
 
 < i 
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 <tt]]ONYS01^ 

 
 
 r-1 >-
 
 THE 
 
 PRINCE 
 
 O F 
 
 A B I S S I N I A. 
 
 A 
 
 TALE. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 THE FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for W. S T R A H A N, W. J o H N s T o N, 
 and J. DOD s LE Y. MDCCLXVI,
 
 t H O 
 
 
 H 
 
 .of* to M 
 
 .II .! A H D 
 
 f ., T J / 
 
 i lo 3033 i 
 
 
 .MJ! k 

 
 CONTENTS 
 
 n 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 , 
 
 TTVESCRIPTION of a palace in a 
 valley P a g e x 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The difcontent of RafTelas in the happy 
 valley 9 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The wants of him that wants nothing 16 
 
 A 2 CHAP.
 
 iv CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The prince continues to grieve and 
 mule 2 1 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 The prince meditates his efcape 30 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 A diflertation on the art of flying 34 
 
 CHAP. VIi: 
 
 The prince finds a man of learning 44 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 The hiftory of Imlac 48 
 
 *Vu|$ *l;AHt> 
 
 o*p*, CHAP. IX. fMiiJl ... 
 The hiftory of Imlac continued 57 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. r 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Imlac's hiftory continued. A diflerta- 
 tion upon poetry 64 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Imlac's narrative continued. A hint on 
 pilgrimage 71 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 The ftory of Imlac continued 80 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Raflclas difcovers the means of efcape 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Raflelas and Imlac receive an unexpec- 
 ted viih 97 
 
 *! C H A P.
 
 n CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 nM . . ^n^niOTij .'io nxineb ailT 
 The prince and prmcefs leave the valley 
 
 and fee many wonders 101 
 
 CHAP. XlBfciqtjR 
 
 They enter Cairo, and find every man 
 happy i 06 
 
 01 jgnih'K CHAP. XVII.:fqq*jrj 
 
 The prince aflbciates with young men 
 of fpirit and gaiety 114 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 ,. .noimvialdo "to. /liow pfb ni^rl? 
 The prince finds a wife and happy man 
 
 /IXX- .^AH'J II8 
 
 j gl^iqqi^lA?iflfiSKS' 
 A glimpfe of paftoral life 125 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. vii 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 The danger of profperity 128 
 
 V3Trf,7-3rP ov/n! * r on* sonm-; 4 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 The happinefs of folitude. The her- 
 mit's hiilory 1-22 
 
 ;;i;;rn T^VO DfUi Dflfc 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 The happinefs of a life led according to 
 nature 139 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 The prince and his fifter divide between 
 
 them the work of obfervation 146 
 iiiun ycj(jB bii'- ,)H ' - t^ofi. v nin.-| i. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 The prince examines the happinefs of 
 high (ladons 149 
 
 CHAP.
 
 viii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 The princefs perfues her enquiry with 
 more diligence than fuccefs 1 53 
 
 THE
 
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 RASSELAS, 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 
 
 CHAP. .1. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF A PALACE IN A 
 . VALLEY. 
 
 "VT E who liiten with credulity to the 
 whifpers of fancy, and perfue with 
 eagernefs the phantoms of hope , who 
 expeft that age will perform the pro- 
 mifes of youth, and that the deficien- 
 cies of the prefent day will be fupplied 
 by the morrow ; attend to the hiftory 
 of Raflelas prince of Abififmia. 
 
 VOL. I. B Raflelas
 
 2 RASSELAS, 
 
 Raflelas was the fourth fon of the 
 nrghty emperour, in whofe dominions 
 the Father of waters begins his courfe ; 
 whofe bounty pours down the dreams 
 of plenty, and fcatters over half the 
 world the harvefts of Egypt. 
 
 According to the cuftom which has 
 defcended from age to age among the 
 monarchs of the torrid zone, Raffelas 
 was confined in a private palace, with 
 the other fons and daughters of Abiffi- 
 nian royalty, till the order of fucceffion 
 ihould call him to the throne. 
 
 The place, which the wifdom or po- 
 licy of antiquity had deftined for the re- 
 fidence of the Abiflinian princes, was a 
 fpacious valley in the kingdom of Am- 
 hara, furrounded on every fide by moim- 
 tains, of which the fummits overhang 
 the middle part. The only paflage, by 
 9 which
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 3 
 
 which it could be entered, was a cavern 
 that patted under a rock, of which it 
 has long been difputed whether it was 
 the work of nature or of human in- 
 duftry. The outlet of the cavern was 
 concealed by a thick wood, and the 
 mouth which opened into the valley" |\ 
 was clofed with gates of iron, forged by 
 the artificers of ancient days, fo mafi^ ; ' ' 
 that no man could without the help of/ '| 
 
 engines open or fhut them. 
 
 From the mountains on every fide, ri- 
 vulets defcended that filled all the valley 
 with verdure and fertility, and formed a 
 lake in the middle inhabited by filh, of 
 every fpecies, and frequented by every 
 fowl whom nature has taught to dip the 
 wing in water. This lake dilcharged 
 its fuperfluities by a ftream which en- 
 tered a dark cleft of the mountain on 
 2 the;
 
 4 RASSELAS, 
 
 the northern fide, and fell with dreadful 
 noife from precipice to precipice till it 
 was heard -no more. 
 
 The fides. of the mountains were co- 
 vered with trees, the banks of the 
 brooks were diverfified with flowers j 
 every blaft Ihook fpices from the rocks, 
 and every month dropped fruits upon 
 the ground. All animals that bite the 
 grafs, or broufe the fhrub, whether 
 wild or tame, wandered in this extenfive 
 circuit, fecured from beafts of prey by 
 the mountains which confined them. 
 On one part were flocks and herds 
 feeding in the paftnres, on another all 
 the beafts of chafe frifking in the 
 lawns ; the fprightly kid was bounding 
 on the rocks, the fubtle monkey frolick- 
 ing in the trees, and the folemn ele- 
 phant repofing in the made. All the 
 
 diver-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 5 
 
 diverfities of the world were brought 
 together, the bleffings of nature were 
 collected, and its evils extracted and ex- 
 cluded. 
 
 The valley, wide and fruitful, fup- 
 plied its inhabitants with the neceflaries 
 of life, and all delights and fuperfluities 
 were added at the annual vifit which 
 the emperour paid his children, when 
 the iron gate was opened to the found 
 of mufick ; and during eight days every 
 one that refided in the valley was re- 
 quired to propofe whatever might con- 
 tribute to make feclufion pleafant, to 
 fill up the vacancies of attention, and 
 leflen the tedioufnefs of time. Every 
 defire was immediately granted. All 
 the artificers of pleafure were called to 
 gladden the feftivity -, the muflcians ex- 
 erted the power of harmony, and the 
 B 3 dancers
 
 6 RASSELAS, 
 
 dancers mewed their activity before the 
 princes, in hope that they fhould pafs 
 their lives in this blifsful captivity, to 
 \vhich thefe only were admitted whofe 
 performance was thought able to add 
 novelty to luxury. Such was the ap- 
 pearance of fecurity and delight which 
 this retirement afforded, that they to 
 whom it was new always defired that it 
 might be perpetual ; and as thofe, on 
 whom the iron gate had once clofed, 
 were never fiiiFered to return, the effect 
 of longer experience Could not be 
 known. Thus every year produced 
 new fchemes of delight, and new com- 
 petitors for imprifonment. 
 
 The palace flood on an eminence 
 nifed about thirty paces above the fur- 
 face of the lake. It was divided into 
 jp.any fquares or courts, built with 
 
 greater
 
 PRINCE OF ABISS1NIA. 7 
 
 greater or lefs magnificence according 
 to the rank of thofe for whom they 
 were defigned. The roofs were turned 
 into arches of mafly flone joined by a 
 cement that grew harder by time, and 
 the building flood from century to cen- 
 tury deriding the folftitial rains and 
 equinoctial hurricanes, without need of 
 reparation. 
 
 This houfe, which was fo large as to 
 be fully known to none but fome an* 
 cient officers who fuccefiively inherited 
 the fecrets of the place, was built as if 
 fufpicion herfelf had dictated the plan. 
 To every room there was an open and 
 fecret pafiage, every fquare had a com- 
 munication with the reft, either from 
 the upper ftories by private galleries, 
 or by fubterranean paffages from the 
 B 4 lower
 
 RASSELAS, 
 
 lower apartments. Many of the co- 
 lumns had unfufpected cavities, in 
 which a long race of monarchs had 
 repofited their treafures. They then 
 clofed up the opening with marble, 
 which was never to be removed but in 
 the utmoft exigencies of the kingdom ; 
 and recorded their accumulations in a 
 book which was itfelf concealed in a 
 tower not entered but by the emperour, 
 attended by the prince who flood next 
 in fuccefiion. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 9 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 | ifej*. 
 
 THE DISCONTENT OF RASSELAS IN THE 
 HAPPY VALLEY. 
 
 HERE the fons and daughters of 
 Abifiinia lived only toknow the foft 
 viciflitudesof pleafure and repofe, attend- 
 ed by all that were fkilful to delight, and 
 gratified with whatever the fenfes can 
 enjoy. They wandered in gardens of 
 fragrance, andfleptin the fortreficsof fe- 
 curity. Every art was pradifed to make 
 them pleafed with their own condition. 
 The fages who inftructed them, told 
 them of nothing but the miferies of 
 publick life, and defcribed all beyond 
 the mountains as regions of calamity, 
 where difcord was always raging, and 
 where man preyed upon man. 
 
 To
 
 io RAS5ELAS, 
 
 To heighten their opinion of their 
 own felicity, they were daily entertained 
 with fongs, the fubject of which was the 
 happy valley. Their appetites were ex- 
 cited by frequent enumerations of diffe- 
 rent enjoyments, and revelry and merry- 
 ment was the bufmefs of every hour 
 from the dawn of morning to the clofe 
 of even. 
 
 Thefe methods were generally fuc- 
 cefsful; few of the princes had ever 
 wifhed to enlarge their bounds, but 
 pafl"ed their lives in full conviction that 
 they had all within their reach that art 
 or nature could beftow, and pitied thofe 
 whom fate had excluded from this feat 
 of tranquillity, as the fport of chance 
 and the (laves of mifery. 
 
