376 NEW ATLANTIS. 



then than now ; whether it was, that the example of 

 the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the uni 

 versal deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon 

 the waters ; or what it was ; but such is the truth. 

 The Phoenicians, and especially the Tyrians, had great 

 fleets. So had the Carthaginians, their colony, which 

 is yet further west. Toward the east, the shipping of 

 Egypt and of Palestina was likewise great. China also, 

 and the great Atlantis (that you call America), which 

 have now but junks and canoes, 1 abounded then in tall 

 ships. This island (as appeareth by faithful registers 

 of those times) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, 

 of great content. Of all this there is Avith you sparing 

 memory, or none; but we have large knowledge thereof. 

 &quot; At that time, this land was known and frequented 

 by the ships and vessels of all the nations before 

 named. And (as it cometh to pass) they had many 

 times men of other countries, that were no sailors, that 

 came with them ; as Persians, Chaldeans, Arabians ; 

 so as almost all nations of might and fame resorted 

 hither ; of whom we have some stirps and little tribes 

 with us at this day. And for our own ships, they 

 went sundry voyages, as well to your Straits, which 

 you call the Pillars of Hercules, 2 as to other parts in 

 the Atlantic and Mediterrane Seas ; as to Paguin 3 



1 Cunoa s in the original. 



2 Hercules is called by Edrisi Dhoulcarnain. He says he lived in the 

 time of Abraham, and has been confounded with Iscander Dhoulcarnain, 

 or Alexander the two-horned. That the limits beyond which it is impos 

 sible to pass were set up by Dhoulcarnain gives the obvious explanation of 

 the passage in Chaucer s Troilus and Cressida : 



&quot; I am tyl God me bettre mynde sende, 



At Dulearnon, right at my wytte s end.&quot; 

 &quot;qui interpretes mire torsit.&quot; R. L. E. 



8 Peking. It seems as if Bacon supposed that Peking was a sea-port. 

 R. L. E. .{The translation adds civilatem in China antiquissimam. ] 



