replied she, do you think me then incapable of all those Pleasures which entertain our Reason, and only treat the Mind? I will instantly shew you the contrary, at least as soon as you have told me what you know of your Stars. Ah, Madam, cry'd I, I shall never indure to be reproach'd with that neglect of my own hap∣piness, that in a Grove at ten a Clock of the Night, I talk'd of nothing but Philosophy, to the greatest Beauty in the World; no, Madam, search for Philosophy some where else.

But 'twas in vain to put her off by Excuses, from a Novelty she was already but too much prepossest with: There was a necessity of yielding, and all I could do was to prevail with her to be secret, for the saving my Honour; but when I found my self engaged past retreat, and had a design to speak, I knew not where to begin my discourse,

for to prove to her (who under∣stood nothing of Natural Philoso∣phy) that the Earth was a Planet, and all the other Planets so many Earths, and all the Stars Worlds, it was necessary for the explaining my self, to bring my Arguments a great way off; and therefore I still endeavoured to perswade her that 'twas much better to pass the time in another manner of Conversati∣on, which the most reasonable Peo∣ple in our Circumstances would do; but I pleaded to no Purpose, and at last to satisfie her, and give her a general Idea of Philosophy, I made use of this way of argu∣ing.

All Philosophy is grounded on two Principles, that of a passionate thirst of knowledge of the Mind, and the weakness of the Organs of the Body; for if the Eye-sight were in perfection, you could as easi∣ly discern there were Worlds in the Stars, as that there are Stars: On the other hand, if you were less curi∣ous

and desirous of knowledge, you would be indifferent, whether it were so or not, which indeed comes all to the same purpose; but we would gladly know more than we see, and there's the difficulty: for if we could see well and truly what we see, we should know e∣nough; but we see most Objects quite otherwise than they are; so that the true Philosophers spend their time in not believing what they see, and in endeavouring to guess at the knowledge of what they see not; and in my Opinion this kind of life is not much to be envied; but I fansy still to my self that Nature is a great Scene, or Re∣presentation, much like one of our Opera's; for, from the place where you sit to behold the Opera, you do not see the Stage, as really it is, Since every thing is disposed there for the representing agreeable Ob∣jects to your sight, from a large di∣stance, while the wheels & weights, which move and counterpoise the

Machines are all concealed from our view; nor do we trouble our selves so much to find out how all those Motions that we see there, are performed; and it may be among so vast a number of Spectators, there is not above one Enginier in the whole Pit, that troubles himself with the consideration how those flights are managed that seem so new and so extraordinary to him, and who resolves at any rate to find out the contrivance of them; You cannot but guess, Madam, that this Enginier is not unlike a Philosopher; but that which makes the difficulty incomparably greater to Philoso∣phers, is, that the Ropes, Pullies, Wheels and Weights, which give motion to the different Scenes re∣presented to us by Nature, are so well hid both from our sight and understanding, that it was a long time before mankind could so much as guess at the Causes that moved the vast Frame of the Universe.

Pray, Madam, imagine to your

self, the Ancient Philosophers be∣holding one of our Opera's, such an one as Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, and many more, whose Names and Reputations make so great a noise in the World; and suppose they were to behold the flying of Pha∣eton, who is carried aloft by the Winds, and that they could not discern the Ropes and Pullies, but were altogether ignorant of the contrivance of the Machine behind the Scenes, one of them would be apt to say — It is a certain Se∣cret Virtue that carries up Phae∣ton. Another, That Phaeton is composed of certain Numbers, which make him mount upwards. The third—That Phaeton has a certain kindness for the highest Part of the Theatre, and is uneasie when he is not there. And a fourth—That Pha∣eton was not made for flying, but that he had rather fly, than leave the upper part of the Stage void: Besides a hundred other Notions, which I wonder have not intirely

ruined the Reputation of the An∣cients. In our Age Des Cartes, and some other Moderns would say— That Phaetons's flight upward is be∣cause he is hoisted by Ropes, and that while he ascends, a greater weight than he descends.

