The next Augustan age will dawn on the other side of the Atlantic. There will, perhaps, be a Thucydides at Boston, a Xenophon at New York, and, in time, a Virgil at Mexico, and a Newton at Peru. At last, some curious traveler from Lima will visit England and give a description of the ruins of St Paul s, like the editions of Balbec and Palmyra.

Summary

This quote by French writer Julio Cortázar presents a hopeful vision of a future "Augustan age" that will emerge on the American continent. It suggests that great thinkers and writers, comparable to Thucydides, Xenophon, Virgil, and Newton, will emerge from cities like Boston, New York, Mexico, and Peru. The quote also imagines a potential reversal of cultural influence, where a traveler from Lima visits England and narrates the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, in a similar manner to the descriptions of the ancient cities of Balbec and Palmyra. Overall, the quote envisions a future where America produces intellectual and cultural greatness.

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