The Translator to the Reader

It is now Seven and Twenty Years, since the Moon appeared first Historically on the English Horizon¹: And let it not seem strange, that she should have retained Light and Brightness so long here, without Renovation; when we find by Experience, that in the Heavens, she never fails once a Month to Change and shift her Splendor. For it is the Excellency of Art, to represent Nature even in her absence; and this being a Piece done to the Life, by one that had the advantage of the true Light, as well as the Skill of Drawing, in this kind, to Perfection; he left so good an Original, which was so well Copied by another Hand, that the Picture might have served for many Years more, to have given the Lovers of the Moon, a sight of their Mistress, even in the darkest Nights; and when she was retired to put on a clean Smock in Phoebus his Apartment; if they had been so curious, as to have encouraged the Exposers.

It is now twenty-seven years since the Moon first appeared in an account on the English horizon¹. It may seem strange that she has kept her light and brightness here so long without being renewed. After all, experience shows that in the heavens she never fails to change her splendor once a month. But the excellence of art is that it can portray nature even in her absence. This portrait was drawn true to life by someone who had the advantage of true light and perfect skill in drawing such things. He left an excellent original, which another hand copied so well that the picture might have lasted many more years. It could have shown lovers of the Moon their mistress even on the darkest nights. It could have shown her even when she had retired to Phoebus’s apartment to put on a clean shift. That is, if her lovers had been curious enough to encourage those who offered the picture to the public.

However, Reader, you have now a second View of her, and that under the same Cover with the Sun too, which is very rare; since these two were never seen before in Conjunction. Yet I would have none be afraid, that their Eyes being dazzled with the glorious Light of the Sun, they should not see her; for Fancy will supply the Weakness of the Organ, and Imagination, by the help of this Mirrour, will not fail to discover them both; though Cynthia lye hid under Apollo's shining Mantle. And so much for the Luminaries.

However, Reader, you now have a second view of her, under the same cover as the Sun. This is very rare, since the two have never appeared together before. Yet no one need fear that the Sun's glorious light will dazzle their eyes and prevent them from seeing her. Fancy will make up for the weakness of the eye. With the help of this mirror, imagination will surely reveal them both, though Cynthia lies hidden beneath Apollo's shining cloak. And that is enough about the luminaries.

Now as to the Worlds, which, with Analogy to ours below, I may call the Old and New; that of the Moon having been discovered, tho imperfectly, by others, but the Sun owing its Discovery wholly to our Author:² I make no doubt, but the Ingenious Reader will find in both, so extraordinary and surprizing Rarities, as well Natural, Moral, as Civil; that if he be not as yet sufficiently disgusted with this lower World, (which I am sure some are) to think of making a Voyage thither, as our Author has done; he will at least be pleased with his Relations. Nevertheless, since this Age produces a great many bold Wits, that shoot even beyond the Moon, and cannot endure, (no more than our Author) to be stinted by Magisterial Authority, and to believe nothing but what Gray-headed Antiquity gives them leave: It's pity some soaring Virtuoso, instead of Travelling into France, does not take a flight up to the Sun; and by new Observations supply the defects of its History; occasioned not by the Negligence of our Witty French Author, but by the accursed Plagiary of some rude Hand, that in his Sickness, rifted his Trunks, and stole his Papers, as he himself complains.³

As for the worlds, I may call them the Old and New Worlds, by analogy with our own world below. Others have discovered the Moon, though imperfectly, but the Sun owes its discovery entirely to our author.² I have no doubt that the ingenious reader will find extraordinary and surprising wonders in both worlds. These include wonders of nature, morals, and society. He may not yet be disgusted enough with this lower world to consider traveling there, as our author did. I am sure some people are disgusted enough. But he will at least enjoy the author's accounts. Nevertheless, this age produces many bold thinkers whose imaginations reach even beyond the Moon. Like our author, they cannot bear to be constrained by the dictates of authority. Nor can they bear to believe only what venerable antiquity permits them to believe. It is a pity that some adventurous scholar does not fly to the Sun instead of traveling to France. He could use new observations to fill the gaps in its history. These gaps are not due to any negligence on the part of our witty French author. Rather, as he himself complains, some uncouth thief ransacked his trunks and stole his papers during his illness.³

Let some venturous Undertaker auspiciously attempt it then; and if neither of the two Universities, Gresham-College, nor Greenwich-Observatory can furnish him with an Instrument of Conveyance; let him try his own Invention, or make use of our Author's Machine: For our Loss is, indeed, so great, that one would think, none but the declared Enemy of Mankind, would have had the Malice, to purloyn and stiffle those rare Discoveries, which our Author made in the Province of the Solar Philosophers; and which undoubtedly would have gone far, as to the settleing our Sublunary Philosophy, which, as well as Religion, is lamentably rent by Sects and Whimseys; and have convinced us, perhaps, that in our present Doubts and Perplexities, a little more, or a little less of either, would better serve our Turns, and more content our Minds.

Let some adventurous person make a promising attempt, then. If neither of the two Universities, Gresham-College, nor Greenwich-Observatory can provide a means of transport, let him devise his own or use our author's machine. For our loss is indeed so great that one would think only the declared Enemy of Mankind could have maliciously stolen and suppressed those remarkable discoveries our author made in the Province of the Solar Philosophers. Those discoveries would undoubtedly have gone far toward settling our Sublunary Philosophy, which, like Religion, is sadly torn apart by sects and whims. Perhaps they would also have convinced us that, in our present doubts and confusion, a little more or less of either would better serve our needs and satisfy our minds.