And now men do not believe that any corporeal being moves it self, unless it be set on Motion, or pusht by another Body, or drawn by Ropes; nor that any heavy thing ascends or descends, without a counter-poise equal with it in weight to balance it; or that 'tis guided by Springs. And could we see Nature as it is, we should see nothing but the hinder part of the Theatre at the Opera. By what you say, said Madam la Marquiese, Philosophy is become very Mecha∣nical. So very Mechanical, said I, that I am afraid men will quickly be ashamed of it; for some would have the Universe no other thing in Greeat, than a Watch is in Little; and that all things in it are order∣ed

by Regular Motion, which de∣pends upon the just and equal dis∣posal of its Parts; Confess the Truth, Madam, have not you had heretofore a more sublime Idea of the Universe, and have not you honoured it with a better Opini∣on than it deserved? I have known several esteem it less since they be∣lieved they knew it better; and for my part, said she, I esteem it more since I knew it is so like a Watch: And 'tis most surprising to me, that the course and order of Nature, how ever admirable it ap∣pears to be, moves upon Princi∣ples and Things that are so very easie and simple. I know not, re∣plied I, who has given you so just Idea's of it, but 'tis not ordinary to have such; most People retain in their minds some false Principle or other of Admiration, wraped up in obscurity, which they adore: They admire Nature, only because they look on it as a kind of Mira∣cle, which they do not understand;

and 'tis certain that those sort of People never despise any thing, but from the moment they begin to understand it: But, Madam, I find you so well disposed to comprehend all I have to say to you, that with∣out further Preface, I need only draw the Curtain, and shew you the World.

From the Earth where we are, that which we see at the greatest distance from us, is that Azure Hea∣ven, or that vast Vault, where the Stars are placed as so many Golden Nails, which are called fixt, be∣cause they seem to have no other motion, but that of their proper Sphere, which carries them along with it, from East to West; between the Earth and the last, or lowest Heaven▪ are hung at different heights, the Sun, the Moon, and five other Stars, which are called Planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Iu∣piter, and Saturn. These Planets not being fixt to any one Sphere, and having unequal Motions, they

are in different Aspects, one to an∣other, and according as they are in conjunction, or at distance, they make different Figures; whereas the fixt Stars are always in the same Position, one towards ano∣ther: As for Example, Charles's-Wain, or the Constellation of the Great Bear, which you see, and which consists of Seven Stars, has always been, and will still continue the same; but the Moon is some∣times near the Sun, and sometimes at a great distance from it, and so through all the rest of the Planets: It was in this manner that the Ce∣lestial Bodies appeared to the Anci∣ent Chaldean Shepherds, whose great leisure produced these first Observations, which have since been so well improved; and upon which all Astronomy is founded: For A∣stronomy had its beginning in Chal∣dea, as Geometry, was invented in Egypt, where the inundations of the River Nile, having confounded and removed the Limits and the

Land-marks of the several Possessi∣ons of the Inhabitants, did prompt them to find out sure and exact Measures, by which every one might know his own Field from that of his Neighbours: So that Astronomy is the Daughter of I∣dleness, Geometry is the Child of Interest; and should we inquire in∣to the Original of Poetry, we should in all appearance find, that it owes its beginning to Love.

I am extreamly glad, said the Marquiese, that I have learned the Genealogy of the Sciences, and I find that I must content my self with Astronomy, Geometry, ac∣cording to what you have said, re∣quiring a Soul more interested in worldly Concerns, than I am, and for Poetry, 'tis most proper for those of a more Amorous Inclina∣tion; but I have all the leisure and time to spare that Astronomy requires: Besides that I live now happily retired in the Fields and Groves, and lead a sort of Pastoral

Life, so very agreeable to Astronomy. Do not deceive your self, Madam, said I; 'tis not a true Pastoral Life, to talk of Pla∣nets and fix'd Stars: Be pleased to consi∣der, that the Shepherds in the Story of Astroea did not pass their time in that kind of divertisement; they had business of a softer, and more agreeable Nature. Oh, said she, the Life of the Pastorals of Astraea is too dangerous: I like that of the Chal∣dean Shepherds better, of whom you spoke but now: Go on with them, for I will hear nothing from you, but Chal∣dean: So soon as that Order, and these Motions of the Heavens were discovered, what was the next thing to be conside∣red? The next thing, said I, was, to guess how the several parts of the Universe were to be disposed and ranged in order; and that is what the Learned call, The ma∣king a System: But before, Madam, I ex∣plain to you the first System, be pleased to observe, that we are all naturally made like a certain Athenian Fool, of whom you have heard; who fansied that all the Ships that came into the Port of Piraa, belonged to him; for we are so vain as to believe, that all this vast Frame of Na∣ture

