NEW ATLANTIS. A WORK UNFINISHED. WRITTEN BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, FRANCIS LORD VERULAM, VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN. TO THE READER. THIS fable my Lord devised, to the end, that he might exhibit therein a model or description of a college, instituted for the interpreting of nature, and the producing of great and marvelous works for the benefit of men, under the name of Solomon's House, or the College of the Six Days' Works. And even so far his lordship hath proceeded, as to finish that part. Certainly, the model is more vast, and high, than can possibly be imitated in all things; notwithstanding most things therein are within men's power to effect. His lordship thought also in this present fable to have composed a frame of laws, or of the best state or mould of a commonwealth; but foreseeing it would be a long work, his desire of collecting the Natural History diverted him, which he preferred many degrees before it. This work of the New Atlantis (as much as concerneth the English edition) his lordship designed for this place; in regard it hath so near affinity (in one part of it) with the preceding Natural History, See Note 3 Z, at the end. W. RAWLEY. VOL. II. Y NEW ATLANTIS. 223 WE sailed from Peru, where we had continued by the space of one whole year, for China and Japan, by the South Sea, taking with us victuals for twelve months; and had good winds from the east, though soft and weak, for five months space and more. But then the wind came about and settled in the west for many days, so as we could make little or no way, and were sometimes in purpose to turn back. But then again there arose strong and great winds from the south, with a point east, which carried us up, for all that we could do, towards the north by which time our victuals failed us, though we had made good spare of them. So that finding ourselves in the midst of the greatest wilderness of waters in the world, without victual, we gave ourselves for lost men, and prepared for death. Yet we did lift up our hearts and voices to God above, who showeth "his wonders in the deep;" beseeching him of his mercy, that as in the beginning he discovered the face of the deep, and brought forth dry land, so he would now discover land to us that we might not perish. And it came to pass, that the next day about evening, we saw within a kenning before us, towards the north, as it were thick clouds, which did put us in some hope of land; knowing how that part |