 Thus they rofe in the morning and 
 lay down at night, pleafed with each 
 
 other
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. n 
 
 other and with themfelves, all but Raf- 
 felas, who in the twenty-fixth year of 
 his age, began to withdraw himfelf 
 from their paftimes and afiemblies, and 
 to delight in folitary walks and filent me- 
 ditation. He often fat before tables 
 covered with luxury, and forgot to tafte 
 the dainties that were placed before him : 
 he rofe abruptly in the midft of the fong, 
 and haftily retired beyond the found 
 of mufick. His attendants obferved the 
 change and endeavoured to renew his 
 love of pleafure : he neglected their 
 officioufnefs, repulfed their invitations, 
 and fpent day after day on the banks of 
 rivulets flickered with trees, where he 
 fometimes liftened to the birds in the 
 branches, fometimes obferved the fifh 
 playing in the ftream, and anon cad his 
 eyes upon the paftures and mountains 
 
 filled
 
 12 RASSELAS, 
 
 filled with animals, of which fome were 
 biting the herbage, and fome deeping 
 among the bulhes. 
 
 This fmgularity of his humour made 
 him much obferved. One of the Sages, 
 in whofe converfation he had formerly 
 delighted, followed him fecretly, in hope 
 of difcovering the caufe of his difquiet. 
 Raflelas, who knew not that any one was 
 near him, having for fome time fixed 
 his eyes upon the goats that were brouf- 
 ing among the rocks, began to compare 
 their condition with his own. 
 
 " What," faid he, " makes the diffe- 
 rence between man and all the reft of the 
 animal creation ? Every beafb that ftrays 
 befide me has the fame corporal neceffi- 
 ties with myfelf ; he is hungry and crops 
 the grafs, he is thirfty and drinks the 
 dream, his thirft and hunger are ap- 
 pealed,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 13 
 
 peafed, he is fatisfied and fkeps; he 
 rifes again and is hungry, he is again fed 
 and is at reft. I am hungry and thirfty 
 like him, but when thirft and hunger 
 ceafe I am not at reft ; I am, like him, 
 pained with want, but am not, like him, 
 fatisfied with fulnefs. The intermediate 
 hours are tedious and gloomy ; I long 
 again to be hungry that I may again 
 quicken my attention. The birds peck 
 the berries or the corn, and fly away to 
 the groves where they fit in feeming 
 happinefs on the branches, and wafte 
 their lives in tuning one unvaried feries 
 of founds. I likewife-can call the luta- 
 nift and the finger, but the founds that 
 pleafed me yefterday weary me to day, 
 and will grow yet more wearifome to- 
 morrow. I can difcover within me no 
 power of perception which is not glutted 
 4 with
 
 I 4 RASSELAS, 
 
 with its proper pleafure, yet I do not 
 feel myfelf delighted. Man furely has 
 fome latent fenfe for which this place 
 affords no gratification, or he has fome 
 defires diftincl: from fenfe which muft 
 be fatisfied before he can be happy." 
 
 After this he lifted up his head, and 
 feeing the moon rifing, walked towards 
 the palace. As he pafied through the 
 fields, and faw the animals around him, 
 *' Ye, faid he, are happy, and need not 
 envy me that walk thus among you, 
 burthened with myfelf; nor do I, ye 
 gentle beings, envy your felicity ; for 
 it is not the felicity of man. I have 
 many diftreffes from which ye are free; 
 J fear pain when I do not feel it t ; I 
 fometimes fhrink at evils recollected, 
 and fometimes dart at evils anticipated ; 
 
 furely
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 15 
 
 furely the equity of providence has bal- 
 lanced peculiar fufferings with peculiar 
 enjoyments." 
 
 With obfervations like thefe the 
 prince amufed himfelf as he returned, 
 uttering them with a plaintive voice, 
 yet with a look that difcovered him to 
 feel fome complacence in his own per- 
 fpicacity, and to receive fome folace of 
 the miferies of life, from confcioufnefs 
 of the delicacy with which he felt, and 
 and the eloquence with which he be- 
 wailed them. He mingled cheerfully 
 in the diverfions of the evening, and 
 all rejoiced to find that his heart was 
 lightened. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 RASSELAS, 
 
 GHAP. III. 
 
 THE WANTS OF HIM THAT WANTS 
 NOTHING. 
 
 N the next day his old inftruftor, 
 imagining that he had now made 
 himfelf acquainted with his difeafe of 
 mind, was in hope of curing it by counfel, 
 and officioufly fought an opportunity 
 of conference, which the prince, having 
 long confidered him as one whofe in- 
 tellects were exhaufted, was not very 
 willing to afford : " Why, laid he, does 
 this man thus intrude upon me ; lhall I 
 be never fuffered to forget thofe lec- 
 tures which pleafed only while they 
 were new, and to become new again 
 muft be forgotten ?" He then walked 
 into the wood, and compofed himfelf 
 
 to
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 17 
 
 to his lifual meditations ; when before 
 his thoughts had taken any fettled form, 
 he perceived his purfuer at his fide, and 
 was at firft prompted by his impatience 
 to go haftily away , but, being unwilling 
 to offend a man whom he had once re- 
 verenced and ftill loved, he invited him 
 to fit down with him on the bank. 
 
 The old man, thus encouraged, be- 
 gan to lament the change which had 
 been lately obferved in the prince, and 
 to enquire why he fo often retired from 
 the pleafures of the palace, to lonelinefs 
 and filence. " I fly from pleafure, faid 
 the prince, becaufe pleafure has ceafed 
 to pleafe ; I am lonely becaufe I am mi- 
 ferable, and am unwilling to cloud with. 
 my prefence the happinefs of others." 
 " You, Sir, faid the fage, are the firft 
 who has complained of mifery in the 
 .VOL.1. C bafly
 
 i8 RASSELAS, 
 
 happy valley. I hope to convince yoil 
 that your complaints have no real caufe. 
 You are here in full pofleflion of all 
 that the emperour of AbhTmia can be- 
 ftow; here is neither labour to be en- 
 dured nor danger to be dreaded, yet 
 here is all that labour or danger can 
 procure or purchafe. Look round and 
 tell me which of your wants is without 
 fupply : if you want nothing, how are 
 you unhappy ?" 
 
 " That I want nothing, faid the prince, 
 or that I know not what I want, is the 
 caufe of my complaint ; if I had any- 
 known want, I mould have a certain 
 wiflij that wifli would excite endea- 
 vour, and I mould not then repine to 
 fee the fun move fo (lowly towards the 
 \veftern mountain, or lament when the 
 day breaks and deep will no longer hide 
 
 me
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 1-9 
 
 'me from myfehv When I fee the kids 
 and the lambs chafing one another, 1 
 fancy that I fhould :be happy if I had 
 fomething to ' perfue. But, poflefling 
 all that I can want, I find one day and 
 one hour exactly like another, except 
 that the latter is ftill more tedious than 
 the former. Let your experience in- 
 form me how the day may now feem as 
 Ihort as in my childhood, while nature 
 was yet frefh, and every moment mew- 
 ed me what I never had obferved before. 
 I have already enjoyed too much j give 
 me fomething to defire." 
 
 The old man was furprized at this 
 new fpecies of affliction, and knew not 
 what to reply, yet was unwilling to be 
 filent. " Sir, faid he, if you had feen 
 the miferies of the world, you would 
 C 2 know
 
 26 R ASS EL AS, 
 
 know how to value your prefent ftate," 
 " Now, faid the prince, you have given 
 me fomething to defire ; I fhall long to 
 fee the miferies of the world, fince 
 the fight of them is necefiary to hap- 
 pinefs." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSJNIA. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 THE PRINCE CONTINUES TO GRIEVE 
 AND MUSE. 
 
 A T'this time the found of mufick pro- 
 * * claimed the hour of repaft, and the 
 converfation was concluded. The old 
 man went away fufficiently difcontented 
 to find that his reafonings had produced 
 the only conclufion which they were in- 
 tended to prevent. But in the decline 
 of life fhame and grief are of fhort du- 
 ration ; whether it be that we bear eafily 
 what we have born long, or that, finding 
 ourfelves in age lefs regarded, we lefs 
 regard others; or, that we look with 
 flight regard upon afflictions, to which 
 we know that the hand of death is about 
 K> put an end. 
 
 C 3 Th,o
 
 2* RASSELAS, 
 
 The prince, whofe views were ex- 
 tended to a wider fpace, could not 
 fpeedily quiet his emotions. He had 
 been before terrified at the length of 
 life which nature promifed him, becaufe 
 he corifidered that in a long time much 
 mud be endured ; he now rejoiced in 
 his youth, becaufe in many years much 
 might be done. 
 
 This firft beam of hope, that hac] 
 been ever darted into his mind, re- 
 kindled youth in his cheeks, and 
 doubled the luftre of his eyes. He 
 was fired with the defire of doing fome- 
 thing, though he knew not yet with 
 diftinctnefs, either end or means. 
 
 He was now no longer gloomy and 
 unfocial; but, confidering himfelf as 
 matter of a fecret flock of happinefs* 
 which he could enjoy only by concealing
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 23 
 
 it, he affected to be bufy in all fehemes 
 of diverfion, and endeavoured to make 
 others pleafed with the ftate of which he 
 himfelf was weary. But pleafures ne- 
 ver can be fo multiplied or continued, 
 as not to leave much of life unemploy- 
 ed ; there were many hours, both of the 
 night and day, which he could Ipend 
 without fufpicion in folitary thought. 
 The load of life was much lightened : he 
 went eagerly into the afiemblies, be- 
 caufe he fuppofed the frequency of nis 
 prefence necefifary to the fuccefs of his 
 purpofes ; he retired gladly to privacy, 
 becaufe he had now a fubject of 
 thought. 
 
 His chief amufement was to picture 
 
 to himfelf that world which he had never 
 
 feen j to place himfelf in various condi- 
 
 jions; to be entangled in imaginary 'dif- 
 
 C 4 ficulttes,
 
 24 RASSELAS, 
 
 faculties, and to be engaged in wild ad- 
 ventures : but his benevolence always 
 terminated his projects in the relief of 
 diftrefs, the detection of fraud, the de- 
 feat of opprefiion, and the diffufion of 
 happinefs. 
 
 Thus paffcd twenty months of the 
 life of Raffelas. He bufied himfelf fo 
 intenfely in vifionary buftle, that he 
 forgot his real folirude; and, amidft 
 hourly preparations for the various in- 
 cidents of human affairs, neglected to 
 confider by what means he fhould 
 mingle with mankind. 
 