was destined to our use: For if a Philosopher be asked, for what all this prodigious number of fixed Stars serve (since a very few would supply the busi∣ness of the whole) he will tell you gravely, that they were made to please our sight. Upon this Principle, at first, Man believed, that the Earth was immo∣veably fixed in the Centre of the Uni∣verse, whilst all the Celestial Bodies (made only for her) were at the pains of turn∣ing continually round, to give Light to the Earth: And that it was therefore above the Earth, they placed the Moon; above the Moon, Mercury; then Venus, the Sun, Mars, Iupiter, Saturn; and above all, the Sphere of the fixed Stars: The Earth, according to this Opinion, was just in the middle of the several Cir∣cles, described by the Planets; and the greater these Circles were, the further they were distant from the Earth; and by consequence, they took a longer time in compleating their round; which is certainly true. I know not, said the Mar∣quiese, why you should not approve of this Order of the Universe, which seems to be so clear and intelligible; for my

part, I am extreamly pleased and satisfied with it. Madam, said I, without Vani∣ty, I have very much softned and explai∣ned this System: Should I expose it to you such as it was first invented by its Author Ptolemy, or by those that have followed his Principles, it would frighten you: The motion of the Planets being irregular, they move sometimes fast, sometimes slow; sometimes towards one side, sometimes to another; at one time near the Earth, at another far from it. The Ancients did imagine I know not how many Circles, differently interwo∣ven one with another; by which they fansy'd to themselves, they understood all the irregular Phaenomena's, or Appea∣rances in Nature. And the Confusion of these Circles was so great, that at that time, when men knew no better, a King of Arragon, a great Mathematician (not o∣ver devout) said, That if God had call'd him to his Council when he form'd the Vniverse, he could have given him good Advice. The thought was impious, yet 'tis odd to re∣flect, that the confusion of Ptolemy's Sy∣stem gave an occasion for the sin of that King: The good Advice he would have

given, was, no doubt, for surpassing these different Circles, which had so em∣barrass'd the Celestial Motions; and, it may be also, with regard to the two or three superfluous Spheres, which they had plac'd above the fixed Stars. The Philosophers, to explain one kind of mo∣tion of the heavenly Bodies, did fansie a Sphere of Christal above that Heaven which we see, which set the inferior Hea∣ven on motion; and if any one made a new discovery of any other Motion, they immediately made a new Sphere of Chri∣stal: in short, these Christalline Heavens cost them nothing. But why Spheres of Christal, said Madam la Marquiese? Would no other Substance serve? No, said I, Madam; for there was a necessity of their being transparent, that the Light might penetrate; as it was requisite for them to be solid Beams. Aristotle had found out, that Solidity was inherent in the Excellency of their Nature; and be∣cause he said it, no body would adventure to question the truth of it. But there have appear'd Comets, which we know to have been vastly higher from the Earth, than was believed by the Ancients: These,

in their course, wou'd have broke all those Christal Spheres; and indeed, must have ruined the Universe: So that there was an absolute necessity to believe the Heavens to be made of a fluid substance; at least, 'tis not to be doubted, from the observation of this, and the last Age, that Venus and Mercury move round the Sun, and not round the Earth. So that the an∣cient System is not to be defended, as to this particular: But I will propose one to you, which solves all Objections, and which will put the King of Arragon out of a condition of advising; and which is so surprisingly simple and easie, that that good quality alone ought to make it pre∣ferrable to all others. Methinks, said Madam la Marquiese, that your Philoso∣phy is a kind of Sale▪ or Farm, where those that offer to do the Affair at the smallest Expence, are preferr'd. 'Tis ve∣ry true, said I; and 'tis only by that, that we are able to guess at the Scheme, upon which Nature hath fram'd her Work: She is very saving, and will take the shor∣test and cheapest way: Yet notwithstan∣ding, this Frugality is accompany'd with a most surprising Magnificence,

which shines in all she has done; but the Magnificence is in the Design, and the Oeconomy in the Execution: And in∣deed, there is nothing finer than a great Design, carried on with a little Expence. But we are very apt to overturn all these Operations of Nature, by contrary Idea's: We put Oeconomy in the Design, and Magnificence in the Execution: We give her a little Design, which we make her perform with ten times a greater Charge than is needful. I shall be very glad, said she, that this System, you are to speak of, will imitate Nature so exactly; for this good Husbandry will turn to the ad∣vantage of my Understanding, since by it I shall have less trouble to comprehend what you have to say. There is in this System no more unnecessary difficulties.

