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27 pages

English

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The New Atlantis is Sir Francis Bacon's creation of an ideal land where its citizens uphold the common qualities of "generosity and enlightenment, dignity and splendor, piety and public spirit." This short 1627 utopian novel depicts the land of Bensalem, discovered by a European ship after becoming lost somewhere to the west of Peru. One of the crew narrates their look at the island's customs and institutions, especially their impressive culture of science and research.

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Short story

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 mai 2009
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781775410508
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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THE NEW ATLANTIS
* * *
SIR FRANCIS BACON

*

The New Atlantis First published in 1627.
ISBN 978-1-775410-50-8
© 2009 THE FLOATING PRESS.
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Introductory Note The New Atlantis
Introductory Note
*
Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been writtenabout 1623, during that period of literary activity which followedBacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apaceso vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment ofthe plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment,the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of theinhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon thestatesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his owncountry; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulgingwithout restriction his prophetic vision of the future of humanknowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes andresults of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by thenumerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actualachievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his greatcollege lay down the main lines of the modern research university; andboth in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly largenumber of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is"The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of theenthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit oftruth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of sciencewhich he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end theincrease of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenienceof humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinkingthat yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning tothe useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveriesmade by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of thework stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in itsscientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but whichcontain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future.
The New Atlantis
*
We sailed from Peru, (where we had continued for the space of one wholeyear) for China and Japan, by the South Sea; taking with us victualsfor twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft andweak, for five months space, and more. But the wind came about, andsettled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or noway, and were sometime in purpose to turn back. But then again therearose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, whichcarried us up (for all that we could do) towards the north; by whichtime our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. Sothat finding ourselves, in the midst of the greatest wilderness ofwaters in the world, without victuals, we gave ourselves for lost menand prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices toGod above, who showeth his wonders in the deep, beseeching him of hismercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, andbrought forth dry land, so he would not discover land to us, that wemight not perish.
And it came to pass that the next day about evening we saw within akenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, whichdid put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part of the South Seawas utterly unknown; and might have islands, or continents, thathitherto were not come to light. Wherefore we bent our course thither,where we saw the appearance of land, all that night; and in the dawningof the next day, we might plainly discern that it was a land; flat toour sight, and full of boscage; which made it show the more dark. Andafter an hour and a half's sailing, we entered into a good haven, beingthe port of a fair city; not great indeed, but well built, and thatgave a pleasant view from the sea: and we thinking every minute long,till we were on land, came close to the shore, and offered to land.But straightways we saw divers of the people, with bastons in theirhands (as it were) forbidding us to land; yet without any cries offierceness, but only as warning us off, by signs that they made.Whereupon being not a little discomforted, we were advising withourselves, what we should do.
During which time, there made forth to us a small boat, with abouteight persons in it; whereof one of them had in his hand a tipstaff ofa yellow cane, tipped at both ends with blue, who came aboard our ship,without any show of distrust at all. And when he saw one of ournumber, present himself somewhat before the rest, he drew forth alittle scroll of parchment (somewhat yellower than our parchment, andshining like the leaves of writing tables, but otherwise soft andflexible,) and delivered it to our foremost man. In which scroll werewritten in ancient Hebrew, and in ancient Greek, and in good Latin ofthe school, and in Spanish, these words: Land ye not, none of you; andprovide to be gone from this coast, within sixteen days, except youhave further time given you. Meanwhile, if you want fresh water orvictuals, or help for your sick, or that your ship needeth repairs,write down your wants, and you shall have that, which belongeth tomercy. This scroll was signed with a stamp of cherubim: wings, notspread, but hanging downwards; and by them a cross. This beingdelivered, the officer returned, and left only a servant with us toreceive our answer.
Consulting hereupon amongst ourselves, we were much perplexed. Thedenial of landing and hasty warning us away troubled us much; on theother side, to find that the people had languages, and were so full ofhumanity, did comfort us not a little. And above all, the sign of thecross to that instrument was to us a great rejoicing, and as it were acertain presage of good. Our answer was in the Spanish tongue; thatfor our ship, it was well; for we had rather met with calms andcontrary winds than any tempests. For our sick, they were many, and invery ill case; so that if they were not permitted to land, they randanger of their lives. Our other wants we set down in particular;adding, That we had some little store of merchandise, which if itpleased them to deal for, it might supply our wants, without beingchargeable unto them. We offered some reward in pistolets unto theservant, and a piece of crimson velvet to be presented to the officer;but the servant took them not, nor would scarce look upon them; and soleft us, and went back in another little boat, which was sent for him.
About three hours after we had dispatched our answer, there cametowards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown withwide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azurecolour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and sowas his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not sohuge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down belowthe brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat,gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; andwas followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he wascome within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that weshould send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presentlydid in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one,and four of our number with him.
When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us tostay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon theman, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, inSpanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearingthe less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. Atwhich answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven,and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, whenthey thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by themerits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood,lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licenceto come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath."Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) anotary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of theattendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat,after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord wouldhave you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he comethnot aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that youhave many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Healthof the city that he should keep a distance.