 One day, as he was fitting on a bank, 
 he feigned to himfelf an orphan virgin 
 robbed of her little portion by a treach- 
 erous lover, and crying after him for 
 reftitution and redrefs. So ftrongly was 
 the image imprefTed upon his mind, that 
 
 he
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 25 
 
 he ftarted up in the maid*s defence, and 
 run forward to feize the plunderer with 
 all the eagernefs of real purfuit. Fear 
 naturally quickens the flight of guilt. 
 Raflelas could not catch the fugitive 
 with his utmoft efforts ; but, refolving 
 to weary, by perfeverance, him whom 
 he could not furpafs in fpeed, he prefled 
 on till the foot of the mountain flopped 
 his courfe. 
 
 Here he recollected himielf, and 
 fmiled at his own ufelefs impetuofity. 
 Then raifing his eyes to the mountain, 
 ** This, faid he, is the fatal obflacle that 
 hinders at once the enjoyment of plea- 
 fure, and the exercife of virtue. How 
 long is it that my hopes and wifhes 
 have flown beyond this boundary of 
 my life, which yet I never have attempt^ 
 d to furmount ! 
 
 Struck
 
 fe6 RASSELAS, 
 
 Struck with this reflection, lie fat 
 down to mufe, and remembered, that 
 fince he firft refolved to efcape from his 
 confinement, the fun had palled twice 
 over him in his annual courfe. He now 
 felt a degree of regret with which he had 
 never been before acquainted. He con- 
 fidered how much might have been done 
 in the time which had paiTed, and left 
 nothing real behind it. He compared 
 twenty months with the life of man. 
 " In life, (aid he, is not to be counted 
 the ignorance of infancy, or imbecility 
 of age. We are long before we are able 
 to think, and we foon ceafe from the 
 power of ading. The true period of 
 human exiftence may be reafonably efti- 
 mated as forty years, of which I have 
 muled away the four and twentieth part. 
 What I have loft was certain, for I have 
 
 certainly
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 27 
 
 certainly pofiHTed it ; but of twenty 
 months to come who can aflure me ?" 
 
 The confeioufnefs of his own folly 
 pierced him deeply, and he was long 
 before he could be reconciled to himfelf. 
 " The reft of my time, faid he, has 
 been loft by the crime or folly of my an- 
 ceftors, and the abfurd inftitutions of my 
 country , I remember it with difguft, yet 
 without remorfe : but the months that 
 have palled fmce new light darted into 
 my foul, fmce I formed a fcheme of rea- 
 fonable felicity, have been fquandered 
 by my own fault. I have loft that which 
 can never be reftored : I have feen the 
 fun rife and fet for twenty months, an 
 idle gazer on the light of heaven : In. 
 this time the birds have left the neft of 
 their mother, and committed themfelves 
 to the woods and to the Ikies: the 
 
 kid
 
 ** RASSELAS, 
 
 kid has forfaken the teat, and learned 
 by degrees to climb the rocks in queft of 
 independant fuftenance. I only have 
 made no advances, but am ftill helplefs 
 and ignorant. The moon, by more than 
 twenty changes, admonimed me of the 
 flux of life ; the ftream that rolled be- 
 fore my feet upbraided my inactivity. I 
 fat f calling on intellectual luxury, re- 
 gardlefs alike of the examples of the 
 earth, and the inftructions of the planets. 
 Twenty months are patted, who mail 
 reftore them !" 
 
 Thefe forrowful meditations fattened 
 upon his mind -, he paft four months in 
 refolving to lofe no more time in idle 
 refolves, and was awakened to more 
 vigorous exertion by hearing a maid, 
 who had broken a porcelain cup, re- 
 mark,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 2$ 
 
 mark, that what cannot be repaired is 
 not to be regretted. 
 
 This was obvious ; and RafTelas re- 
 proached himfelf that he had not difco- 
 vered it, having not known, or not con- 
 fidered, how many ufeful hints are ob- 
 tained by chance, and how often the 
 mind, hurried by her own ardour to 
 diftant views, neglects the truths that lie 
 open before her. He, for a few hours, 
 regretted his regret, and from that time 
 bent his whole mind upon the means of 
 efcaping from the valley of happinefs. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 30 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 THE PRINCE MEDITATES HIS .ESCAPE. 
 
 HE now found that it would be very- 
 difficult to effect that which it was 
 very eafy to fuppofe effected. When he 
 looked round about him, he faw him- 
 fe-lf confined by the bars of nature which 
 had never yet been broken, and by the 
 gate, through which none that once had 
 pafled it were ever able to return. He 
 was now impatient as an eagle in .a 
 grate. He paffed week after week in 
 clambering the mountains, to fee if there 
 was any aperture which trie bumes might 
 conceal, but found all the fummits in- 
 accefllble by their prominence. The iron 
 gate hfc djefpaired to open , for it was not 
 only fecured with all the power of art, 
 
 but
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 31 
 
 but was always watched by fucceflive 
 fentinels, and was by its pofition ex- 
 pofed to the perpetual obfervation of 
 all the inhabitants. 
 
 He then examined the -cavern through 
 which the waters of the lake were dif- 
 charged ; and, looking down at a time 
 when the fan (hone ftrongly upon its 
 mouth, he difcovered it to be full of 
 
 -broken rocks, which, though they per- 
 mitted theitream to flow through many- 
 narrow pafTages, would ftop any body 
 of folid bulk. He returned difcouraged 
 and dejected j but, having now known 
 the bleffing of hope, refolved never to 
 defpair. 
 
 v . , jln thefe fruitlefs fearches he fpent ten 
 
 months. The time, however, pafltrd 
 
 chearfully away : in the morning he rofc 
 
 6 with
 
 3* RASSELAS, 
 
 with new hope, in the evening applaud- 
 ed his own diligence, and in the night 
 flept found after his fatigue. He met a 
 thoufand amufements which beguiled 
 his labour, and diverfified his thoughts. 
 He difcerned the various inftincts of 
 animals, and properties of plants, and 
 found the place replete with wonders, of 
 which he purpofed to folace himfelf with 
 the contemplation, if he mould never be 
 able to accomplifh his flight ; rejoicing 
 that his endeavours, though yet unfuc- 
 cefsful, had fupplied him with a fource 
 of inexhauftible enquiry. 
 
 But his original curiofity was not yet 
 abated ; he refolved to obtain fome 
 knowledge of the ways of men. His 
 wifh ftill continued, but his hope grew 
 lefs. He ceafed to furvey any longer 
 
 the
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 33 
 
 the walls of his prifon, and (pared to 
 fearch by new toils for interfaces which 
 he knew could not be found, yet deter- 
 mined to keep his defign always in 
 view, and lay hold on any expedient that 
 time mould offer. 
 
 VOL.!. D CHAP.
 
 34 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. Vl:ii' 
 
 ti br.B iiK'-io;-* 
 
 A DISSERTATION ON THE ART OF 
 
 T IS DSDBlq 
 FLYING. 
 
 tila arnoi 
 
 A 1 
 
 MONO the artifts. that had been 
 allured into the happy valley, to 
 labour for the accommodation and 
 pleafure of its inhabitants, was a man 
 eminent for his knowledge of the ,m,e> 
 chanick powers, who had contrived 
 many engines both of ufe and recro- 
 ation. By a wheel, which the ftrearn 
 turned, he forced the water into, a 
 tower, whence it was diftributed to all 
 the apartments of the palace. He 
 erected a pavillion in the garden, 
 around which he kept the air alwa/s 
 cool by artificial (howers. One of the 
 groves, appropriated to the ladies* -was 
 * CI ventilated
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 35 
 
 ventilated by fans, to which the rivulet 
 that run through it gave a conftant 
 motion ; and inftruments of foft mufick 
 were placed at proper diftances, of 
 which fome played by the impulfe of 
 the wind, and fome by the power of 
 the ftream. 
 
 This artift was fometimes vifited by 
 RafTelas, who was pleafed with every 
 kind of knowledge, imagining that the 
 time would come when all his acqui- 
 fitions mould be of ufe to him in the 
 open world. He came one day to amufe 
 himfelf in his ufual manner, and found 
 the matter bufy in building a failing 
 chariot: he faw that the defign was 
 prafticable upon a level furface, and 
 with expreffions of great efteem folicited 
 its completion. The workman was 
 pleaied to find himfelf fo much re- 
 D 2 garded
 
 3 6 RASSELAS, 
 
 garded by the prince, and refolved 
 to gain yet higher honours. " Sir, 
 faid he, you have feen but a fmail part 
 of what the mechanick fciences can 
 perform, I have been long of opinion, 
 that, inftead of the tardy conveyance of 
 {hips and chariots, man might ufe the 
 fwifter migration of wings-, that the 
 fields Of air are open to knowledge, 
 and that only ignorance and idlenefs 
 need crawl upon the ground." 
 
 This hint rekindled the .prince's 
 defire of paffing the mountains-, having 
 Teen what the mechanifl had already 
 performed, he was willing to fancy that 
 he could do more-, yet refolved to en- 
 quire further before he fuffered hope to 
 afflia him by difappointment. " I am 
 -afraid, faid he to the artift, that your 
 -imagination prevails over your fkill, 
 
 and
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 37 
 
 and that you now tell me rather wha.t 
 you wiih than what you know. Every 
 animal has his element afiigned him, 
 the birds have the air, and man and 
 beafts tfye earth." " So, replied the 
 mechanift, fifties have the water, in 
 which yet beafts can fwim by nature, 
 and men by art. He that can fwim 
 needs not defpair to fly : to fwim is 10 
 fly in a grofier fluid, and to fly is to 
 fwim in a fubtler. We are only to pro- 
 portion our power of refiftance to the 
 different denfity of matter through 
 which we are to pafs. You will be ne- 
 cefiarily upborn by the air, if you can 
 renew any impulfe upon it, /after than 
 the air can recede from true preffure." 
 
 " But the exerciie of Ijvirnming, -fajid 
 
 the prince, is very laborious , ,the 
 
 ftron.geft limbs are foon wearied 5 I am 
 
 D 3 afraid
 
 3 8 RASSELAS, 
 
 afraid the act of flying will be yet more 
 violent, and wings will be of no great 
 ufe, unlefs we can fly further than we 
 can fwim." 
 
