The Youth, Their Conversation, and the Country and Its Inhabitants

I had advanced half a League, through a Forest of Jessamines and Myrtles, when I perceived something that stirred, lying in the Shade: It was a Youth, whose Majestick Beauty forced me almost to Adoration. He started up to hinder me; crying, "It is not to me but to God that you owe these Humilities." "You see one," answered I, "stunned with so many Wonders that I know not what to admire most; for coming from a World, which without doubt you take for a Moon here, I thought I had arrived in another, which our Worldlings call a Moon also; and behold I am in Paradice at the Feet of a God, who will not be Adored." "Except the quality¹ of a God," replied he, "whose Creature I only am, the rest you say is true: This Land is the Moon, which you see from your Globe, and this place where you are is * * * * * * * * "²

I had gone half a league through a forest of jasmine and myrtle when I saw something moving in the shade. It was a young man whose majestic beauty almost made me worship him. He sprang up to stop me, crying, "It is not to me but to God that you owe such humility." "You see before you a man stunned by so many wonders that I do not know what to admire most," I answered. "I come from a world that you here no doubt take to be a moon. I thought I had arrived on another world, which our people also call a moon. And now I find myself in Paradise at the feet of a god who will not accept worship." "Except for being a God¹, whose creature I am, the rest of what you say is true," he replied. "This land is the Moon you see from your globe, and this place where you are is * * * * * * * * "²

"Now at that time Man's Imagination was so strong, as not being as yet corrupted, neither by Debauches, the Crudity of Aliments, nor the alterations of Diseases, that being excited by a violent desire of coming to this Sanctuary, and his Body becoming light through the heat of this Inspiration; he was carried thither in the same manner, as some Philosophers, who having fixed their Imagination upon the contemplation of a certain Object have sprung up in the Air by Ravishments, which you call Extasies. The Woman, who through the infirmity of her Sex was weaker and less hot, could not, without doubt, have the imagination strong enough to make the Intension of her Will prevail over the Ponderousness of her Matter; but because there were very few * * * * the Sympathy which still united that half to its whole,³ drew her towards him as he mounted up, as the Amber attracts the Straw, [as] the Load-stone turns towards the North from whence it hath been taken, and drew to him that part of himself, as the Sea draws the Rivers which proceed from it. When they arrived in your Earth, they dwelt betwixt Mesopotamia and Arabia:⁴ Some People knew them by the name of * * * *,⁵ and others under that of Prometheus, whom the Poets feigned to have stolen Fire from Heaven, by reason of his Offspring, who were endowed with a Soul as perfect as his own: So that to inhabit your World, that Man left this destitute; but the All-wise would not have so blessed an Habitation, to remain without Inhabitants; He suffered a few ages after that * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *⁶ cloyed with the company of Men, whose Innocence was corrupted, had a desire to forsake them. This person,⁷ however, thought no retreat secure enough from the Ambition of Men, who already Murdered one another about the distribution of your World; except that blessed Land, which his Grand-Father⁸ had so often mentioned unto him, and to which no Body had as yet found out the way: But his Imagination supplied that; for seeing he had observed that * * * he filled Two large Vessels which he sealed Hermetically, and fastened them under his Armpits: So soon as the Smoak began to rise upwards, and could not pierce through the Mettal, it forced up the Vessels on high, and with them also that Great Man.⁹ When he was got as high as the Moon, and had cast his Eyes upon that lovely Garden, a fit of almost supernatural Joy convinced him, that that was the place where his Grandfather had heretofore lived. He quickly untied the Vessels, which he had girt like Wings about his Shoulders, and did it so luckily, that he was scarcely Four Fathom in the Air above the Moon, when he set his Fins a going;¹⁰ yet he was high enough still to have been hurt by the fall, had it not been for the large skirts of his Gown, which being swelled by the Wind, gently upheld him till he set Foot on ground.¹¹ As for the two Vessels, they mounted up to a certain place, where they have continued: And those are they, which now a-days you call the Balance.

