New Atlantis
taking that for an assurance of leave to approach, he caused the boat
to be softly and with silence rowed towards the pillar. But ere he
came near it, the pillar and cross of light brake up, and cast itself
abroad, as it were, into a firmament of many stars; which also vanished
soon after, and there was nothing left to be seen, but a small ark, or
chest of cedar, dry, and not wet at all with water, though it swam.
And in the fore-end of it, which was towards him, grew a small green
branch of palm; and when the wise man had taken it, with all reverence,
into his boat, it opened of itself, and there were found in it a Book
and a Letter; both written in fine parchment, and wrapped in sindons of
linen. The Book contained all the canonical books of the Old and New
Testament, according as you have them; (for we know well what the
churches with you receive); and the Apocalypse itself, and some other
books of the New Testament, which were not at that time written, were
nevertheless in the Book. And for the Letter, it was in these words:
"'I, Bartholomew, a servant of the Highest, and Apostle of Jesus
Christ, was warned by an angel that appeareth to me, in a vision of
glory, that I should commit this ark to the floods of the sea.
Therefore I do testify and declare unto that people where God shall
ordain this ark to come to land, that in the same day is come unto them
salvation and peace and good-will, from the Father, and from the Lord
Jesus.'
"There was also in both these writings, as well the Book, as the
Letter, wrought a great miracle, conform to that of the Apostles, in
the original Gift of Tongues. For there being at that time in this
land Hebrews, Persians, and Indians, besides the natives, every one
read upon the Book, and Letter, as if they had been written in his own
language. And thus was this land saved from infidelity (as the
remainder of the old world was from water) by an ark, through the
apostolical and miraculous evangelism of Saint Bartholomew." And here
he paused, and a messenger came, and called him from us. So this was
all that passed in that conference.
The next day, the same governor came again to us, immediately after
dinner, and excused himself, saying; "That the day before he was called
from us, somewhat abruptly, but now he would make us amends, and spend
time with us if we held his company and conference agreeable." We
answered, "That we held it so agreeable and pleasing to us, as we
forgot both dangers past and fears to come, for the time we hear him
speak; and that we thought an hour spent with him, was worth years of
our former life." He bowed himself a little to us, and after we were
set again, he said; "Well, the questions are on your part."
One of our number said, after a little pause; that there was a matter,
we were no less desirous to know, than fearful to ask, lest we might
presume too far. But encouraged by his rare humanity towards us, (that
could scarce think ourselves strangers, being his vowed and professed
servants,) we would take the hardiness to propound it: humbly
beseeching him, if he thought it not fit to be answered, that he would
pardon it, though he rejected it. We said; "We well observed those his
words, which he formerly spake, that this happy island, where we now
stood, was known to few, and yet knew most of the nations of the world;
which we found to be true, considering they had the languages of
Europe, and knew much of our state and business; and yet we in Europe,
(notwithstanding all the remote discoveries and navigations of this
last age), never heard of the least inkling or glimpse of this island.
This we found wonderful strange; for that all nations have
inter-knowledge one of another, either by voyage into foreign parts, or
by strangers that come to them: and though the traveller into a foreign
country, doth commonly know more by the eye, than he that stayeth at
home can by relation of the traveller; yet both ways suffice to make a
mutual knowledge, in some degree, on both parts. But for this island,
we never heard tell of any ship of theirs that had been seen to arrive
upon any shore of Europe; nor of either the East or West Indies; nor
yet of any ship of any other part of the world, that had made return
from them. And yet the marvel rested not in this. For the situation
of it (as his lordship said) in the secret conclave' of such a vast sea
might cause it. But then, that they should have knowledge of the
languages, books, affairs, of those that lie such a distance from them,
it was a thing we could not tell what to make of; for that it seemed to
us a conditioner and propriety of divine powers and beings, to be
hidden and unseen to others, and yet to have others open and as in a
light to them."
At this speech the Governor gave a gracious smile, and said; "That we
did well to ask pardon for this question we now asked: for that it
imported, as if we thought this land, a land of magicians, that sent
forth spirits of the air into all parts, to bring them news and
intelligence of other countries." It was answered by us all, in all
possible humbleness, but yet with a countenance taking knowledge, that
we knew that he spake it but merrily, "That we were apt enough to think
there was somewhat supernatural in this island; but yet rather as
angelical than magical. But to let his lordship know truly what it was
that made us tender and doubtful to ask this question, it was not any
such conceit, but because we remembered, he had given a touch in his
former speech, that this land had laws of secrecy touching strangers."