 " The labour of rifing from the 
 ground, faid the artift, will be great, as 
 we fee it in the heavier domeftick fowls; 
 but, as we mount higher, the earth's 
 attraction, and the body's gravity, will 
 be gradually diminimed, till we fhall 
 arrive at a region where the man will 
 float in the air without any tendency to 
 fall : no care will then be neceflary, but 
 to move forwards, which the gentleft 
 impulfe will effect. You, Sir, whofe 
 curiofity is fo extenfive, will eafily con- 
 ceive with what pleafure a philofopher, 
 furnifhed with wings, and hovering in 
 the fky, would fee the earth, and all its 
 inhabitants, : rolling beneath him, and 
 
 pre-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 39 
 
 r 
 
 prefenting to him fuccefiively, by its 
 diurnal motion, all the countries within 
 the faaae parallel. How muft it amufe 
 the pendent fpeftator to fee the moving 
 fcene of land and ocean, cities and 
 defarts ! To furvey with equal fecurity 
 the marts of trade, and the fields of 
 battle ; . mountains infefted by barba- 
 rians, and fruitful regions gladdened by 
 plenty, and lulled by peace ! How 
 eafily mall we then trace the Nile 
 through all his pafTage; pafs over to 
 diftant regions, and examine the face of 
 nature from one extremity of the earth 
 
 to the other !" 
 
 jJoiiw <.'i!c c sjoi fVjTH l/rv <=p j>-.^ -'""' 
 " All this, faid the prince, is much 
 
 to be defired, but I am afraid that no 
 man will be able to breathe in thefe 
 regions of Speculation and tranquillity. 
 I have been told,, that refpiration is dif- 
 D 4 ficult
 
 '46 RASSELAS, 
 
 ficult upon lofty mountains, yet from 
 thefe precipices, though fo high as to 
 produce great tenuity of air* it. is very 
 eafy to fall : therefore I fufpeft, that 
 from any height, where life can be fup- 
 ported, there may be danger of too 
 quick defcent." 
 
 " Nothing, replied the artift, will 
 ever be attempted, if all pofllble objec- 
 tions mufl be firft overcome. If you 
 vail favour my project I will try the 
 irft flight at my own hazard. I have 
 cbnfidered the ftrufture of all volant 
 animals, and find the folding continuity 
 of the bat's wings moft eafily accommo- 
 dated to the human form. Upon this 
 model I mall begin my tafk to-morrow, 
 and in a year expeft to tower into the 
 air beyond the malice and purfuit of 
 man. But I will work pnly on this 
 
 con-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 41 
 
 condition, that the art fhall not be di- 
 vulged, and that you fhall" not require 
 me to make wings for any but our- 
 felves." 
 
 " Why, faid RaflelasV mould you 
 envy others fo great an advantage ? All 
 fldll ought to be exerted for univerfal 
 good i every man has owed much to 
 others, and ought to repay the kindnefs, 
 that he has received." 
 
 " If men were all virtuous, returned 
 the artift, I mould with great alacrity 
 teach them all to fly. But what would be 
 the fecurity of the good, if the bad 
 could at pleafure invade them from the 
 Iky ? Againfl an army failing through 
 the clouds neither walls, nor mountains, " 
 nor feas, could afford any fecurity. A, 
 flight of northern favages might hover 
 in the wind, and light at once with irre- 
 ' -co. fiftible
 
 42 R ASS EL AS, 
 
 fiftible violence upon the capital of a 
 fruitful region that was rolling under 
 them. Even this valley, the retreat of 
 princes, the abode of happinefs, might 
 be violated by the fudden defcent of 
 fome of the naked nations that fwarm 
 on the coaft of the fouthern fea." 
 
 The prince promifed fecrecy, and 
 waited for the performance, not wholly 
 hopelefs of fuccefs. He vifited the 
 work from time to time, obferved its 
 progrefs, and remarked many ingenious 
 contrivances to facilitate motion, and 
 unite levity with flrength. The artilt 
 was every day more certain that he 
 fhould leave vultures and eagles behind 
 him, and the contagion of his confidence 
 fcized upon the prince. 
 
 In a year the wings were finifhed, and, 
 on a morning appointed, the maker ap- 
 peared
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 43 
 
 peared furniflbed for flight on a little 
 promontory: he waved his pinions a 
 while to gather air, then leaped from 
 his Hand, and in an inftant dropped into 
 the lake. His wings, which were of no 
 ufe in the air, fuftained him in the water, 
 and the prince drew him to land, half 
 dead with terror and vexation. 
 
 3d* Mifliv ?H 
 
 , 
 
 bru. <t\M 
 
 jiiijjna;) ^li'fn ysb yisv'a .vt 
 iyiis bne 2tii-j.?Iuv ^v.toJ Muorfl 
 CHAP. 
 noqu ba^wi 
 n nl
 
 44 RASSELAS, 
 
 . :;W Oil }<' 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 THE PRINCE FINDS A MAN OP 
 
 LEARNING. 
 
 /TpHE prince was not much afflicted 
 * by this difafter, having fuffered 
 himfelf to hope for a happier event, 
 only becaufe he had no other means of 
 efcape in view. He flill perfifled in 
 his defign to leave the happy valley by 
 the firft opportunity. . 11O > ^ 
 
 His imagination was now at a ftandj 
 he had no profpecT: of entering into the 
 world , and, notwithftanding all his en- 
 deavours to fuppbrt himfelf, difcontent 
 by degrees preyed upon him, and he be- 
 gan again to lofe his thoughts in fadnefs, 
 
 when the rainy feafon, which in thefe 
 . 
 
 countries
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 45 
 
 countries is periodical, made it incon- 
 venient to wander in the woods. 
 
 The rain continued longer and with 
 more violence than had been ever 
 known : the clouds broke on the fur- 
 rounding mountains, and the torrents 
 ftreamed into the plain on every fide, 
 till the cavern was too narrow to dif- 
 charge the Water. The lake overflowed 
 its banksrarid all the level of the valley 
 was covered with the inundation. The 
 eminence, on which the palace was- 
 built, and fome other fpots of rifing 
 ground, were all that the eye could now 
 difcover. The herds and flocks left the 
 paftures, and both the wild beads an.d 
 the tame retreated to the mountains, , 
 
 This inundation confined all the prin- 
 ces to "domeftick amufements, .and the 
 attention of RaiTeUs ..was. iparncukrly 
 
 Sized
 
 46 RASSELAS, 
 
 feized by a poem, which Imlac rehearfed 
 upon the various conditions of huma- 
 nity. He commanded the poet to at- 
 tend him in his apartment, and recite 
 his verfes a fecond time ; then entering 
 into familiar talk, he thought himfelf 
 happy in having found a man who 
 knew the world fo well, and could fo 
 fkilfully paint the fcenes of life. He 
 alked a thoufend queflions about things^ 
 to which, though common to all other 
 mortals, his confinement from childhood 
 had kept him a flranger. The poet 
 pitied his ignorance, and loved his cu- 
 riofity, and entertained him from day 
 to day with novelty and inftruction, fo 
 that the prince regretted the neceflity 
 of deep, and longed till the morning 
 irtould renew his pleafure. 
 
 As they were fitting together, the 
 prince commanded Imlac to relate his 
 
 hiftory,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 47 
 
 hiftory, and to tell by what accident he 
 was forced, or by what motive induced, 
 to clofe his life in the happy valley. 
 As he was going to begin his narrative, 
 RafTelas was called to a concert, and 
 obliged to reftrain his curiofity till the 
 
 evening. 
 
 vi Ji;o3 bnfi t lhvi 61 ./-ow srh 'ftt-.d 
 
 ill .yill "io ?3n::v3dj .'i, s /{li.-iij.i 
 
 fi 03 
 
 I.rdD raoitir 
 
 ol r fioihijifini hri/i *{3>'>von ri: 
 
 ^a ^ni b^JjT^si ^Dnn 
 ~inn::Q:i\ ^jjj fin pj^r-'iof ,Ln
 
 RASSELAS, 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF IMLAC. 
 
 H E clofe of the day is, in the re- 
 gions of the torrid zone, the only 
 feafon of diverfion and entertainment, 
 and it was therefore midnight before 
 the mufick ceafed, and the princeffes 
 retired. RafTelas then called for his 
 companion and required him to begin 
 the ftory of his life. 
 
 " Sir, faid Imlac, my hiftory will 
 not be long : the life that is devoted to 
 knowledge pafTes filently away, and is 
 very little diverfified by events. To 
 talk in publick, to think in folitude, to 
 read and to hear, to inquire, and an- 
 fwer inquiries, is the bufmefs of a 
 fcholar. He wanders about the world 
 3 with-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 49 
 
 without pomp or terrour, and is neither 
 known nor valued but by men like 
 himfelfi 
 
 " I was born in the kingdom of Goi- 
 ama, at no great diftance from the foun- 
 tain of the Nile. My father was a weal- 
 thy merchant, who traded between the 
 inland countries of Africk and the ports 
 of the red Tea. He was boneft, frugal 
 and diligent, but of mean fentimems, 
 and narrow comprehenfion: he defired 
 only to be rich, and to conceal his 
 riches, left he mould be fpoiled by the 
 governours of the province." 
 
 " Surely, faid the prince, my father 
 muft be negligent of his charge, if any 
 man in his dominions dares take that 
 which belongs to another. Does he no: 
 know that kings are accountable for in- 
 juftice permitted as well as done ? If I 
 VOL. I. E 
 
 were
 
 5 o RASSELAS, 
 
 were emperour, not the meaneft of my 
 fubjects fhould be opprefied with im- 
 punity. My blood boils when I am 
 told that a merchant durit not enjoy 
 his honeft gains for fear of lofing them 
 by the rapacity of power. Name the 
 governour who robbed the people, that 
 I may declare his crimes to the em- 
 perour." 
 
 " Sir, faid Imlac, your ardour is the 
 natural effect of virtue animated by 
 youth : the time will come when you 
 will acquit your father, and perhaps hear 
 with lefs impatience of the governour. 
 Oppreffion is, in the Abiffinian domi- 
 nions, neither frequent nor tolerated ; 
 but no form of government has been 
 yet difcovered, by which cruelty can be 
 wholly prevented. Subordination fup- 
 pofes power on one part and fubjection 
 
 on
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 51 
 
 on the other ; and if power be in the 
 hands of men, it will fometimes be 
 abufed. The vigilance of the fupreme 
 magiftrate may do much, but much 
 will ftill remain undone. He can never 
 know all the crimes that are committed, 
 and can feldom punifli all that he 
 knows." 
 