"At that time, Man's imagination was very strong. It had not yet been corrupted by excess, raw food, or the effects of disease. His imagination was stirred by a powerful desire to reach this Sanctuary. The heat of that inspiration made his body light, and he was carried there. In the same way, some philosophers have fixed their imaginations on a particular object and risen into the air in raptures, which you call ecstasies. The Woman was weaker and less warm because of the frailty of her sex. No doubt her imagination could not have been strong enough for her will to overcome her body's weight. But because there were very few * * * * the sympathy that still united that half to its whole³ drew her toward him as he rose. It drew her as amber attracts straw, as the lodestone turns toward the north from which it was taken. It drew that part of himself to him as the sea draws the rivers that flow from it. When they arrived on your Earth, they lived between Mesopotamia and Arabia.⁴ Some people knew them by the name of * * * *,⁵ and others knew them as Prometheus. The poets imagined that he had stolen Fire from Heaven because his offspring were endowed with souls as perfect as his own. So that Man left this World empty to live in yours. But the All-wise would not let such a blessed dwelling remain without inhabitants. A few ages later, he allowed * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *⁶ to grow weary of the company of Men, whose innocence had been corrupted, and wish to leave them. This person,⁷ however, thought no refuge safe enough from the ambition of Men. They were already murdering one another over how to divide your World. Only that blessed land seemed safe. His grandfather⁸ had so often spoken of it, and no one had yet found the way there. But his imagination supplied a way. For he had observed that * * * He filled two large vessels, sealed them hermetically, and fastened them under his armpits. As soon as the smoke began to rise, it could not pass through the metal. It forced the vessels upward, carrying that Great Man with them.⁹ When he reached the Moon and looked at that lovely garden, he felt a joy that was almost supernatural. It convinced him that this was where his grandfather had once lived. He quickly untied the vessels he had fastened around his shoulders like wings. He did it so luckily that he was barely four fathoms above the Moon when he began to move his fins.¹⁰ Even so, he was still high enough to be hurt by the fall. But the broad skirts of his gown filled with wind and gently held him up until he set foot on the ground.¹¹ As for the two vessels, they rose to a certain place, where they have remained. They are what you now call the Balance."

"I must now tell you, the manner how I came hither: I believe you have not forgot my name,¹² seeing it is not long since I told it you. You shall know then, that I lived on the agreeable Banks of one of the most renowned Rivers of your World, where amongst my Books, I lead a Life pleasant enough not to be lamented, though it slipt away fast enough. In the mean while, the more I encreased in Knowledge, the more I knew my Ignorance. Our Learned Men never put me in mind of the famous Mada,¹³ but the thoughts of his perfect Philosophy made me to Sigh. I was despairing of being able to attain to it, when one day, after a long and profound Studying. I took a piece of Load-stone about two Foot square, which I put into a Furnace; and then after it was well purged, precipitated and dissolved, I drew the calcined Attractive of it, and reduced it into the size of about an ordinary Bowl.¹⁴

"I must now tell you how I came here. I believe you have not forgotten my name,¹² since I told it to you not long ago. I lived on the pleasant banks of one of the most famous rivers in your world. There, among my books, I led a life pleasant enough not to regret, though it passed quickly enough. Meanwhile, the more knowledge I gained, the more aware I became of my ignorance. Whenever our scholars mentioned the famous Mada,¹³ the thought of his perfect philosophy made me sigh. I was losing hope of ever attaining that philosophy. Then one day, after long and deep study, I took a piece of lodestone about two feet square. I put it in a furnace and thoroughly purified, precipitated, and dissolved it. Then I extracted its calcined attractive substance and reduced it to the size of an ordinary bowl.¹⁴

