The Blazing World

“The Blazing World”, is a Description of a New World, Called The Blazing-World, better known as The Blazing World, is a 1666 work of prose fiction by English writer Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle. It has been described as an early fore-runner of science fiction.

Here on this Figure Cast a Glance.

But so as if it were by Chance,

Your eyes not fixt, they must not Stay,

Since this like Shadowes to the Day

It only represent's; for Still,

Her Beauty's found beyond the Skill

Of the best Paynter, to Imbrace

These lovely Lines within her face.

View her Soul's Picture, Judgment, witt,

Then read those Lines which Shee hath writt,

By Phancy's Pencill drawne alone

Which Peces but Shee, can justly owne.

To The Duchesse of Newcastle,

On Her New Blazing-World.

Our Elder World, with all their Skill and Arts,

Could but divide the World into three Parts:

Columbus, then for Navigation fam'd,

Found a new World, America 'tis nam'd;

Now this new World was found, it was not made,

Onely discovered, lying in Time's shade.

Then what are You, having no Chaos found

To make a World, or any such least ground?

But your Creating Fancy, thought