Know then, that a certain German, na∣med Copernicus, does at one blow cut off all these different Circles, and Christalline Spheres, invented by the Ancients; de∣stroying the one, and breaks the other in pieces; and being inspir'd with a Noble Astronomical Fury, takes the Earth, and hangs it at a vast distance from the Cen∣tre of the World, and sets the Sun in its

place, to whom that Honour does more properly belong; the Planets do no lon∣ger turn round the Earth, nor do they any longer contain it in the Circle they describe; and if they enlighten us, it is by chance, and because they find us in their way: All things now turn round the Sun; among which, the Globe it self, to punish it for the long Rest, so falsly at∣tributed to it before; and Copernicus has loaded the Earth with all those Motions, formerly attributed to the other Planets; having left this little Globe none of all the Celestial Train, save only the Moon, whose natural Course it is, to turn round the Earth. Soft and fair, said Madam la Marquiese; you are in so great a Ra∣pture, and express your self with so much Pomp and Eloquence, I hardly under∣stand what you mean: You place the Sun unmoveable in the Centre of the Uni∣verse; Pray, what follows next? Mer∣cury, said I, who turns round the Sun; so that the Sun is in the Centre of the Circle he describes: And above Mercury, Venus; who turns also round the Sun: Next comes the Earth; which being more elivated than Mercury, or Venus,

describes a Circle of a greater Circumfe∣rence that those two Planets: Last, come Mars, Iupiter and Saturn, in their order, as I have nam'd 'em: So that you see ea∣sily, that Saturn ought to make the grea∣test Circle round the Sun; it is therefore that Saturn takes more time to make his Revolution, than any other Planet. Ah, but, said the Marquiese, interrupting me, you forget the Moon. Do not fear, said I, Madam; I shall soon find her again. The Moon turns round the Earth, and never leaves it; and as the Earth moves in the Circle it describes round the Sun, the Moon follows the Earth in turning round it; and if the Moon do move round the Sun, it is only because she will not aban∣don the Earth. I understand you, said she: I love the Moon for staying with us, when all the other Planets have left us; and you must confess, that your Ger∣man Copernicus would have taken her from us too, had it been in his power; for I perceive by his procedure, he had no great kindness for the Earth. I am extreamly pleas'd with him, said I, for having humbled the Vanity of mankind, who had usurp'd the first and best Situa∣tion

in the Universe; and I am glad to see the Earth under the same Circumstan∣ces with the other Planets. That's very fine, said the Marquiese: Do you believe that the Vanity of Man places it self in Astronomy; or that I am any way hum∣bled, because you tell me the Earth turns round the Sun? I'll swear, I do not esteem my self one whit the less. Good Lord, Madam, said I, Do you think I can ima∣gine you can be as zealous for a Prece∣dency in the Universe, as you would be for that in a Chamber? No, Madam; the Rank of Place between two Planets will never make such a bustle in the World, as that of two Ambassadors: Neverthe∣less, the same inclination that makes us endeavour to have the first place in a Ce∣remony, prevails with a Philosopher in composing his System, to place himself in the Centre of the World, if he can: He is proud to fansie all things made for himself; and without reflexion, flatters his Senses with this Opinion, which con∣sists purely in Speculation. Oh, said the Marquiese, this is a Calumny of your own invention against mankind, which ought never to have received Copernicus

his Opinion, since so easie, and so hum∣ble. Copernicus, said I, Madam, himself was the most diffident of his own System; so that it was a long time before he would venture to publish it, and at last resolv'd to do it at the earnest intreaty of People of the first Quality. But do you know what he did, the Day they brought him the first printed Copy of his Book? That he might not be troubled to answer all the Objections and Contradictions he was sure to meet with, he wisely left the World, and died. Hold, said the Mar∣quiese, we ought to do Justice to all the World; and 'tis most certain, 'tis very hard to believe we turn round, since we do not change places, and that we find our selves in the Morning, where we lay down the Night before. I see very well by your Looks, what 'tis you are going to say; That since the Earth moves all together — Most certainly, said I: 'Tis the same thing as if you were asleep in a Boat, sailing on a River, you would find your self in the same place in the Morning, and in the same Situation as to the several parts of the Boat. True, said she, but with this difference; I shou'd