"After the Preparations, I got a very light Machine of Iron made, into which I went, and when I was well seated in my place, I threw this Magnetick Bowl as high as I could up into the Air. Now the Iron Machine, which I had purposely made more massive in the middle than at the ends, was presently elevated, and in a just Poise; because the middle received the greatest force of Attraction. So then, as I arrived at the place whither my Load-stone had attracted me, I presently threw up my Bowl in the Air over me."¹⁵ "But," said I, interrupting him, "How came you to heave up your Bowl so streight over your Chariot, that it never happened to be on one side of it?" "That seems to me to be no wonder at all," said he; "for the Load-stone being once thrown up in the Air, drew the Iron streight towards it; and so it was impossible, that ever I should mount sideways. Nay more, I can tell you, that when I held the Bowl in my hand, I was still mounting upwards; because the Chariot flew always to the Load-stone, which I held over it. But the effort of the Iron to be united to my Bowl, was so violent that it made my Body bend double; so that I durst but once essay that new Experiment. The truth is, it was a very surprizing Spectacle to behold; for the Steel of that flying House, which I had very carefully Polished, reflected on all sides the light of the Sun with so great life and lustre, that I thought my self to be all on fire.¹⁶ In fine, after often Bowling and following of my Cast, I came, as you did, to an Elevation from which I descended towards this World; and because at that instant I held my Bowl very fast between my hands, my Machine, whereof the Seat pressed me hard, that it might approach its Attractive, did not forsake me; all that now I feared was, that I should break my Neck: But to save me from that, ever now and then I tossed up my Bowl; that by its attractive Virtue it might prevent the violent Descent of my Machine, and render my fall more easie, as indeed it happened; for when I saw my self within Two or three hundred fathom of the Earth, I threw out my Bowl on all hands, level with the Chariot, sometimes on this side, and sometimes on that, until I came to a certain Distance; and immediately then, I tossed it up above me; so that my Machine following it, I left it, and let my self fall on the other side, as gently as I could, upon the Sand; insomuch that my fall was no greater than if it had been but my own height. I shall not describe to you the amazement I was in at the sight of the wonders of this place, seeing it was so like the same, wherewith I just now saw you seized. ¹⁷ You shall know then, that on the morrow I met with the Tree of Life, by the means of which I have kept my self from growing old; it straightway consumed the Serpent¹⁸ and made him to vanish away in smoke."

“After making these preparations, I had a very light iron machine built and climbed inside. Once I was comfortably seated, I threw the magnetic ball as high into the air as I could. The iron machine immediately rose, perfectly balanced. I had deliberately made it heavier in the middle than at the ends, so the middle felt the strongest attraction. When I reached the place where the lodestone had pulled me, I threw the ball up above me again.”¹⁵ “But,” I said, interrupting him, “how did you throw the ball so straight above your chariot that it never went to one side?” “That seems no wonder to me,” he said. “Once I threw the lodestone into the air, it pulled the iron straight toward it. So it was impossible for me to rise sideways. What is more, I can tell you that I kept rising even when I held the ball in my hand. The chariot kept flying toward the lodestone, which I held above it. But the iron pulled so violently toward the ball that it bent my body double. So I dared try that new experiment only once. “Indeed, it was a very surprising sight. I had polished the steel of that flying house very carefully. It reflected the sunlight in every direction with such brilliance that I thought I was completely on fire.¹⁶ At last, after repeatedly throwing the ball and following it, I reached a height from which I descended toward this world, as you did. At that moment, I was holding the ball tightly between my hands. So my machine did not leave me. Its seat pressed hard against me as the machine tried to reach the ball that attracted it. “All I feared now was that I would break my neck. But to save myself, I tossed the ball up from time to time. Its attraction would slow the machine’s violent descent and make my fall gentler. And so it did. When I saw that I was within two or three hundred fathoms of the ground, I threw the ball outward, level with the chariot, first to one side and then to the other. I did this until I came within a certain distance. Then I immediately tossed it above me. As my machine followed it, I left the machine and let myself fall on the other side, as gently as I could, onto the sand. My fall was no greater than if I had fallen from my own height. “I shall not describe my amazement at the wonders of this place. It was so like the amazement I just saw in you. ¹⁷ You should know, then, that the next day I came across the Tree of Life. By means of it, I have kept myself from growing old. It immediately consumed the Serpent¹⁸ and made him vanish in smoke.”

At these words: "Venerable and holy patriarch," said I to him, "I am eager to know what you understand by that Serpent which was consumed." He, with face a smiling, answered me thus:...¹⁹

At these words, I said to him, "Venerable and holy patriarch, I am eager to know what you mean by the Serpent that was consumed." Smiling, he answered me:...¹⁹

"The Tree of Knowledge is planted opposite; its fruit is covered with a Rind which produces Ignorance in whomsoever hath tasted thereof; yet this Rind preserves underneath its thickness all the spiritual virtues of this learned food. God, when he had driven Adam from this fortunate country, rubbed his gums with this same Rind, that he might never find the way back again; for more than fifteen years thereafter he did dote, and did so completely forget all things, that neither he nor any of his descendants till Moses ever remembered even so much as the Creation; but what Power was left of this direful Rind at last passed away through the warmth and brightness of that great Prophet's genius.

