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After some time, when the Spirits had refreshed
themselves in their own Vehicles, they sent one of
their nimblest Spirits, to ask the Emperess, whether
she would have a Scribe, or whether she would write
the Cabbala her self? The Emperess received the
profer which they made her, with all civility; and
told him, that she desired a Spiritual Scribe. The
Spirit answered, that they could dictate, but not write,
except they put on a hand or arm, or else the whole body
of Man. The Emperess replied, How can Spirits
arm themselves with gantlets of flesh? As well, answered
he, as Man can arm himself with a gantlet of
steel. If it be so, said the Emperess, then I will have
a Scribe. Then the Spirit asked her, whether she
would have the Soul of a living or a dead Man? Why,
said the Emperess, can the Soul quit a living body, and
wander or travel abroad? Yes, answered he, for
according to Plato's Doctrine, there is a conversation
of Souls, and the Souls of Lovers live in the bodies of
their Beloved. Then I will have, answered she, the
Soul of some ancient famous Writer, either of Aristotle,
Pythagoras, Plato, Epicurus, or the like. The
Spirit said, That those famous men were very learned,
subtile, and ingenious Writers, but they were so
wedded to their own opinions, that they would never
have the patience to be Scribes. Then, said she,
I'le have the Soul of one of the most famous modern
Writers, as either of Galileo, Gassendus, Des Cartes,
Helmont, Hobbes, H. More, &c. The Spirit answered,
That they were fine ingenious Writers, but
yet so self-conceited, that they would scorn to be Scribes
to a Woman. But, said he, there's a Lady, the
Duchess of Newcastle, which although she is not
one of the most learned, eloquent, witty and ingenious,
yet is she a plain and rational Writer, for the
principle of her Writings, is Sense and Reason, and
she will without question, be ready to do you all the service
she can. That Lady then, said the Emperess, will
I chuse for my scribe, neither will the Emperor have
reason to be jealous, she being one of my own sex. In
truth, said the Spirit, Husbands have reason to be jealous
of Platonick Lovers, for they are very dangerous, as
being not onely very intimate and close, but subtil and
insinuating. You say well, replied the Emperess; wherefore
I pray send me the Duchess of Newcastle's Soul;
which the Spirit did; and after she came to wait on the
Emperess, at her first arrival the Emperess imbraced
and saluted her with a spiritual kiss; then she asked her
whether she could write? Yes, answered the Duchess's
Soul, but not so intelligibly that any Reader
whatsoever may understand it, unless he be taught to
know my Characters; for my Letters are rather like
Characters, then well-formed Letters, Said the Emperess,
you were recommended to me by an honest and
ingenious Spirit. Surely, answered the Duchess, the
Spirit is ignorant of my hand-writing. The truth is, said
the Emperess, he did not mention your hand-writing;
but he informed me, that you writ sense and reason,
and if you can but write so, that any of my Secretaries
may learn your hand, they shall write it out fair and intelligible.
The Duchess answered, That she questioned
not but it might easily be learned in a short time. But,
said she to the Emperess, What is it that your Majesty
would have written? She answered, The Jews
Cabbala. Then your onely way for that is, said the
Duchess, to have the Soul of some famous Jew; nay,
if your Majesty please, I scruple not, but you may
as easily have the soul of Moses, as of any other. That
cannot be, replied the Emperess, for no mortal knows
where Moses is. But, said the Duchess, humane
Souls are immortal; however, if this be too difficult to
be obtained, you may have the Soul of one of the chief
Rabbies or Sages of the Tribe of Levi, who will truly
instruct you in that mystery; when as, otherwise, your
Majesty will be apt to mistake, and a thousand to one,
but commit gross errors. No, said the Emperess, for I
shall be instructed by Spirits. Alas! said the Duchess,
Spirits are as ignorant as Mortals in many cases; for
no created Spirits have a general or absolute knowledg,
nor can they know the Thoughts of Men, much less
the Mysteries of the great Creator, unless he be pleased
to inspire into them the gift of Divine Knowledg.
Then, I pray, said the Emperess, let me have your
counsel in this case. The Duchess answered, If your
Majesty will be pleased to hearken to my advice, I
would desire you to let that work alone; for it will be
of no advantage either to you, or your people, unless
you were of the Jews Religion; nay, if you were,
the vulgar interpretation of the holy Scripture would be
more instructive, and more easily believed, then your
mystical way of interpreting it; for had it been better
and more advantagious for the salvation of the Jews,
surely Moses would have saved after ages that labour
by his own explanation, he being not onely a wife,
but a very honest, zealous and religious Man: Wherefore
the best way, said she, is to believe with the generality
the literal sense of the Scripture, and not to
make interpretations every one according to his own
fancy, but to leave that work for the Learned, or those
that have nothing else to do; Neither do I think, said
she, that God will damn those that are ignorant therein,
or suffer them to be lost for want of a mystical interpretation
of the Scripture. Then, said the Emperess,
I'le leave the Scripture, and make a Philosophical
Cabbala. The Duchess told her, That sense and
reason would instruct her of Nature as much as
could be known; and as for numbers, they were infinite,
but to add non-sense to infinite, would breed
a confusion, especially in humane understanding.
Then, replied the Emperess, I'le make a moral Cabbala.
The onely thing, answered the Duchess, in
morality, is but to fear God, and to love his Neighbour,
and this needs no further interpretation. But
then I'le make a Political Cabbala, said the Emperess.
The Duchess answered, That the chief and onely
ground in Government, was but Reward and Punishment,
and required no further Cabbala; But, said she,
If your Majesty were resolved to make a Cabbala, I
would advise you, rather to make a Poetical or Romancical
Cabbala, wherein you can use Metaphors,
Allegories, Similitudes, &c. and interpret them as
you please. With that the Emperess thank'd the
Duchess, and embracing her soul, told her she would
take her Counsel: she made her also her favourite, and
kept her sometime in that world, and by this means
the Duchess came to know and give this Relation of all
that passed in that rich, populous, and happy world;
and after some time the Emperess gave her leave to return
to her Husband and Kindred into her native
world, but upon condition, that her soul should visit
her now and then; which she did, and truly their meeting
did produce such an intimate friendship between
them, that they became Platonick Lovers, although
they were both Females.
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