at my waking, find another Shoar; and that would convince me, my Boat had chang'd its Situation: But 'tis not the same with the Earth; for there I find every thing as I left it the Night before. Not at all, Madam, said I; the Earth changes the Shoar, as well as your Boat. You know, Madam, that above and be∣yond all the Circles, described by the Planets, is the Sphere of the fixed Stars; that's our Shoar: I am on the Earth, which makes a great Circle round the Sun; I look towards the Centre of this Circle, there I see the Sun; if the bright∣ness of his Rays did not remove the Stars from my sight, by looking in a streight Line, I shoud easily perceive the Sun cor∣responding to some fixed Star beyond him; but in the Night-time, I see clearly the Stars, to which the Sun did answer, or was opposite to, the Day before; which is, indeed, the same thing. If the Earth were immoveable, and did not alter its Situation in its own Circle, I shou'd al∣ways see the Sun opposite to the same fixed Stars; but I see the Sun in different Opposition to the Stars, every Day of the Year: It most necessarily follows then,

the Circle changes its Situation, that is, the Shoar, round which we go daily: And as the Earth performs its Revolution in a Year, I see the Sun, in that space of time, answer in direct Opposition to a whole Circle of fixed Stars; this Circle is called the Zodiack: Will you please, Ma∣dam, that I trace the Figure of it on the Sand? By no means, said she; I can sa∣tisfie my self, without that Demonstra∣tion: Besides that, it would give a cer∣tain Mathematical Air to my Park, which I do not like. Have not I heard of a certain Philosopher, who being ship∣wreck'd, and cast upon an unknown Island; who seeing some Mathematical Propositions drawn on the Sea-sands, cal∣led to one of those with him, and cry'd, Courage, my Friend, here are the Foot-steps of Men; this Country is inhabited? You know, it is not decent in me to make such Foot-steps, nor must they be seen in this place. 'Tis fit, continued I, Madam, that nothing be seen here, but Steps of Lovers; that is to say, your Name and Cypher engraven on the Bark of Trees by the hand of your Adorers. Pray, Sir, said she, let Adorers alone, and

let us speak of the Sun. I understand very well, how we imagine he describes that Circle, which, indeed, we our selves describe; but this requires a whole Year's time, when one wou'd think the Sun passes over our heads every day: How comes that to pass? Have you not ob∣serv'd, said I, that a Bowl thrown on the Earth, has two different Motions; it runs toward the Jack, to which it is thrown; and at the same time it turns over and over several times, before it comes that Length; so that you will see the Mark that is on the Bowl, sometimes above, and sometimes below: 'Tis just so with the Earth; in the time it advances on the Circle it makes round the Sun, in its yearly Course, it turns over once eve∣ry four and twenty Hours, upon its own Axis; so that in that space of time, which is one natural Day, every point of the Earth (which is not near the South or North-Poles) loses and recovers the sight of the Sun: And as we turn towards the Sun, we imagine the Sun is rising upon us; so when we turn from it, we believe she is setting. This is very pleasant, said the Marquiese: You make the Circle to

do all, and the Sun to stand idle; and when we see the Moon, Planets and fixed Stars turn round us in four and twenty Hours, all is but bare Imagination. No∣thing else, said I, but pure Fancy, which proceeds from the same Cause; only the Planets make their Circle round the Sun, not in the same space of time, but accor∣ding to their unequal distance from it; and that Planet which we see to day, look to a certain Point of the Zodiack, or Sphere of fixed Stars, we shall see it answer to every other Point to Morrow; y as well because that Planet moves on its Course, as that we proceed in ours: We move, and so do the other Planets: By this means we vary both Situation and Opposition, as to them, and we think we discover Ir∣regularities in their Revolutions, which I will not now trouble you with; 'tis suffi∣cient for you to know, that any thing that may appear to us to be irregular, in the Course of the Planets, is occasion'd by our own Motion meeting theirs in such different manners; but upon the whole the Course of the Planets, is most regular. I agree with all my heart, said the Marquiese; yet I wish with all my