 " This, faid the prince, I do not un- 
 derftand, but I had rather hear thee than 
 difpute. Continue thy narration." 
 
 " My father, proceeded Imlac, origi- 
 nally intended that I mould have no 
 other education, than fuch as might 
 qualify me for commerce ; and difcover- 
 ing in me great ftrength of memory, 
 and quickncfs of apprehenfion, often 
 declared his hope that I fhould be fome 
 time the richeft man in Abiffinia." 
 
 E 2 Why,
 
 52 RASSELAS, 
 
 " Why, faid the prince, did thy fa- 
 ther defire the increafe of his wealth, 
 when it was already greater than he durft 
 difcover or enjoy ? I am unwilling to 
 doubt thy veracity, yet inconfiftencies 
 cannot both be true." 
 
 " Inconfiftencies, anfwered Imlac, 
 cannot both be right, but, imputed to 
 man, they may both be true. Yet di- 
 verfity is not inconfiftency. My father 
 might expect a time of greater fecurity. 
 However, fome defire is necefiary to 
 keep life in motion, and he, whofe real 
 wants are fupplied, muft admit thofe of 
 fancy." 
 
 " This, faid the prince, I can in fomc 
 meafure conceive. I repent that I in- 
 terrupted thee." 
 
 " With this hope, proceeded Imlac, 
 he fent me to fchool j but when I had 
 
 once
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA.53 
 
 once found the delight of knowledge, 
 and felt the pleafure of intelligence and 
 the pride of invention, I began filently to 
 defpife riches, and determined to dif- 
 appoint the purpofe of my father, whofe 
 grofTnefs of conception raifed my pity. 
 I was twenty years old before his tender- 
 nefs would expofe me to the fatigue of 
 travel, in which time I had been inftruc- 
 ted, by fuccefllve matters, in all the lite- 
 rature of my native country. As every 
 hour taught me fomething new, I lived 
 in a continual courfe of gratifications ; 
 but, as I advanced towards manhood, 
 I loft much of the reverence with which 
 I had been ufed to look on my inftruc- 
 tors ; becaufe, when the lefibn was 
 ended, I did not find them wifer or 
 better than common men, 
 
 E 3 "At
 
 54 RASSELAS, 
 
 " At length my father refolved to ini- 
 tiate me in commerce, and, opening one 
 of his fubterranean treafuries, counted 
 out ten thoufand pieces of gold. This, 
 young man, faid he, is the flock with 
 which you muft negotiate. I began with 
 lefs than the fifth part, and you fee how 
 diligence and parfimony have increafed 
 it. This is your own to wafte or to 
 improve. If you fquander it by negli- 
 gence or caprice, you muft wait for my 
 death before you will be rich : if, in 
 four years, you double your flock, we 
 will thenceforward let fubordination 
 ceafe, and live together as friends and 
 partners ; for he fhall always be equal 
 with me, who is equally {killed in the 
 art of growing rich. 
 
 " We laid our money upon camels, 
 concealed in bales of cheap goods, and 
 
 travelled
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 55 
 
 travelled to the Ihore of the red fea. 
 When I caft my eye on the expanfe of 
 waters my heart bounded like that of a 
 prifoner efcaped. I felt an unextin- 
 guifhable curiofity kindle in my mind, 
 and refolved to fnatch this opportunity 
 of feeing the manners of other nations, 
 and of learning fciences unknown in 
 Abiflinia. 
 
 I remembered that my father had 
 obliged me to the improvement of my 
 flock, not by a promife which I ought 
 not to violate, but by a penalty which I 
 was at liberty to incur ; and therefore 
 determined to gratify my predominant 
 defire, and by drinking at the fountains 
 of knowledge, to quench the thirfl of 
 curiofity. 
 
 " As I was fuppofed to trade without 
 
 connexion with my father, it was eafy 
 
 E 4 for
 
 5 6 R A S S E L A S, 
 
 for me to become acquainted with the 
 mafter of a (hip, and procure a pafiage 
 to fome other country. I had no mo- 
 tives of choice to regulate my voyage ; 
 it was fufficient for me that, wherever I 
 wandered, I mould fee a country which 
 I had not feen before. I therefore en- 
 tered a fhip bound for Surat, having left 
 a letter for my father declaring my inr 
 tention. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 57 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF iMLAC CONTINUED. 
 
 HEN I firft entered upon the 
 world of waters, and loft fight 
 of land, I looked round about me with 
 pleafing terrour, and thinking my foul 
 enlarged by the boundlels profpedt, ima- 
 gined that I could gaze round for ever 
 without fatiety ; but, in a fhort time, I 
 grew weary of looking on barren unifor- 
 mity, where I could only fee again what 
 I had already feen. I then defcende4 
 into the fhip, and doubted for a while 
 whether all my future pleafures would 
 not end like this in difguft and difap- 
 pointment. Yet, furejy, faid I, the 
 ocean and the land are very different ; 
 tie only variety of water is reft and 
 
 motion j.
 
 5 8 RASSELAS, 
 
 motion, but the earth has mountains 
 and vallies, defarts and cities : it is in- 
 habited by men of different cuftoms 
 and contrary opinions ; and I may hope 
 to find variety in life, though I mould 
 mifs it in nature. 
 
 V With thisthoughtl quieted my mind 
 and amufed myfelf during the voyage, 
 fometimes by learning from the failors 
 the art of navigation, which I have ne^ 
 ver practifed, and fometimes by forming 
 fchemes for my conduct in different fitu- 
 ations, in not one of which I have been 
 ever placed. 
 
 " I was almoft weary of my naval 
 amufements when we landed fafely at 
 Surat. I fecured my money, and pur- 
 chafing fo.ne commodities for mow, 
 joined myfelf to a caravan that was 
 puffing into the inland country. My 
 
 com-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 59 
 
 companions, for fome reafon or other, 
 conjecturing that I was rich, and, by 
 my inquiries and admiration, finding 
 that I was ignorant, confidered me as a 
 novice whom they had a right to cheat, 
 and who was to learn at the ufual exr 
 pence the art of fraud. They expofed 
 me to the theft of fervants, and the ex- 
 action of officers, and faw me plunder- 
 ed upon falfe pretences, without any 
 advantage to themfelvcs, but that of 
 rejoicing in the fuperiority of their own 
 knowledge." 
 
 " Stop a moment, faid the prince. Is 
 there fuch depravity in man, as that he 
 Ihould injure another without benefit to 
 himfelf ? I can eafily conceive that all 
 are pleafed with fuperiority ; but your 
 ignorance was merely accidental, which, 
 being neither your crime nor your folly, 
 
 pould
 
 60 RASSELAS, 
 
 could afford them no reafon to applaud 
 themfelves ; and the knowledge which 
 they had, and which you wanted, they 
 might as effectually have fhewn by warn- 
 ing, as betraying you." 
 
 " Pride, faid Imlac, is feldom deli- 
 cate, it will pleafe itfelf with very mean 
 advantages -, and envy feels not its own 
 happinefs, but when it may be com- 
 pared with the mifery of others. They 
 were my enemies becaufe they grieved 
 to think me rich, and my oppreflbrs be- 
 caufe they delighted to find me weak." 
 
 "Proceed, faid the prince: I doubt 
 not of the facts which you relate, but 
 imagine that you impute them to mif- 
 taken motives." 
 
 " In this company, faid Imlac, I ar- 
 rived at Agra, the capital of Indoftan, 
 the city in which the great Mogul com- 
 monly
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSlNIA. 6t 
 
 monly refides. I applied myfelf to the 
 language of the country, and in a few 
 months was able to converfe with the 
 learned men; fome of whom I found 
 morofe and referved, and others eafy 
 and communicative ; fome were unwil- 
 ling to teach another what they had with 
 difficulty learned themfelve? , and fome 
 mewed that the end of their ftudies was 
 to gain the dignity of inftructing. 
 
 " To the tutor of the young princes 
 I recommended myfelf fo much, that I 
 was prefented to the emperour as a man 
 of uncommon knowledge. The empe- 
 rour afked me many queflions concern- 
 ing my country and my travels; and 
 though I cannot now recollect any thing 
 that he uttered above the power of a 
 common man, he difmiHed me aftonimed 
 
 at
 
 62 RASSELAS, 
 
 at his wifdom, and enamoured of his 
 goodrtefs. 
 
 " My credit was now fo high, that 
 the merchants, with whom I had travel- 
 led, applied to me for recommendations 
 to the ladies of the Court. I was fur- 
 prifed at their confidence of felicitation, 
 and gently reproached them with their 
 practices on the road. They heard me 
 with cold indifference, and mewed no 
 tokens of fhame or fbrrow. 
 
 " They then urged their requeft with 
 the offer of a bribe ; but what I would 
 not do for lundnefs I would not do for 
 money; and refufed them, not becaufe 
 they had injured me, but becaufe I would 
 not enable them to injure others ; for I 
 knew they would have made ufe of my 
 credit to cheat thofe who mould buy 
 their wares. 
 
 " Having
 
 PRINCE OF ABISS1NIA. 63 
 
 " Having refided at Agra till there 
 was no more to be learned, I travelled 
 into Perfia, where I faw many remains 
 of ancient magnificence, and obferved 
 many new accommodations of life. The 
 Perfians are a nation eminently fccial, 
 and their aflemblies afforded me daily 
 opportunities of remarking characters 
 and manners, and of tracing human na- 
 ture through all its variations. 
 
 " From Perfia I pafled into Arabia, 
 where I faw a nation at once pailoral 
 and warlike -, who live without any fet- 
 tled habitation-, whofe only wealth is 
 their flocks and herds ; and who have 
 yet carried on, through all ages, an 
 hereditary war with all mankind, though 
 they neither covet nor envy their pof- 
 feffions. 
 
 CHAR
 
 64 R A S S E L A 5, 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 IMLAC'S HISTORY CONTINUED. A DI - 
 SERTATION UPON POETRY. 
 