"The Tree of Knowledge is planted opposite. Its fruit is covered with a rind that makes anyone who tastes it ignorant. Yet beneath its thick rind, this learned food retains all its spiritual virtues. After God drove Adam from this fortunate country, he rubbed Adam's gums with the same rind. He did this so that Adam could never find his way back. For more than fifteen years afterward, Adam was confused and forgot everything completely. Neither he nor any of his descendants until Moses remembered even the Creation. But the warmth and brilliance of that great prophet's genius finally dispelled the remaining power of that dreadful rind."

"I happily met with one among these apples, which through ripeness was despoiled of its skin; hardly had my mouth watered with it, when Universal Knowledge penetrated my being, I felt as it were an infinite number of Eyes fix themselves in my head, and I knew the means of speaking with the Lord.

"I was lucky to find an apple so ripe that its skin had fallen off. My mouth had hardly watered at the sight of it when Universal Knowledge filled my being. I felt as if countless eyes were opening in my head, and I knew how to speak with the Lord.

"When I have since reflected on these miraculous events, I have judged that I could in no wise have overcome, by any occult powers of a simple natural body, the vigilance of that Seraph whom God has ordained to guard this Paradise; but since he is pleased to use second causes, I imagined that he had inspired me to find this means of entering there; even as he thought good to take of the ribs of Adam to make him a wife, though he could form her of Earth, as well as he did Adam.

"When I later reflected on these miraculous events, I concluded that no hidden powers of a simple natural body could have overcome the vigilance of the Seraph whom God appointed to guard this Paradise. But God is pleased to use second causes, so I imagined that he had inspired me to find this way in. Just so, he chose to take one of Adam's ribs to make him a wife, though he could have formed her from Earth, just as he did Adam.

"I remained long in this Garden, walking about alone; but in fine, since the angel that was Keeper of the Gate seemed to me to be in chief my Host here, I was taken with the desire to salute him. In an hour's journey I came to a place where a thousand Lightnings mingled together in one blinding light that served but to make Darkness visible. I was not yet fully recovered from this dazzlement, when I saw before me a beautiful Young man. 'I am,' said he, 'the Archangel whom you seek, I have but now read in God that he had inspired you with the means of coming here, and that he willed you should here expect his pleasure.' He talked with me of many things, and told me among the rest:

"I stayed in this Garden for a long time, walking alone. But at last I wanted to greet the angel who guarded the Gate. He seemed to be my chief host here. After an hour's walk, I came to a place where a thousand flashes of lightning merged into one blinding light. The light served only to make the darkness visible. I had not yet fully recovered from the glare when I saw a beautiful young man before me. 'I am the Archangel you seek,' he said. 'I have just read in God that he inspired you to find a way here. He wills that you should wait here for his pleasure.' He spoke with me about many things, and among them he told me:

"That the light wherewith I had been amazed was nothing fearful, but that it appeared almost every evening when he went his rounds, seeing that to avoid sudden attack from the Evil Spirits, which may enter secretly at any place, he was constrained mightily to swing his Flaming Sword in circles, all about the bounds of the Earthly Paradise; and that the light I had seen was the lightnings which the steel of it gave forth. 'Those also which you perceive from your Earth,' he added, 'are of my creation. And if sometimes you see them at a great distance, it is because the clouds of some distant region hold themselves in such disposition as to receive an impression of these unbodied fires, and reflect them to your eyes; just as clouds otherwise disposed may prove themselves fit to make the Rainbow.'

The light that had astonished me was nothing to fear. It appeared almost every evening when he made his rounds. To avoid a sudden attack by the Evil Spirits, who could enter secretly anywhere, he had to swing his Flaming Sword vigorously in circles around the entire boundary of the Earthly Paradise. The light I had seen came from flashes given off by the steel of his sword. 'The flashes you see from your Earth are also my creation,' he added. 'Sometimes you see them at a great distance because clouds in some distant region are positioned to catch these bodiless fires and reflect them to your eyes. In the same way, clouds positioned differently may be able to make the Rainbow.'

