The Blazing World

with a gangrene, which is a spreading evil; but some gangrenes do spread more suddenly than others, and of all sorts of gangrenes, the plaguy-gangrene is the most infectious; for other gangrenes infect but the next adjoining parts of one particular body, and having killed that same creature, go no further, but cease; when as, the gangrene of the plague, infects not only the adjoining parts of one particular creature, but also those that are distant; that is, one particular body infects another, and so breeds a universal contagion. But the Empress being very desirous to know in what manner the plague was propagated, and became so contagious, asked, whether it went actually out of one body into another? To which they answered, that it was a great dispute amongst the learned of their profession, whether it came by a division and composition of parts; that is, by expiration and inspiration; or whether it was caused by imitation: some experimental philosophers, said they, will make us believe, that by the help of their microscopes, they have observed the plague to be a body of little flies like atoms, which go out of one body into another, through the sensitive passages; but the most experienced and wisest of our society, have rejected this opinion as a ridiculous fancy, and do, for the most part, believe, that it is caused by an imitation of parts; so that the motions of some parts which are sound, do imitate the motions of those that are infected and that by this means, the plague becomes contagious, and spreading.

The Empress having hitherto spent her time in the examination of the Bird- Fish- Worm- and Ape-men, etc. and received several intelligences from their several employments; at last had a mind to divert herself after her serious discourses, and therefore she sent for the Spider-men, which were her mathematicians, the Lice-men which were here geometricians, and the Magpie- Parrot- and Jackdaw-men, which were her orators and logicians. The Spider-men came first, and presented her Majesty with a table full of mathematical points, lines, and figures of all sorts, of squares, circles, triangles, and the like; which the Empress, notwithstanding that she had a very ready wit, and quick apprehension, could not understand; but the more she endeavoured to learn, the more was she confounded: Whether they did ever square the circle, I cannot exactly tell, nor whether they could make imaginary points and lines; but this I dare say, that their points and lines were so slender, small and thin, that they seemed next to imaginary. The mathematicians were in great esteem with the Empress, as being not only the chief tutors and instructors in many arts, but some of them excellent magicians and informers of spirits, which was the reason their characters were so abstruse and intricate, that the Empress knew not what to make of them. There is so much to learn in your art, said she, that I can neither spare time from other affairs to busy myself in your profession; nor, if I could, do I think I should ever be able to understand your imaginary points, lines and figures, because they are non-beings.

Then came the Lice-men, and endeavoured to measure all things to a hairsbreadth, and weigh them to an atom; but their weights would seldom agree, especially in the weighing of air, which they found a task impossible to be done; at which the Empress began to be displeased, and told them, that there was neither truth nor justice in their profession; and so dissolved their society.

After this, the Empress was resolved to hear the Magpie- Parrot- and Jackdaw-men, which were her professed orators and logicians; whereupon one of the Parrot-men rose with great formality, and endeavoured to make an eloquent speech before her Majesty; but before he had half ended, his arguments and divisions being so many, that they caused a great confusion in his brain, he could not go forward, but was forced to retire backward, with great disgrace both to himself, and the whole society; and although one of his brethren endeavoured to second him by another speech, yet was he as far to seek, as the former. At which the Empress appeared not a little troubled, and told them, that they followed too much the rules of art, and confounded themselves with too nice formalities and distinctions; but since I know, said she, that you are a people who have naturally voluble tongues, and good memories; I desire you to consider more the subject you speak of, than your artificial periods, connections and parts of speech, and leave the rest to your natural eloquence; which they did, and so became very eminent orators.

Lastly, her Imperial Majesty being desirous to know what progress her logicians had made in the art of disputing, commanded them to argue upon several themes or subjects; which they did; and having made a very nice discourse of logistical terms and propositions, entered into a dispute by way of syllogistical arguments, through all the figures and modes: One began with an argument of the first mode of the first figure, thus:

Every politician is wise:
Every knave is a politician,
Therefore every knave is wise.

Another contradicted him with a syllogism of the second mode of the same figure, thus:

No politician is wise:
Every knave is a politician,
Therefore no knave is wise.

The third made an argument in the third mode of the same figure, after this manner:

Every politician is wise:
Some knaves are politicians,
Therefore some knaves are wise.

The fourth concluded with a syllogism in the fourth mode of the same figure, thus:

No politician is wise:
Some knaves are politicians,
Therefore some knaves are not wise.

After this they took another subject, and one propounded this syllogism:

Every philosopher is wise:
Every beast is wise,
Therefore every beast is a philosopher.

But another said that this argument was false, therefore he contradicted him with a syllogism of the second figure of the fourth mode, thus:

Every philosopher is wise:
Some beasts are not wise,
Therefore some