heart, that that Regularity were not so laborious to the Earth: I fansie Coperni∣cus has not been very careful of its Con∣cerns, in making so weighty and solid a Mass run about so nimbly. But, Madam, said I, wou'd you rather, that the Sun, and the Stars (which are generally far greater Bodies) shou'd make a vast Cir∣cumference round the Earth in a Day, and run an infinite number of Leagues in twenty four Hours time? Which they must of necessity do, if the Earth have not that Diurnal Motion on its own Axis. Oh! answered she, the Sun and Stars are all Fire, swiftness of Motion is easie to them; but for the Earth, that does not seem to be very portable. And wou'd you believe it, said I, Madam, if you had never seen the Experiment, that a First-Rate Ship, of a hundred and twenty Guns, with fifteen hundred Men, and proportionable Provision, with all her Ammunition and Tackle a-board, were a very portable thing? Notwithstanding, a gentle Breeze will move this Ship on the Sea, because the Water is liquid, and yielding easily, makes no resistance to the motion of the Vessel: So the Earth,

notwithstanding of as vast bulk and weight, is easily mov'd in the Celestial Matter, which is a thousand times more fluid than the Water of the Sea; and which fills all that vast Extent, where the Planets swim, as it were: And to what wou'd you fix or grapple the Earth, to hinder it from being carry'd along with the Current of this Celestial Matter or Substance? It wou'd be just as if a little wooden Ball shou'd not follow the Cur∣rent of a rapid River.

But, said she, how does the Earth sup∣port its vast weight, on your Heavenly Substance, which ought to be very light, since it is so fluid? That does not fol∣low, answered I, Madam, that a thing must be light, because it is fluid: What say you to the First-Rate Ship, I spoke of, with all its Lading? Yet 'tis lighter than the Water, because it swims upon it. As long as you command your First-Rate Frigat, said she, angrily, I will not argue with you; but can you assure me, that I am in no danger, by inhabiting such a little Humming-Top, as you have made the World to be? Well, Madam, said I, the Earth shall be supported by four Ele∣phants,

as the Indians fansie it is. Here's a new System indeed, cry'd Madam la Mar∣quiese; yet I love those Men, for provi∣ding for their own security, by resting upon a solid Foundation; whereas we that follow Copernicus, are so inconside∣rate, as to swim at a venture upon your Celestial Matter: And I dare say, if these Indians thought the Earth in any danger of falling, they wou'd quickly double the number of their Elephants. They wou'd have all the reason in the World to do so, said I, Madam; (laughing at her fancy;) and wou'd not spare Elephants to sleep in quiet, without fear of falling: And, Madam, we will add as many as you please to our System for this Night, and take them away by degrees, as you get more Assurance. Really, said she, I do not think they are needful at present; for I feel I have Courage sufficient to turn round. You must go a step further, said I, and you shall turn round with delight; upon this System you will form to your self very pleasant and agreeable Idea's: As for Example; Sometimes I fansie I am hanging in the Air, and that I stay there without moving, while the Earth turns

round under me in four and twenty Hours time, and that I see beneath me all those different Faces; some white, some black, some tawny, others of an Olive-colour; first I see Hats, then Turbants, there Hands cover'd with Wool, there shav'd Heads; sometimes Towns with Steeples, some with their long small-poin∣ted Pyramids, and Half-moons on their tops; sometimes Towns with Porce∣lane Towers; after them, spacious Fields, without Towns, only Tents and Huts; here vast Seas, frightful Desarts; in short, all the Variety that is to be seen upon the Face of the Earth. Indeed, said she, such a sight wou'd be very well worth twenty four Hours of ones Time: So that by this System, through the same place where we now are (I do not mean this Park, but that space of Air which our Bodies fill) seve∣ral other Nations must successively pass, and we return hither, in twenty four hours, to our own place again.

Copernicus himself, said I, Madam, did not understand it better. At first will be here the English, discoursing, it may be, upon some politick Design, with more Gravity, but less Pleasure, than we talk

of our Philosophy: Next will come a vast Ocean, in which there will be sailing some Ships, perhaps not so much at their Ease as we are: Then will appear the Ca∣nibals, eating some Prisoners of War alive, they seeming very unconcern'd at what they suffer: After them, the Women of the Country of Iesso, who spend all their time in preparing their Husbands Meals, and in painting their Lips and Eye-brows with Blew, to please the ugliest Fellows in the World: Next will succeed the Tar∣tars, who go, with great Devotion, on Pilgrimage to that great Priest, who ne∣ver comes out of an obscure place, where he has no other Light but Lamps, by which they adore him: After them, the beautiful Circassian Women, who make no difficulty of granting any Favour to the first Comer, except what they essen∣tial know does belong to their Husbands: Then the Crim, or Little Tartars, who live by stealing of Wives for the Turks and Persians: And at last, our selves again, perhaps talking as we do now.