"I will not instruct you further in these matters, since to be sure the Apple of Knowledge is not far from hence; whereof as soon as you have eaten, you will know all things even as I. But see you make no mistake, for most of the Fruits that hang from that Plant are encased in a Rind, whose taste will abase you even below man; while the part within will make you mount up to be even as the Angels."

"I will tell you no more about these matters, since the Apple of Knowledge is surely not far from here. As soon as you eat it, you will know all things, just as I do. But be careful not to make a mistake. Most of the fruit on that plant is enclosed in a rind. Its taste will lower you even beneath humans, while the part inside will raise you to the level of the Angels."

Elijah had come to this point of the teachings of the Seraph, when a little short man came up with us; "This is that Enoch of whom I told you," said my guide to me apart; and even while he finished the words, Enoch offered us a basketful of I know not what fruits, like to Pomegranates, which he had but discovered that same day in a distant coppice. I took some and put in my pockets, as Elijah bade me. Here-upon Enoch asked him who I might be. "That is a matter," answered my guide, "to entertain us at more leisure; this evening when we have withdrawn he shall tell us himself of the miraculous particulars of his journey."

Elijah had reached this point in the Seraph's teachings when a short little man joined us. "This is the Enoch I told you about," my guide said to me privately. As he finished speaking, Enoch offered us a basketful of unfamiliar fruits that looked like pomegranates. He had discovered them that very day in a distant grove. I took some and put them in my pockets, as Elijah told me to. Enoch then asked him who I was. "We can discuss that when we have more time," my guide replied. "This evening, when we have withdrawn, he will tell us himself about the miraculous details of his journey."

With these words we arrived beneath a sort of Hermitage, made of palm-branches skilfully interlaced with myrtle and orange-branches. There I saw, in a little nook, great piles of a kind of floss-silk, so white and so delicate that one might take it for the virgin Soul of the snow; and I saw distaffs lying here and there; whereupon I asked my guide what use they served. "To spin," he answered me; "when the good Enoch would relax his mind from meditation, he applies himself sometimes to dressing this Lady-distaff, sometimes to weaving the cloth from which they make Shifts for the eleven thousand Virgins. Surely in your world you have met with that something white, which flutters on the winds in Autumn about the season of the Winter-sowings. Your peasant-folk call it Our Lady's Cotton, but it is no other than the Flock that Enoch purges his Linen of, when he cards it."

With these words, we arrived beneath a kind of hermitage. It was made of palm branches skillfully woven together with myrtle and orange branches. In a little nook, I saw great piles of a kind of silk floss. It was so white and delicate that one might take it for the virgin soul of snow. I also saw distaffs lying here and there, so I asked my guide what they were for. "For spinning," he answered. "When good Enoch wants a break from meditation, he sometimes prepares the fiber on this Lady-distaff. At other times he weaves the cloth used to make shifts for the eleven thousand Virgins. Surely you have seen that white stuff fluttering on the winds in your world in autumn, around winter-sowing time. Your peasants call it Our Lady's Cotton. But it is nothing more than the loose fibers Enoch removes from his linen when he cards it."

We made little delay there, and but barely took leave of Enoch, whom this cabin served for his Cell; in truth what made us leave him so soon was this: that he said some prayer there every six hours; and it was at least that time since he had finished the last one.

We did not stay long, and we barely said goodbye to Enoch, who used the cabin as his cell. In truth, we left him so soon because he said a prayer there every six hours. At least six hours had passed since he had finished his last prayer.

As we went forward, I begged Elijah to finish that history which he had begun, of the Assumptions or Translations; and I said, that he had come, I thought, to that of Saint John the Evangelist.

As we continued on, I begged Elijah to finish the history he had begun about the Assumptions or Translations. I said I thought he had reached the account of Saint John the Evangelist.

Then said he to me: "Since you have not the patience, to wait till the Apple of Knowledge teach you all these things better than I can, I will even tell you. Know then that God——"

Then he said to me: "You don't have the patience to wait for the Apple of Knowledge to teach you all these things better than I can. So I will tell you. Know then that God..."

At this word, in some way I know not how, the Devil would have his Finger in that pie; or howsoever it came about, so it was that I could not forbear Interrupting him with raillery.

At that word, somehow, I don't know how, the Devil must have had a hand in it. Or however it happened, I couldn't help interrupting him to tease him.