 TjSTHEREVER I went, I found 
 that Poetry was confideredas the 
 higheft learning, and regarded with a 
 veneration fomewhat approaching to 
 that which man would pay to the An- 
 gelick Nature. And yet it fills me 
 with wonder, that, in almoft all coun- 
 tries, the mod ancient poets are con- 
 fidered as the beft : whether it be that 
 every other kind of knowledge is an ac- 
 quifition gradually attained, and poetry 
 is a gift conferred at once ; or that the 
 firft poetry of every nation furprifed 
 them as a novelty, and retained the 
 credit by confent which it received by 
 
 acci-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 5 
 
 accident at firft: or whether, as the 
 province of poetry is to defcri be Nature 
 and Paflion, which are always the fame, 
 the firft writers took poffeflion of the 
 mod ftriking objefts for defcription, and 
 the moft probable occurrences for fie- 
 tion, and left nothing to thofe that fol- 
 lowed them, but tranfcription of the 
 fame events, and new combinations of 
 the fame images. Whatever be the 
 reafon, it is commonly obferved that 
 the early writers are in pofleffion of na- 
 ture, and their followers of art : that 
 the firft excel in ftrength and invention, 
 and the latter in elegance and re- 
 finement. 
 
 " I was defirous to add my name to 
 this illuftrious fraternity. I read all the 
 poets of Perfia and Arabia, and was able 
 to repeat by memory the volumes that 
 
 VOL. I. F are
 
 66 RASSELAS, 
 
 are fufpended in the mofque of Mecca. 
 But I foon found that no man was ever 
 great by imitation. My defire of excel- 
 lence impelled me to transfer my atten- 
 tion to nature and to life. Nature was 
 to be my fubjecl, and men to be my 
 auditors : I could never defcribe what I 
 had not feen : I could not hope to move 
 thofe with delight or terrour, whole inte- 
 relts and opinions I did not underftand. 
 
 " Being now refolved to be a poet, I 
 (aw every thing with a new purpofe ; 
 my fphere of attention was fuddenly 
 magnified : no kind of knowledge was 
 to be overlooked. I ranged mountains 
 and defarts for images and refemblances, 
 and pictured upon my mind every tree 
 of the foreft and flower of the valley. 
 I obferved with equal care the crags of 
 the rock and the pinnacles of the palace. 
 
 Some-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 67 
 
 Sometimes I wandered along the mazes 
 of the rivulet, and fometimes watched 
 the changes of the fummer clouds. To 
 a poet nothing can be ufelefs. What- 
 ever is beautiful, and whatever is dread- 
 ful, muft be familiar to his imagination : 
 he muft be converfant with all that is 
 awfully vail or elegantly little. The 
 plants of the garden, the animals of the 
 wood, the minerals of the earth, and 
 meteors of the fky, muft all concur to 
 ftore his mind with inexhauftible va- 
 riety : for every idea is ufeful for the in- 
 forcement or decoration of moral or re- 
 ligious truth ; and he, who knows moft, 
 will have rnoft power of diverfifying his 
 fcenes, and of gratifying his reader with 
 remote allufions and unexpected in- 
 ftruction. 
 
 " All the appearances of nature I was 
 
 therefore careful to ftudy, and every 
 
 F 2 country
 
 68 RASSELAS, 
 
 country which I have furveyed has con- 
 tributed fomething to my poetical 
 powers." 
 
 " In fo wide a furvey, faid the prince, 
 you muft furely have left much unob- 
 ferved. I have lived, till now, within 
 the circuit of thefe mountains, and yet 
 cannot walk abroad without the fight of 
 fomething which I had never beheld be- 
 fore, or never heeded." 
 
 " The bufmefs of a poet, faid Imlac, 
 is to examine, not the individual, but 
 the fpecies j to remark general proper- 
 ties and large appearances ; he does not 
 number the ftreaks of the tulip, or de- 
 fcribe the different fhades in the verdure 
 of the foreft. He is to exhibit in his 
 portraits -of -nature fuch prominent and 
 ftriking features, as recal the original to 
 every mind - r . and muft neglect, tjie, 
 v " ' minuter
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 6*9 
 
 minuter difcriminations, which one may 
 have remarked, and another have neg- 
 lected, for thofe characterifticks which 
 are alike obvious to vigilance and care- 
 lefnefs. 
 
 " But the knowledge of nature is 
 only half the talk of a poet ; he muft 
 be acquainted likewife with all the 
 modes of life. His character requires 
 that he eflimate the happinefs and mi- 
 fery of every condition ; obferve the 
 power of all the pafiions in all their 
 combinations, and trace the changes of 
 the human mind as they are modified 
 by various inftitutions and accidental 
 influences of climate or cuftom, from 
 the fpritelinefs of infancy to the defpon- 
 dence of decrepitude. He muft diveft 
 himfelf of the prejudices of his age or 
 country-, he muft confider right arid 
 F 3 wrong
 
 70 RASSELAS, 
 
 wrong in their abftra&ed and invariable 
 ftatei he muft difregard prefent laws 
 and opinions, and rife to general and 
 tranfcendental truths, which will always 
 be the fame : he muft therefore content 
 himfelf with the flow progrefs of his 
 name , contemn the applaufe of his own 
 time, and commit his claims to the 
 juftice of pofterity. He muft write as 
 the interpreter of nature, and the'le- 
 giflator of mankind, and confider him- 
 felf as prefiding over the thoughts and 
 manners of future generations-, as a 
 being fnperior to time and place. 
 
 " His labour is not yet at an end : he 
 muft know many languages and many 
 fciences-, and, that his ftile may be wor- 
 thy of his thoughts, muft by inceflant 
 pradice, familiarize to himfelf every de- 
 licacy of fpeech and grace of harmony." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 71 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 IMLAC'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. A 
 HINT ON PILGRIMAGE. 
 
 T ML AC now felt the enthufiaftic fit, 
 and was proceeding to aggrandize his 
 own profefilon, when the prince cried 
 out, " Enough ! Thou haft convinced 
 me, that no human being can ever be 
 a poet. Proceed with thy narration." 
 
 " To be a poet, faid Imlac, is indeed 
 very difficult." " So difficult, returned 
 the prince, that I will at prefent hear no 
 more of his labours. Tell me whither 
 you went when you had feen Perfia." 
 
 " From Perfia, faid the poet, I tra- 
 velled through Syria, and for three years 
 refided in Paleftine, where I converfed 
 with great numbers of the northern and 
 F 4 weftern
 
 72 RASSELAS, 
 
 weilern nations of Europe ; the nations 
 which are now in pofleflion of all power 
 and all knowledge , whofe armies are ir- 
 refiftible, and whofe fleets command the 
 remoter! parts of the globe. When I 
 compared thefe men with the natives of 
 our own kingdom, and thofe that fur- 
 round us, they appeared almofl another 
 order of beings. In their countries it is 
 difficult to wim for any thing that may 
 not be obtained : a thoufand arts, of 
 which we never heard, are continually 
 labouring for their convenience and plea- 
 fure ; and whatever their ,own climate 
 has denied them is fupplied by their 
 commerce." 
 
 " By what means, faid the prince, are 
 the Europeans thus powerful ? or why, 
 fince they can fo eafily vifit Afia and 
 Africa for trade or conqueft, cannot the 
 
 Afiaticks
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 73 
 
 Afiaticks and Africans invade their 
 coafts, plant colonies in their ports, and 
 give laws to their natural princes ? The 
 fame wind that carries them back would 
 bring us thither." 
 
 " They are more powerful, Sir, than 
 we, anfwered Imlac, becaufe they are 
 wifer ; knowledge will always predomi- 
 nate over ignorance, as man governs 
 the other animals. But why their 
 knowledge is more than ours, I know 
 not what reafon can be given, but the un- 
 fearchable will of the Supreme Being." 
 
 " When, faid the prince with a figh, 
 fhall I be able to vifit Paleftine, and 
 mingle with this mighty confluence of 
 nations ? Till that happy moment mall 
 arrive, let me fill up the time with fuch 
 reprefentations as thou canft give me. 
 I am not ignorant of the motive that 
 
 af.
 
 74 RASSELAS, 
 
 afiembles fuch numbers in that place, 
 and cannot but confider it as the center 
 of wifdom and piety, to which the beft 
 and wifeft men of every land muft be 
 continually reforting." . 
 
 " There are fome nations, faid Imlac, 
 that fend few vifitants to Paleftine , for 
 many numerous and learned fefts in 
 Europe, concur to cenlure pilgrimage 
 as fuperftitious, or deride it as ridi- 
 culous." 
 
 " You know, faid the prince, how 
 little my life has made me acquainted 
 with diverfity of opinions : it will be too 
 long to hear the arguments on both 
 fides ; you, that have confidered them, 
 tell me the refult." 
 
 " Pilgrimage,' faid Imlac, like many 
 
 other acts of piety, may be reafonable 
 
 or fuperftitious according to the prin- 
 
 2 ciples
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 7/ 
 
 ciples upon which it is performed. Long 
 journies in fearch of truth are not com- 
 manded. Truth, fuch as is necefiary to 
 the regulation of life, is always found 
 where it is honeftly fought. Change of 
 place is no natural caufe of the increafe 
 of piety, for it inevitably produces dif- 
 fipation of mind. Yet, fince men go 
 every day to view the fields where great 
 actions have been performed, and return 
 with ftronger impreffions of the event, 
 curiofity of the fame kind may naturally 
 difpofe us to view that country whence 
 our religion had its beginning ; and I 
 believe no man furveys thofe awful fccnes 
 without fome confirmation of holy refo- 
 lutions. That the Supreme Being may 
 be more eafily propitiated in one place 
 than in another, is the dream of idle 
 fuperftition -, but that fome places may 
 
 operate
 
 T 4 R A S S E L A S, 
 
 operate upon our own -minds in an un- 
 common manner, is an opinion which 
 hourly experience will juftify. He who 
 fuppofes that his vices may be more fuc- 
 cefsfully combated in Palefline, will, 
 perhaps, find himfelf miftaken, yet he 
 may go thither without folly : he who 
 thinks they will be more freely par- 
 doned, difhonours at once his reafon 
 and religion." 
 
 " Thefe, faid the prince, are Euro- 
 pean diftinftions. I will confider them 
 another time. What have you found to 
 be the effecl: of knowledge ? Are thofe 
 nations happier than we ?" 
 
 " There is fo much infelicity, faid the 
 poet, in the world, that fcarce any man 
 has leifure from his own diftreiTes to efti- 
 mate the comparative happinefs of 
 others. Knowledge is certainly one of 
 
 the
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 77 
 
 the means of pleafure, as is confefied by 
 the natural defire which every mind 
 feels of increafing its ideas. Ignorance 
 is mere privation, by which nothing can 
 be produced : it is a vacuity in which 
 the foul fits motionlefs and torpid for 
 want of attraction ; and, without know- 
 ing why, we always rejoice when we 
 learn, and grieve when we forget. I am 
 therefore inclined to conclude, that, if 
 nothing counteracts the natural confe- 
 quence of learning, we grow more 
 happy as our minds take a wider range. 
 
