After the Empress had thus finished her speech to the princes of the several nations of that world, she desired that in their ships might fall back; which being done, her own fleet came into the circle, without any visible assistance of sails or tide; and herself being entered into her own ship, the whole fleet sunk immediately into the bottom of the seas, and left all the spectators in a deep amazement; neither would she suffer any of her ships to come above the waters, until she arrived into the Blazing-World.
In time of the voyage, both the Empress’s and the Duchess’s soul, were very gay and merry; and sometimes they would converse very seriously with each other. Amongst the rest of their discourses, the Duchess said, she wondered much at one thing, which was, that since her Majesty had found out a passage out of the Blazing-World, into the world she came from, she did not enrich that part of the world where she was born, at least her own family, though she had enough to enrich the whole world. The Empress’s soul answered, that she loved her native country, and her own family, as well as any creature could do; and that this was the reason why she would not enrich them: for, said she, not only particular families or nations, but all the world, their natures are such, that much gold, and great store of riches, makes them mad; insomuch as they endeavour to destroy each other for gold or riches’ sake. The reason thereof is, said the Duchess, that they have too little gold and riches, which makes them so eager to have it. No, replied the Empress’s soul, their particular covetousness, is beyond all the wealth of the richest world; and the more riches they have, the more covetous they are; for their covetousness is infinite. But, said she, I would there could a passage be found out of the Blazing-World, into the world whence you came, and I would willingly give you as much riches as you desired. The Duchess’s soul gave her Majesty humble thanks for her great favour; and told her, that she was not covetous, nor desired any more wealth than what her lord and husband had before the Civil Wars. Neither, said she, should I desire it for my own, but my lord’s posterity’s sake. Well, said the Empress, I’ll command my Fish-men to use all their skill and industry to find out a passage into that world which your lord and husband is in. I do verily believe, answered the Duchess, that there will be no passage found into that world; but if there were any, I should not petition your Majesty for gold and jewels, but only for the elixir that grows in the midst of the golden sands, for to preserve life and health; but without a passage, it is impossible to carry away any of it: for, whatsoever is material, cannot travel like immaterial beings, such as souls and spirits are. Neither do souls require any such thing that might revive them, or prolong their lives, by reason they are unalterable: for, were souls like bodies, then my soul might have had the benefit of that natural elixir that grows in your Blazing-World. I wish earnestly, said the Empress, that a passage might be found, and then both your lord and yourself, should neither want wealth, nor long-life: nay, I love you so well, that I would make you as great and powerful a monarchess, as I am of the Blazing-World. The Duchess’s soul humbly thanked her Majesty, and told her, that she acknowledged and esteemed her love beyond all things that are in nature.
After this discourse, they had many other conferences, which for brevity’s sake I’ll forbear to rehearse. At last, after several questions which the Empress’s soul asked the Duchess, she desired to know the reason why she did take such delight, when she was joined to her body, in being singular both in accoutrements, behaviour, and discourse? The Duchess’s soul answered, she confessed that it was extravagant, and beyond what was usual and ordinary: but yet her ambition being such, that she would not be like others in anything, if it were possible, I endeavour, said she, to be as singular as I can: for, it argues but a mean nature, to imitate others: and though I do not love to be imitated, if I can possibly avoid it; yet, rather than imitate others, I should choose to be imitated by others: for my nature is such, that I had rather appear worse in singularity, than better in the mode. If you were not a great lady, replied the Empress, you would never pass in the world for a wise lady: for, the world would say, your singularities are vanities. The Duchess’s soul answered, she did not at all regard the censure of this, or any other age, concerning vanities: but, said she, neither this present, nor any of the future ages, can or will truly say, that I am not virtuous and chaste: for I am confident, all that were, or are
