At last the Empress arrived into the Blazing-World, and coming to her imperial palace, you may sooner imagine than expect that I should express the joy which the Emperor had at her safe return; for he loved her beyond his soul; and there was no love lost, for the Empress equaled his affection with no less love to him. After the time of rejoicing with each other, the Duchess’s soul begged leave to return to her noble lord: But the Emperor desired, that before she departed, she would see how he had employed his time in the Empress’s absence; for he had built stables and riding-houses, and desired to have horses of manage, such as, according to the Empress’s relation, the Duke of Newcastle had: The Emperor enquired of the Duchess, the form and structure of her lord and husband’s stables and riding-house. The Duchess answered his Majesty, that they were but plain and ordinary; but, said she, had my lord wealth, I am sure he would not spare it, in rendering his buildings as noble as could be made. Hereupon the Emperor showed the Duchess the stables he had built, which were most stately and magnificent; among the rest, there was one double stable that held a hundred horses on a side, the main building was of gold, lined with several sorts of precious materials; the roof was arched with agates, the sides of the walls were lined with cornelian, the floor was paved with amber, the mangers were mother-of-pearl; the pillars, as also the middle aisle or walk of the stables, were of crystal; the front and gate was of turquoise, most neatly cut and carved. The riding-house was lined with sapphires, topazes, and the like; the floor was all of golden-sand so finely sifted, that it was extremely soft, and not in the least hurtful to the horses’ feet, and the door and frontispiece was of emeralds curiously carved.
After the view of these glorious and magnificent buildings, which the Duchess’s soul was much delighted withal, she resolved to take her leave; but the Emperor desired her to stay yet some short time more, for they both loved her company so well, that they were unwilling to have her depart so soon: several conferences and discourses passed between them; amongst the rest, the Emperor desired her advice how to set up a theatre for plays. The Duchess confessed her ignorance in this art, telling his Majesty that she knew nothing of erecting theatres or scenes, but what she had by an immaterial observation, when she was with the Empress’s soul in the chief city of E. entering into one of their theatres, whereof the Empress could give as much account to his Majesty, as herself. But both the Emperor and the Empress told the Duchess, that she could give directions how to make plays. The Duchess answered, that she had as little skill to form a play after the mode, as she had to paint or make a scene for show. But you have made plays, replied the Empress: Yes, answered the Duchess, I intended them for plays; but the wits of these present times condemned them as uncapable of being represented or acted, because they were not made up according to the rules of art; though I dare say, that the descriptions are as good as any they have writ. The Emperor asked, whether the property of plays were not to describe the several humours, actions and fortunes of mankind? ’Tis so, answered the Duchess. Why then, replied the Emperor, the natural humours, actions and fortunes of mankind, are not done by the rules of art: But, said the Duchess, it is the art and method of our wits to despise all descriptions of wit, humour, actions and fortunes that are without such artificial rules. The Emperor asked, are those good plays that are made so methodically and artificially? The Duchess answered, they were good according to the judgment of the age, or mode of the nation, but not according to her judgment: for truly, said she, in my opinion, their plays will prove a nursery of whining lovers, and not an academy or school for wise, witty, noble and well-behaved men. But I, replied the Emperor, desire such a theatre as may make wise men; and will have such descriptions as are natural, not artificial. If your Majesty be of that opinion, said the Duchess’s soul, then my plays may be acted in your Blazing-World, when they cannot be acted in the Blinking-World of wit; and the next time I come to visit your Majesty, I shall endeavour to order your Majesty’s theatre, to present such plays as my wit is capable to make. Then the Empress told the Duchess, that she loved a foolish farce added to a wise play. The Duchess answered, that no world in nature had fitter creatures for it than the Blazing-World: for, said she, the Louse-men, the Bird-men, the Spider- and Fox-men, the Ape-men and Satyrs appear in a farce extraordinary pleasant.
Hereupon both the Emperor and Empress entreated the Duchess’s soul to stay so long with them, till she had ordered her theatre, and made plays and farces
