NEW ATLANTIS. 



WE sailed from Peru, (where we had continued by 

 the space of one whole year,) for China and Japan, 

 by the South Sea ; l 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, with 

 out victual, we gave ourselves for lost men, and pre 

 pared 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 2 the face of the deep, and 



1 The words &quot;by the South Sea&quot; are omitted in the translation. 



2 So in the original. If discovered be the right word, it must mean 

 removed the covering of the face of the deep. But I think there must be 

 some mistake. The Latin version has quemadmodum in principio congre- 

 gationes aquarum mandavit et Aridam ajtparere fecit. The allusion is, no 

 doubt, to Genes, i. 9.: &quot;Let the waters under the heaven be gathered 

 together unto one place, and let the dry land appear.&quot; 