 " In enumerating the particular corn- 
 forts of life we fhall find many advan- 
 tages on the fide of the Europeans. 
 They cure wounds and difeafes with 
 which we languifli and perim. We 
 fuffer inclemencies of weather which 
 
 they
 
 7 8 RASSELAS, 
 
 they can obviate. They have engines 
 for the difpatch of many laborious 
 works, which we muft perform by ma- 
 nual induftry. There is fuch commu- 
 nication between diftant places, that 
 one friend can hardly be faid to be ab- 
 fent from another. Their policy re- 
 moves all publick inconveniencies : they 
 have roads cut through their mountains, 
 and bridges laid upon their rivers. 
 And ? if we defcend to the privacies of. 
 life, their habitations are more commo- 
 dious, and their poflefltons are more 
 fecure." 
 
 " They are furely happy, faid the 
 prince, who have all thefe convenien- 
 cies, of which I envy none fo much as 
 the facility with which feparated friends 
 interchange their thoughts." 
 
 " The
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 79 
 
 " The Europeans, anfwered Imlac, 
 are lefs unhappy than we, but they are 
 not happy. Human life is every v/here 
 a ftate in which much is to be endured* 
 and little to be enjoyed." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 8o RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 THE STORY OF IMLAC CONTINUED. 
 
 " T AM not yet willing, faid the prince, 
 to fuppofe that happinefs is fo par- 
 fimonioufly diftributed to mortals ; nor 
 can believe but that, if I had the choice 
 of life, I fhould be able to fill every day 
 with pleafure. I would injure no man, 
 and mould provoke no refentment : I 
 would relieve every diftrefs, and mould 
 enjoy the benedictions of gratitude. I 
 would chufe my friends among the wife, 
 and my wife among the virtuous ; and 
 therefore mould be in no danger from 
 treachery, or unkindnefs. My children 
 fhould, by my care, be learned and pious, 
 and would repay to my age what their 
 childhood had received. What would 
 
 dare
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. Si 
 
 dare to moled him who might call on 
 every fide to thoufands enriched by 
 his bounty, or aflifted by his power ? 
 And why mould not life glide quietly 
 away in the foft reciprocation of pro- 
 teftion and reverence ? All this may be 
 done without the help of European re- 
 finements, which appear by their effects 
 to be rather fpecious than ufeful. Let 
 us leave them and perfue our journey." 
 
 " From Palestine, faid Imlac, I patted 
 through many regions of Afia; in the 
 more civilized kingdoms as a trader, and 
 among the Barbarians of the mountains 
 as a pilgrim. At laft I began to long 
 for my native country, that I might re- 
 pofe after my travels, and fatigues, in the 
 places where I had fpent my earlieft 
 years, and gladden my old companions 
 with the recital of my adventures. Often 
 
 VOL. I. G did
 
 82 RASSELAS, 
 
 did I figure to myfelf thofe with whom 
 I had fported away the gay hours of 
 dawning life, fitting round me in its 
 evening, wondering at my tales, and 
 liftening to my counfels. 
 
 " When this thought had taken pof- 
 fefiion of my mind, I confidered every 
 moment as wafted which did not bring 
 me nearer to Abiflinia. I haftened into 
 Egypt, and, notwithftanding my impa- 
 tience, was detained ten months in the 
 contemplation of its ancient magnifi- 
 cence, and in enquiries after the remains 
 of its ancient learning. I found in 
 Cairo a mixture of all nations ; fome 
 brought thither by the love of know- 
 ledge, fome by the hope of gain, and 
 many by the defire of living after their 
 own manner without obfervation, and of 
 lying hid in the obfcurity of multi- 
 8 tudes :
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 83 
 
 tudes : for, in a city, populous as Cairo, 
 it is poffible to obtain at the fame time 
 the gratifications of fociety, and the fe- 
 erecy of folitude. 
 
 " From Cairo I travelled to Suez, 
 and embarked on the Red fea, pafiing 
 along the coaft till I arrived at the port 
 from which I had departed twenty years 
 before. Here I joined myfelf to a cara- 
 van and re-entered my native country. 
 
 " I now expected the carefles of my 
 kinfmen, and the congratulations of my 
 friends, and was not without hope that 
 my father, whatever value he had fet 
 upon riches, would own with gladnefs 
 and pride a fon who was able to add to 
 the felicity and honour of the nation. 
 But I was foon convinced that my 
 thoughts were vain. My father had 
 been dead fourteen years, having di- 
 G 2 vided
 
 84 RASSELAS, 
 
 vided his wealth among my brothers, 
 who were removed to fome other pro- 
 vinces. Of my companions the greater 
 part was in the grave, of the reft fome 
 could with difficulty remember me, and 
 fome confidered me as one corrupted 
 by foreign manners. 
 
 "A man ufed to viciflitudes is riot 
 eafily dejected. I forgot, after a time, 
 my difappointment, and endeavoured 
 to recommend myfelf to the nobles of 
 the kingdom : they admitted me to their 
 tables, heard my ftory, and difmified 
 me. I opened a fchool, and was pro- 
 hibited to teach. I then refolved to fit 
 down in the quiet of domeftick life, 
 and addreffed a lady that was fond of 
 my converfation, but rejected my fuit, 
 becaufe my father was a merchant. 
 
 " Wearied
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 85 
 
 " Wearied at laft with felicitation and 
 repulfes, I refolved to hide myfelf for 
 ever from the world, and depend no 
 longer on the opinion or caprice of 
 others. I waited for the time when 
 the gate of the happy valley mould open 
 that I might bid farewell to hope and 
 fear : the day came ; my performance 
 was diftinguimed with favour, and I 
 refigned myfelf with joy to perpetual 
 confinement." 
 
 " Haft thou here found happinefs at 
 laft ? faid Raflelas. Tell we without 
 referve , art thou content with thy con- 
 $ition ? or, doft thou wilh to be again 
 wandering and inquiring ? All the in- 
 habitants of this valley celebrate their 
 lot, and, at the annual vifit of the em- 
 perour, invite others to partake of their 
 felicity." 
 
 G 3 " Great
 
 86 RASSELAS, 
 
 " Great prince, faid Imlac, I mall 
 fpcak the truth : I know not one of all 
 your attendants who does not lament the 
 hour when he entered this retreat. I 
 am lefs unhappy than the reft, becaufe 
 I have a mind replete with images, 
 which I can vary and combine at plea- 
 fure. I can amufe my folitude by the 
 renovation of the knowledge which be- 
 gins to fade from my memory, and by 
 recollection of the accidents of my pafl 
 life. Yet all this ends in the forrowful 
 confideration, that my acquirements are 
 now ufelefs, and that none of my plea- 
 fures can be again enjoyed. The reft, 
 whofe minds have no imprefiion but of 
 the prefent moment, are either corroded 
 by malignant paffions, or fit ftupid in 
 the gloom of perpetual vacancy." 
 
 " What
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 87 
 
 " What pafilons can infeft thofe, faid 
 the prince, who have no rivals ? We are 
 in a place where impotence precludes 
 malice, and where all envy is reprefled 
 by community of enjoyments." 
 
 " There may be community, faid Im- 
 lac, of material pofleflions, but there can 
 never be community of love or of 
 efteem. It muft happen that one will 
 pleafe more than another; he that 
 knows himfelf defpifed will always be 
 envious ; and ftill more envious and ma- 
 levolent, if he is condemned to live in 
 the prefence of thofe who defpife him. 
 The invitations, by which they allure 
 others to a ftate which they feel to be 
 wretched, proceed from the natural ma- 
 lignity of hopekfs mifery. They are 
 weary of themfelves, and of each other, 
 and expect to find relief in new com - 
 G 4 panions.
 
 88 RASSELAS, 
 
 panions. They envy the liberty which 
 their folly has forfeited, and would 
 gladly fee all mankind imprifoned like 
 themielves. 
 
 " From this crime, however, I am, 
 wholly free. No man can fay that he 
 is wretched by my perfuafion. I look 
 with pity on the crowds who are annu- 
 ally foliciting admifiion to captivity, 
 and wifti that it were lawful for me to 
 warn them of their danger." 
 
 " My dear Imlac, faid the prince, I 
 will open to thee my whole heart. I 
 have long meditated an efcape from the 
 happy valley. I have examined the 
 mountains on every fide, but find myfelf 
 infuperably barred : teach me the way 
 to break my prifon ; thou malt be the 
 companion of my flight, the guide of 
 my rambles, the partner of my fortune, 
 
 and
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 89 
 
 and my fole director in the choice of 
 life." ' 
 
 " Sir, anfwered the poet, your efcape 
 will be difficult, and, perhaps, you may 
 foon repent your curiofity. The world, 
 which you figure to yourfelf fmooth and 
 quiet as the lake in the valley, you will 
 find a fea foaming with tempefts, and 
 boiling with whirlpools : you will be 
 fometimes overwhelmed by the waves of 
 violence, and fometimes darned againft 
 the rocks of treachery. Amidft wrongs 
 and frauds, competitions and anxieties, 
 you will wifh a thoufand times for thefe 
 feats of quiet, and willingly quit hope to 
 be free from fear." 
 
 *' Do not feek to deter me from my 
 purpofe, faid the prince : I am impatient 
 to fee what thou haft feen , and, fmce 
 thou art thyfelf weary of the valley, it
 
 9 o RASSELAS, 
 
 is evident, that thy former ftate was 
 better than this. Whatever be the con- 
 fequence of my experiment, I am re- 
 folved to judge with mine own eyes of 
 the various conditions of men, and then 
 to make deliberately my choice of life." 
 
 " I am afraid, faid Imlac, you are 
 hindered by ftronger reftraints than my 
 perfuafions; yet, if your determination 
 is fixed, I do not counfel you to defpair. 
 Few things are impoflible to diligence 
 and ikill." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 9* 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 RASSELAS DISCOVERS THE MEANS OF 
 ESCAPE. 
 
 H E prince now difmiffed his fa- 
 vourite to reft, but the narrative 
 of wonders and novelties filled his mind 
 with perturbation. He revolved all 
 that he had heard, and prepared innu- 
 merable queftions for the morning. 
 