"I remember that case," said I: "God heard one day that the Soul of the Evangelist was so loosed from his Body, that he no more kept it in but by shutting his teeth hard; and at that moment the hour when he had foreseen that he should be translated hither was almost past; so having no time to get him a machine made ready for coming, He was constrained to make him suddenly be here, without having time to bring him."

"I remember that case," I said. "One day, God heard that the Evangelist's soul had come so loose from his body that he could only keep it in by clenching his teeth. The time God had foreseen for him to be brought here was almost past. So God had no time to have a machine prepared to bring him. Instead, he had to make him suddenly be here, without having time to bring him."

During all my discourse Elijah bent upon me such a look, as would have been fit to kill me, had I then been capable of dying from aught but Hunger. "Thou Wretch," said he, and drew back in horror, "thou hast the insolence to rail at Holy Things! Surely thou shouldst not go unpunished, were it not that the All-wise determines to spare thee as a marvellous example of His long-suffering, a witness to the Nations. Get hence, thou Blasphemer, go thou and publish in this little World, and in the other (for thou art predestined to return thither), the unforgetting Hatred that God bears to Atheists."

Throughout my speech, Elijah stared at me with a look that could have killed me. But at that time, nothing but hunger could kill me. "You wretch," he said, drawing back in horror, "you dare to speak against holy things! Surely you would be punished, but the All-wise has decided to spare you. You will be a remarkable example of his patience, a witness to the nations. Get away, you blasphemer! Go and proclaim God's unending hatred of atheists in this little world and in the other. For you are destined to return there."

Hardly had he finished this Curse, when he seized me roughly to drag me toward the Gate. When we were arrived beside a great Tree whose branches bent almost to Earth with the burden of their Fruit, "Here," said he, "is that Tree of Knowledge where thou shouldst have got Enlightenment inconceivable, but for thy Infidelity."

He had hardly finished his curse when he grabbed me roughly and dragged me toward the gate. We came to a great tree whose branches bent almost to the ground under the weight of their fruit. "Here," he said, "is the Tree of Knowledge. You would have gained unimaginable enlightenment there, if not for your lack of faith."

At that word I feigned to swoon with weakness, and letting my self fall against a low branch I handily filched an Apple from it. And in but a few strides more I was set down outside of that delicious Garden.

At those words, I pretended to faint from weakness and fell against a low branch. I deftly stole an apple from it. A few strides later, I was set down outside that delightful garden.

In that moment, being so violently pressed by Hunger, that I even forgot I was in the grip of the angry Prophet, I drew from my pocket one of those Apples I had filled it with, wherein I buried my teeth as deep as I could. But so it was, that in place of taking one of those Enoch had given me, my hand fell on that very Apple I had plucked from the Tree of Knowledge, which for my misfortune I had not freed of its Rind.]

At that moment, I was so hungry that I forgot I was in the angry Prophet’s grip. I pulled an apple from my pocket, which I had filled with apples, and bit into it as deeply as I could. But instead of taking one of the apples Enoch had given me, I had picked the very apple I had plucked from the Tree of Knowledge. Unfortunately for me, I had not peeled it.]

²⁰ Scarcely had I tasted it, when a thick Cloud overcast my Soul: I saw no body now near me; and in the whole Hemisphere my Eyes could not discern the least Tract of the way I had made; yet nevertheless I fully remembered every thing that befel me. When I reflected since upon that Miracle, I fanced that the skin of the Fruit which I bit had not rendered me altogether brutish; because my Teeth piercing through it were a little moistened by the Juyce within, the efficacy whereof had dissipated the Malignities of the Rind. I was not a little surprised to see my self all alone, in a Country I knew not. It was to no purpose for me to stare and look about me; for no Creature appeared to comfort me.

²⁰ I had barely tasted it when a thick cloud fell over my soul. I could no longer see anyone near me. Nowhere in the whole hemisphere could my eyes discern the slightest trace of the path I had taken. Yet I still remembered everything that had happened to me. When I later reflected on that miracle, I thought the skin of the fruit I bit had not made me entirely brutish. My teeth had pierced the skin and were slightly moistened by the juice inside. The power of that juice had driven away the rind's harmful effects. I was very surprised to find myself all alone in a country I did not know. It was no use staring and looking around, for no creature appeared to comfort me.