I am mightily taken, said the Marquiese, with the Fancy of what you say; but if I cou'd see all these things from above, I

wou'd wish to have the power to hasten and stop the Motion of the Earth, accor∣ding as I lik'd or dis-lik'd the several Ob∣jects that pass under me; I wou'd make the Polititians, and those that eat their Enemies, to move very fast: But there are others that I shou'd be very curious to observe; and particularly, the fine Cer∣cassian Women, who have one so peculiar a Custom. That is, said I, their Husbands, who finding so many Charms in their Embraces, as more than satisfie them, do freely abandon their fair Wives to Stran∣gers. The Women of our Country, said the Marquiese, must be very ugly, if com∣par'd to the Circassians; for our Husbands will part with nothing. That is the rea∣son, said I, that the more is taken from 'em; whereas — No more of these Fooleries, said the Marquiese, interrupting me; there's a serious Difficulty come in∣to my head: If the Earth turn round, then we change Air every Moment, and must breath still that of another Coun∣try. By no means, Madam, said I; the Air which encompasses the Earth extends it self to a certain heighth, it may be, about twenty Leagues, and turns round

with us. You have, no doubt, seen a thousand times the business of the Silk-worm, where the Balls which these little Creatures do work with so much Art, for their own Imprisonment, are compact, and wrought together with Silk, which is very closely join'd; but they are co∣ver'd with a kind of Down, that is very light and soft: Thus it is, that the Earth, which is very solid, is wrapp'd in a Co∣vering of soft Down of twenty Leagues thickness, which is the Air that is carried round at the same time with it: Above the Air is that Celestial Matter I spoke of, incomparably more pure, more sub∣tile, and more agitated than the Air.

You represent the Earth to me, said the Marquiese, as a very contemptible thing, by the despicable Idea's you give me of it: 'Tis, nevertheless, upon this Silk-Worm-Ball, there are perform'd such mighty Works; and where there are such terrible Wars, and such strange Commo∣tions as reign every where. 'Tis certainly true, said I, Madam; while at the same time, Nature, who is not at the pains to consider these Troubles and Commotions, carries us all along together, by a general

Motion, and does, as it were, play with this little Globe. It seems to me, said she, that 'tis very ridiculous to inhabit any thing that turns so often, and is so much agitated; and the worst of all is, that we are not assur'd whether we turn round, or not; for, to be plain with you, and that I may keep none of my Doubts from you, I do extreamly suspect, that all the Pre-cautions you can take, will not convince me of the Motion of the Earth: For is it possible, but Nature wou'd have taken care to have given us some sensible Sign, by which we might discover the turning round of so vast a Body? The Motions (answer'd I) which are most natural to remove, are the least perceptible; and which holds true, even in Morality; for the Motion of Self-love is so natural to us, that for the most part we do not feel it, while we believe we act by other Principles. Ah, said she, do you begin to speak of Moral Philosophy, when the Question is of that which is altoge∣ther natural? But I perceive you are slee∣py, and begin to yawn; let us therefore retire, for there's enough said for the first Night, to morrow we shall return hither

again; you with your Systems, and I with my Ignorance. In returning to the Castle, to make an end of what might be said to Systems, I told her, there was a third O∣pinion invented by Ticho-brahe, who wou'd have the Earth absolutely immove∣able, and plac'd in the Centre of the U∣niverse, and made the Sun to turn round it, as he did the other Planets to turn round the Sun; because, since the new Discoveries, it cou'd not be imagin'd that the other Planets turn'd round the Earth. But my Lady Marquiese, whose Judg∣ment and Understanding is solid and pe∣netrating, found, there was too much Af∣fectation in endeavouring to free the Earth from turning round the Sun, since several other great Bodies cou'd not be exempt from that Labour; and that the Sun was not so proper and fit to turn round the Earth, since the other Planets turn round the Sun; and that this new System was only good to maintain the standing still of the Earth, if one had a mind to undertake that Argument; but 'tis not proper to perswade another to be∣lieve it. At last, we resolv'd to hold our selves to the Opinion of Copernicus,

which is more uniform, and more agree∣able, without the least mixture of Preju∣dice; and, indeed, its Simplicity and Easiness perswades as much as its Bold∣ness pleases.