Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A28291
|
New Atlantis a work unfinished / written by the Right Honourable Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban.
|
Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626.
|
1658
(1658)
|
Wing B307; ESTC R21978
|
31,652
|
41
|
of any Ship of any other part of the World that had made return for them And yet the Marvell rested not in this For the Situation of it as his Lordship said in the secret Conclave of such a vast Sea mought cause it But then that they should have Knowledge of the Languages Books Affairs of those that lye such a distance from them it was a thing we could not tell what to make of For that it seemed to us a condition 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 Governour gave a gracious smile and said That we did well to ask pardon for this Questiâ—n we now asked For that it imported as if we thought this Land a Land of Magicians that sent forth Spirits of the Ayr into all parts to bring them News and Intelligence of other Countries It was answered by us all in all possible humblenesse 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 tâ—is Island but yet rather as Angelical than Magical But to let his Lordship know truly what it was that made us tender and doubtfull to ask this Question it was not any such conceit but because we remembred hee 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 lawfulâ— 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 specially for remote Voyages was greater than at this Day Do not think with your seâ—ves That I know not how much it is increased with you within these threescore Years I know it wellâ— And yet I say greater then than noâ— 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 Phoeniceans and specially the Tyrians â—ad great Fleets So had the Carthaginians their Colony which is yet further West Toward the East the Shipping of Egypt and of Palestina was likewise great China also and the great Atlantis that you call America which have now but Iunks and Canoas abounded then in tall Ships This Island as appeareth by faithfull Registers of those times had then fifteen hundred strong Shipsâ— 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 Vâ—ssâ—â—s of all the Nations beforenamed And as it commeth to passe they had many times Men of other Countries that were no Saylers that came with them As Persians Chaldeans Arabians So as almost all Nations of Might and Fame râ—sorted 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 Streights which you call the Pillars of Hercules As to other parts in the Atlantique and Mediterrane Seas As to Paguin which is the same with Cambalaine and Quinzy upon the Oriental Seas as far as to the Borders of the East Tartary At the same time and an Age aâ—ter 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 Descendents â—f 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 invironed the same Site and Temple And the several Degrees of Ascent whereby Men did climbe up to the same as iâ— it had been a Scala Coeli be all Poeticall 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 Kingdomes 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 Atlantique 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 as it seemeth had some relation from the AEgyptian Priest whom he citeth For assuredly such a thing there was But whether it were the Antient 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 Warrier Knowing well â—oth his own strength and that of his Enemies handled the matter so as he cut off their Land-Forces from their Ships and entoyled both their Navy and their Camp with a greater power than theirs both by Sea and Land And 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 lesse 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 Tracâ— is little subject to Earth-quakes But by a particular Deluge or Inundation Those Countries having at this Day farre greater Rivers and farre 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 Fâ—r as for Men although they had Buildings in many places higher than the Depth of the Water Yâ—â— 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 marvell you not at the thin Population of America nor at the Rudenesse and Ignorance of the People For you must account your Iâ—habitants of America as a young People younger a thousaâ—d years at the least than the rest of the World For that there was so much time between the Universal Flood and their Particular