To this he said; "You remember it aright and therefore in that I shall
say to you, I must reserve some particulars, which it is not lawful for
me to reveal; but there will be enough left, to give you satisfaction."
"You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think
credible) that about three thousand years ago, or somewhat more, the
navigation of the world, (especially for remote voyages,) was greater
than at this day. Do not think with yourselves, that I know not how
much it is increased with you, within these six-score years: I know it
well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the
example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal
deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it
was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the
Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians their colony,
which is yet further west. Toward the east the shipping of Egypt and
of Palestine was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis,
(that you call America,) which have now but junks and canoes, abounded
then in tall ships. This island, (as appeareth by faithful registers
of those times,) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great
content. Of all this, there is with you sparing memory, or none; but
we have large knowledge thereof.
"At that time, this land was known and frequented by the ships and
vessels of all the nations before named. And (as it cometh to pass)
they had many times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that
came with them; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians; so as almost all
nations of might and fame resorted hither; of whom we have some stirps,
and little tribes with us at this day. And for our own ships, they
went sundry voyages, as well to your straits, which you call the
Pillars of Hercules, as to other parts in the Atlantic and Mediterrane
Seas; as to Paguin, (which is the same with Cambaline,) and Quinzy,
upon the Oriental Seas, as far as to the borders of the East Tartary.
"At the same time, and an age after, or more, the inhabitants of the
great Atlantis did flourish. For though the narration and description,
which is made by a great man with you; that the descendants of Neptune
planted there; and of the magnificent temple, palace, city, and hill;
and the manifold streams of goodly navigable rivers, (which as so many
chains environed the same site and temple); and the several degrees of
ascent, whereby men did climb up to the same, as if it had been a scala
coeli, be all poetical and fabulous: yet so much is true, that the said
country of Atlantis, as well that of Peru, then called Coya, as that of
Mexico, then named Tyrambel, were mighty and proud kingdoms in arms,
shipping and riches: so mighty, as at one time (or at least within the
space of ten years) they both made two great expeditions; they of
Tyrambel through the Atlantic to the Mediterrane Sea; and they of Coya
through the South Sea upon this our island: and for the former of
these, which was into Europe, the same author amongst you (as it
seemeth) had some relation from the Egyptian priest whom he cited. For
assuredly such a thing there was. But whether it were the ancient
Athenians that had the glory of the repulse and resistance of those
forces, I can say nothing: but certain it is, there never came back
either ship or man from that voyage. Neither had the other voyage of
those of Coya upon us had better fortune, if they had not met with
enemies of greater clemency. For the king of this island, (by name
Altabin,) a wise man and a great warrior, knowing well both his own
strength and that of his enemies, handled the matter so, as he cut off
their land-forces from their ships; and entoiled both their navy and
their tamp with a greater power than theirs, both by sea and land: arid
compelled them to render themselves without striking stroke and after
they were at his mercy, contenting himself only with their oath that
they should no more bear arms against him, dismissed them all in safety.
"But the divine revenge overtook not long after those proud
enterprises. For within less than the space of one hundred years, the
great Atlantis was utterly lost and destroyed: not by a great
earthquake, as your man saith; (for that whole tract is little subject
to earthquakes;) but by a particular' deluge or inundation; those
countries having, at this day, far greater rivers and far higher
mountains to pour down waters, than any part of the old world. But it
is true that the same inundation was not deep; not past forty foot, in
most places, from the ground; so that although it destroyed man and
beast generally, yet some few wild inhabitants of the wood escaped.
Birds also were saved by flying to the high trees and woods. For as
for men, although they had buildings in many places, higher than the
depth of the water, yet that inundation, though it were shallow, had a
long continuance; whereby they of the vale that were not drowned,
perished for want of food and other things necessary.
"So as marvel you not at the thin population of America, nor at the
rudeness and ignorance of the people; for you must account your
inhabitants of America as a young people; younger a thousand years, at
the least, than the rest of the world: for that there was so much time
between the universal flood and their particular inundation. For the
poor remnant of human seed, which remained in their mountains, peopled
the country again slowly, by little and little; and being simple and
savage people, (not like Noah and his sons, which was the chief family
of the earth;) they were not able to leave letters, arts, and civility
to their posterity; and having likewise in their mountainous
habitations been used (in respect of the extreme cold of those regions)
to clothe themselves with the skins of tigers, bears, and great hairy
goats, that they have in those parts; when after they came down into
the valley, and found the intolerable heats which are there, and knew
no means of lighter apparel, they were forced to begin the custom of
going naked, which continueth at this day. Only they take great pride