The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

264 NEW ATLANTIS.
Abraham; whereof the former two peopled the secret cabala, ordained the laws of Bensalem
world, and-the last was the father of the faithful; which they now use; and that when the Messias
concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nati- should come and sit in his throne at Hierusalem,
vity of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of the King of Bensalem should sit at his feet,
all are only blessed. Dinner being done, the whereas other kings should keep a great distance.
Tirsan retireth again: and having withdrawn him- But yet setting aside these Jewish dreams, the
self alone into a place, where he maketh some man was a wise man, and learned, and of great
private prayers, he cometh forth the third time, to policy, and excellently seen in the laws and cusgive the blessing, with all his descendants, who toms of that nation. Amongst other discourses,
stand about him as at the first. Then he calleth one day I told him I was much affected with the
them forth by one and by one, by name, as he relation I had from some of the company, of their
pleaseth, though seldom the order of age be in- custom in holding the feast of the family; for that,
verted. The person that is called, the table being methought I had never heard of a solemnity
before removed, kneeleth down before the chair, wherein nature did so much preside. And beand the father layeth his hand upon his head or cause propagation of families proceedeth from the
her head, and giveth the blessing in these words: nuptial copulation, I desired to know of him, what
"c Son of Bensalem or daughter of Bensalem, thy laws and customs they had concerning marriage;
father saith it; theman bywhom thou hastb;:eath and whether they kept marriage well; and
and life speaketh the word; The blessing of the whether they were tied to one wife! For that
everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and the where population is so much affected, and such as
Holy Dove be upon thee, and make the days of with them it seemed to be, there is commonly
thy pilgrimage good and many." This he saith permnission of plurality of wives. To this he said,
to every of them; and that done, if there be any 1" You have reason for to commend that excellent
of his sons of eminent merit and virtue, so they be institution of the feast of the family; and indeed
not above two, he calleth for them again; and saith, we have experience, that those families that are
laying his arm over their shoulders, they standing; partakers of the blessing of that feast, do flourish
", Sons, it is well ye are born, give God the praise, and prosper ever after in an extraordinary manner.
rnd persevere to the end." And withal he deli- But hear me now, and I will tell you what I
vereth to either of them a jewel made in the figure know. You shall understand that there is not
of an ear of wheat, which they ever after wear under the heavens so chaste a nation as this of
in the front of their turban or hat. This done, Bensalem; nor so free from all pollution or foulthey fall to music and dances, and other recrea- ness. It is the virgin of the world. I remember
tions, after their manner for the rest of the day. I have read, in one of your European books, of a
This is the full order of that feast. holy hermit among you, that desired to see the
By that time six or seven days were spent, I spirit of fornication; and there appeared to him
was fallen into strait acquaintance with a mer- a little foul ugly _Ethiop: but if he had desired to
chant of that city, whose name was Joabin. He see the spirit of chastity of Bensalem, it would
was a Jew, and circumcised: for they have some have appeared to him in the likeness of a fair
few stirps of Jews yet remaining among them, beautiful cherubim. Forthereis nothing amongst
whom they leave to their own religion; which mortal men more fair and admirable, than the
they may the better do, because they are of a far chaste minds of this people. Know, therefore, that
differing disposition from the Jews in other parts. with them there are no stews, no dissolute houses,
For whereas they hate the name of Christ, and no courtesans, nor any thing of that kind. Nay,
have a secret inbred rancour against the people they wonder with detestation at you in Europe,
amongst whom they live: these, contrariwise, give which permit such things. They say, ye have
unto our Saviour many high attributes, and love put marriage out of office: for marriage is ordained
the nation of Bensalem extremely. Surely this a remedy for unlawful concupiscence; and natural
man of whom I speak, would ever acknowledge concupiscence seemeth but a spur to marriage.
that Christ was born of a virgin; and that he was But when men have at hand a remedy more agreemore than a man: and he would tell how God able to their corrupt will, marriage is almost exmade him ruler of the seraphims which guard his pulsed. And therefore there are with you seen
throne; and they call him also the milken way, infinite men that marry not, but choose rather a
and the Eliah of the Messias; and many other libertine and impure single life, than to be yoked
high names; which though they be inferior to his in marriage; and many that do marry, marry
divine Majesty, yet they are far from the language late, when the prime and strength of their years is
of other Jews. And for the country of Bensalem, past. And when they do marry, what is marriage
this man would make no end of commending it: to them but a very bargain; wherein is sought albeing desirous by tradition among the Jews there, liance, or portion, or reputation, with some desire,
to have it believed, that the people thereof were almost indifferent, of issue; and not the faithful
of the generations of Abraham, by another son, nuptial union of man and wife, that was first inwhom they call Nachoran; and that Moses, by a stituted. Neither is it possible, that those tha