A plurality of worlds written in French by the author of the Dialogues of the dead ; translated into English by Mr. Glanvill.

THE PREFACE.

MY Case is much like Cicero's, when he undertook to write of Philosophy, in Latine; there being then no Books up∣on that Subject, but what were written in Greek: When some told Cicero, that he would take pains to no purpose, because such as studied Philosophy, would make use of Greek Authors, and not read Latine Books, which treated of it but at second hand; and others, who were no admirers of the Science, would never trouble their Heads, with either Greek or Latin. Ci∣cero reply'd, they were much mistaken; for, said he, the great ease People will find in reading Latin Books, will tempt those to be Philosophers who are none; and

they who already are Philosophers, by read∣ing Greek Books, will be very glad to see how Philosophy is handled in Latin.

Cicero might with good reason answer as he did, because the excellency of his Genius, and the great Reputation he had acquired, warranted the success of all he wrote: But in a Design, not much unlike his, I am far from having those grounds of Confidence which he had. My purpose is to discourse of Philosophy, but not in a Philosophical manner; and to raise it to such a pitch, that it shall not be too dry and insipid a Subject to please Gentlemen; nor too mean and trifling to entertain Scho∣lars. Should I be told, (as Cicero was) that such a Discourse as this, would not please the Learned, because it can teach them nothing, nor the Illiterate, because they will have no mind to learn; I will not answer as he did, It may be endea∣vouring to please every Body, I have pleas'd no Body; to keep the middle betwixt two Extreams, is difficult; and I believe I shall never desire to put my self a second time to the like trouble.

If this Book have the luck to be read, I declare to those who have any knowledge of natural Philosophy, that I do not pre∣tend to instruct, but only to divert them, by presenting to their view, in a gay and pleasing Dress, that which they already know; but they to whom the Subject is new, may be both diverted and instructed: the first will act contrary to my intention, if they look for Profit, and the second if they seek for nothing but Pleasure.

I have chosen that part of Philosophy which is most like to excite Curiosity; for what can more concern us, than to know how this World which we inhabite, is made; and whether there be any other Worlds like it, which are also inhabited as this is? They who have any thoughts to lose, may throw them away upon such Subjects as this; but I suppose they who can spend their time better, will not be at so vain and fruitless an expence.

In these Discourses, I have introduc'd a Woman, to be instructed in things of which

she never heard; and I have made use of this Fiction, to render the Book the more acceptable, and to give encouragement to Ladies, by the Example of one of their own Sex, who without any supernatural parts, or tincture of Learning, understands what is said to her; and without any confusion, rightly apprehends what Vortex's and o∣ther Worlds are: And why may not there be a Woman like this imaginary Countess? since her Conceptions are no other than such as she could not chuse but have?

To penetrate into things either obscure in themselves, or but darkly express'd, re∣quires deep Meditation, and earnest Appli∣cation of the Mind; but here, nothing more is requisite than to read, and to print an Idea of what is read, in the Fancy, which will certainly be clear enough. I shall desire no more of the fair Ladies, than that they will read this System of Philosophy, with the same application that they do a Romance or a Novel. 'Tis true, that the Ideas of this Book are less fa∣miliar to most Ladies, than those of Ro∣mances

are, but they are not more obscure; for at most, twice or thrice thinking, will render 'em very perspicuous.

I have not compos'd an aery System, which hath no foundation at all: I have made use of some true Philosophical Arguments, and of as many as I thought necessary; but it falls out very luckily in this Sub∣ject, that the Physical Ideas are in them∣selves very diverting; and as they con∣vince and satisfie Reason, so at the same time they present to the Imagination a Spectacle, which looks as if it were made on purpose to please it.

When I meet with any Fragments which are not of this kind, I put them into some pretty strange dress; Virgil hath done the like in his Georgicks, when his Subject is very dry, he adorns it with pleasant digressions: Ovid hath done the same in his Art of Loving; and tho' his Subject be of it self very pleasing, yet he thought it tedious to talk of nothing but Love. My Subject hath more need of digressions

than his, yet I have made use of 'em very sparingly, and of such only, as the natural liberty of conversation allows; the great∣est part of 'em are in the beginning of the Book, because the Mind cannot at first be so well acquainted with the principal Ideas which are presented to it; they are taken from the Subject it self, or are as near to it as is possible.

I have fancy'd nothing concerning the Inhabitants of the many Worlds, which is wholly fabulous; I have said all that can be reasonably thought of them, and the Visi∣ons which I have added, have some real foundation; what is true, and what is false, are mingled together, but so as to be easily distinguished: I will not undertake to ju∣stifie so fantastical and odd a Composition, that is the principal point of the work, and for which I can give no very good reason.

There remains no more to be said in this Preface; but to a sort of People who perhaps will not be easily satisfy'd; not but that I have good reasons to give 'em, but

because the best that can be given, will not content 'em; they are those scrupulous Per∣sons, who imagine, that the placing Inhabi∣tants any where, but upon the Earth, will prove dangerous to Religion: I know how excessively tender some are in Religious Matters, and therefore I am very unwil∣ling to give any offence in what I publish to People, whose opinion is contrary to that I maintain: But Religion can receive no prejudice by my System, which fills an in∣finity of Worlds with Inhabitants, if a little errour of the Imagination be but re∣ctify'd. When 'tis said the Moon is in∣habited, some presently fancy that there are such Men there, as we are; and Church Men, without any more ado, think him an Atheist, who is of that opinion. None of Adam's Posterity ever travel'd so far as the Moon, nor were any Colo∣nies ever sent thither; the Men then that are in the Moon, are not the Sons of Adam: And here again Theology would be puzled, if there should be Men any where, that never descended from him: To say no more, this is the great

difficulty to which all others may be re∣duc'd, to clear it by a larger explanation, I must make use of terms which deserve greater respect, than to be put into a Pamphlet, so trivial, and so far from be∣ing serious as this is; but perhaps there is no need of answering the Objection, for it concerns no body but the Men in the Moon; and I never yet said there are Men there; if any ask, what the Inhabitants there are, if they be not Men? all I can say, is, that I never saw them; and 'tis not because I have seen 'em, that I speak of 'em: Let none now think that I say there are no Men in the Moon, purposely to avoid the Objecti∣on made against me; for it appears 'tis impossible there should be any Men there, according to that Idea I have fram'd of that infinite diversity and variety, which is to be observed in the works of Na∣ture; This Idea runs through the whole Book, and cannot be contradicted by a∣ny Philosopher: And to think there may be more Worlds than one, is neither a∣gainst Reason, or Scripture. If God glo∣rify'd

himself in making one World, the more Worlds he made, the greater must be his Glory: But I do not declare these Ideas to be Articles of my Faith; when I do, I hope I shall have the same Liber∣ty as the rest of my Neighbours.