 Much of his uneafmefs was now re- 
 moved. He had a friend to whom he 
 could impart his thoughts, and whofc 
 experience could affift him in his defigns. 
 His heart was no longer condemned to 
 fwell with filent vexation. He thought 
 that even the happy valley might be en- 
 dured with fuch a companion, and that if 
 they could range the world together, 
 
 he
 
 92 RASSELAS, 
 
 he fhould have nothing further to 
 defire. 
 
 In a few days the water was difcharged, 
 and the ground dried. The prince and 
 Imlac then walked out together to con- 
 verfe without the notice of the reft. The 
 prince, whofe thoughts were always on 
 the wing, as he pafled by the gate, faid, 
 with a countenance of forrow, " Why 
 art thou fo ftrong, and why is man fo 
 weak." 
 
 " Man is not weak, anfwered his com- 
 panion ; knowledge is more than equi- 
 valent to force. The mafter of mecha- 
 nicks laughs at ftrength. I can burft 
 the gate, but cannot do it fecretly. 
 Some other expedient muft be tried." 
 
 As they were walking on the fide of 
 the mountain, they obferved that the 
 conies, which the rain had driven from 
 
 their
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 93 
 
 their burrows, had taken fhelter among 
 the bufhes, and formed holes behind 
 them, tending upwards in an oblique 
 line. " It has been the opinion of an- 
 tiquity, faid Imlac, that human reafon 
 borrowed many arts from the inftinc~t of 
 animals; let us, therefore, not think 
 ourfelves degraded by learning from the 
 coney. We may efcape by piercing the 
 mountain in the fame direction. We 
 will begin where the fummit hangs 
 over the middle part, and labour up- 
 ward till we mail iflue out beyond the 
 prominence." 
 
 The eyes of the prince, when he 
 heard this propofal, fparkled with joy. 
 The execution was eafy, and the fuccefs 
 certain. 
 
 No time was now loft. They haften- 
 cd early in the morning to chufe a place 
 
 proper
 
 94 R A S S E L A S, 
 
 proper for their mine. They clam- 
 bered with great fatigue among crags 
 and brambles, and returned without 
 having difcovered any part that favour- 
 ed their defign. The fecond and the 
 third day were fpent in the fame manner, 
 and with the fame fruftration. But, on 
 the fourth, they found a fmall cavern, 
 concealed by a thicket, where they re- 
 folved to make their experiment. 
 
 Imlac procured inftruments proper tc* 
 hew ftone and remove earth, and they 
 fell to their work on the next day with 
 more eagernefs than vigour. They were 
 prefently exhaufted by their efforts, and 
 fat down to pant upon the grafs. The 
 prince, for a moment, appeared to be 
 difcouraged. " Sir, faid his companion, 
 practice will enable us to continue our la- 
 bour for a longer time ; mark, however, 
 
 how
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 95 
 
 how far we have advanced, and you will 
 find that our toil will fome time have an 
 end;' Great works are performed, not 
 by ftrength, but perfeverance : yonder 
 palace was raifed by fmgle ftones, yet 
 you fee its height and fpacioufnefs. He 
 that fhall walk with vigour three hours a 
 day will pafs in feven years a fpace equal 
 to the circumference of the globe." 
 
 They returned to their work day 
 after day, and, in a fhort time, found a 
 fiflure in the rock, which enabled them 
 to pafs far with very little obflrudion. 
 This RarTclas confidered as a good omen. 
 " Do not difturb your mind, faid Imlac, 
 with other hopes or fears than reafon 
 may fuggeft : if you are pleafed with 
 prognoiticks of good, you will be terri- 
 fied likewife with tokens of evil, and 
 your whole life will be a prey to fuper- 
 
 ftition.
 
 96 R A S S E L A S, 
 
 ftition. Whatever facilitates our work 
 is more than an omen, it is a caufe of 
 fuccefs. This is one of thofe pleafing 
 furprifes which often happen to active 
 refolution. Many things difficult to de- 
 fign prove eafy to performance." 
 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 97 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 RASSELAS AND IMLAC RECEIVE AN UN- 
 EXPECTED VISIT. 
 
 had now wrought their 
 way to the middle, and folaced 
 their toil with the approach of liberty, 
 when the prince, coming down to re- 
 frefa himfelf with air, found his fitter 
 Nekayah (landing before the mouth of 
 the cavity. He ftarted and flood con- 
 fuled, afraid to tell his defign, and yet 
 hopelefs to conceal it. A few moments 
 determined him to repofe on her fidelity, 
 and fecure her fecrecy by a declaration 
 without referve. 
 
 " Do not imagine, faid the princefs, 
 that I came hither as a fpy : I had long 
 obferved from my window, that you and 
 
 VOL, I. H . Jmlac
 
 98 RASSELAS, 
 
 Imlac directed your walk every day to- 
 wards the fame point, but I did not fup- 
 pofe you had any better reafon for the 
 preference than a cooler (hade, or more 
 fragrant bank ; nor followed you with 
 any other defign than to partake of your 
 converfation. Since then not fufpicion 
 but fondnefs has detected you, let me 
 not lofe the advantage of my difcovery. 
 I am equally weary of confinement with 
 yourfelf, and not lefs defirous of know- 
 ing what is done or fufFered in the 
 world. Permit me to fly with you from 
 this taftelefs tranquillity, which will y 
 grow more loathfome when you have 
 left me. You may deny me to accom- 
 pany you, but cannot hinder me from 
 following." 
 
 The prince, who loved Nekayah above 
 
 his othc r fitters, had no inclination to 
 
 3 refufe 
 
 m 
 
 ::
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 99 
 
 refufe her requeft, and grieved that he 
 had loft an opportunity of fhewing his 
 confidence by a voluntary communica- 
 tion. It was therefore agreed that me 
 fhould leave the valley with them j and 
 that, in the mean time, me mould 
 watch, left any other ftraggler mould, 
 by chance or curiofity, follow them to 
 the mountain. 
 
 At length their labour was at an end ; 
 they faw light beyond the prominence, 
 and, ifluing to the top of the mountain, 
 beheld the Nile, yet a narrow current, 
 wandering beneath them. 
 
 The prince looked round with rapture, 
 anticipated all the pleafures of travel, 
 and in thought was already tranfported 
 beyond his father's dominions. Imlac, 
 though very joyful at his efcape, had 
 lefs expectation of pleafure in the world, 
 H 2 which
 
 'io6 RASSELAS, 
 
 which he had before tried, and of which 
 he had been weary. 
 
 Raflelas was fo much delighted with 
 a wider horizon, that he could not foon 
 be perfuaded to return into the valley. 
 He informed his fitter that the way was 
 open, and that nothing now remained 
 but to prepare for their departure. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA; iof 
 
 CHAP. xv. 
 
 THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS LEAVE THE 
 VALLEY, AND SEE MANY WONDERS. 
 
 fT^HE prince and princefs had jewels 
 * fufficient to make them rich when- 
 ever they came into a place of com- 
 merce, which, by Imlac's direction, they 
 hid in their cloaths, and, on the night 
 of the next full moon, all left the valley. 
 The princefs was followed only by a 
 fmgle favourite, who did not know 
 whither me was going. 
 
 They clambered through the cavity, 
 and began to go down on the other fide. 
 The princefs and her maid turned their 
 eyes towards every part, and, feeing 
 nothing to bound their profpect, conr 
 fidered themfelves as in danger of being 
 H loft
 
 102 RASSELAS, 
 
 loft in a dreary vacuity. They flopped 
 and trembled. " I am almoft afraid, 
 faid the princefs, to begin a journey of 
 which 1 cannot perceive an end, and to 
 venture into this immenfe plain where I 
 may be approached on every fide by 
 men whom I never faw." The prince 
 felt nearly the fame emotions, though 
 he thought it more manly to conceal 
 them. 
 
 Imlac fmiled at their terrours, and 
 encouraged them to proceed; but the 
 princefs continued irrefolute till me had 
 been imperceptibly drawn forward too 
 far to return. 
 
 In the morning they found fome fhep- 
 herds in the field, who fet milk and 
 fruits before them. The princefs won- 
 dered that me did not fee a palace 
 ready for her reception, and a table 
 
 fpread 

 
 PHINCE OF ABISSINIA. 103 
 
 fpread with delicacies ; but, being faint 
 and hungry, fhe drank the milk and eat 
 the fruits, and thought them of a higher 
 flavour than the products of the valley. 
 
 They travelled forward by eafy jour- 
 neys, being all unaccuftomed to toil or 
 difficulty, and knowing, that though 
 they might be miffed, they could not 
 be perfued. In a few days they came 
 into a more populous region, where 
 Imlac was diverted with the admiration 
 which his companions expreffed at the 
 diverfity of manners, ftations and em- 
 ployments, r 
 
 Their drefs was fuch as might not 
 bring upon them the fufpicion of having 
 any thing to conceal, yet the prince, 
 wherever he came, expected to be obey- 
 ed, and the princefs was frighted, be- 
 caufe thofe that came into her prefence 
 H 4 did
 
 104 RASSELAS, 
 
 did not proftrate themielves before her; 
 Imlac was forced to obferve them with 
 great vigilance, left they fhould betray 
 their rank by their unufual behaviour, 
 and detained them feveral weeks in the 
 firft village to accuftom them to the 
 fight of common mortals. 
 
 By degrees the royal wanderers were 
 taught to underftand that they had for a- 
 time laid afide their dignity, and were 
 to expecl: only fuch regard as liberality 
 and courtefy could procure. And Imlac, 
 having, by many admonitions, prepared 
 them to endure the tumults of a port, 
 and the ruggednefs of the commercial 
 race, brought them down to the fea- 
 coaft. 
 
 The prince and his fifter, to whom 
 every thing was new, were gratified 
 equalled at all places, and therefore re- 
 mained
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 105 
 
 mained for fome months at the port 
 without any inclination to pafs further. 
 Imlac was content with their flay, be- 
 caufe he did not think it fafe to expofe 
 them, unpractifed in the world, to the 
 hazards of a foreign country. 
 
 At laft he began to fear left they 
 fhould be difcovered, and propofed to 
 fix a day for their departure. They had 
 no pretenfions to judge for themfelves, 
 and referred the whole fcheme to his di- 
 rection. He therefore took paflage in 
 a mip to Suez ; and, when the time 
 came, with great difficulty prevailed on 
 the princefs to enter the veflTel. They 
 had a quick and profperous voyage, and 
 from Suez travelled by land to Cairo. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 xo6 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. XVI. 
 
 THEY ENTER CAIRO, AND FIND EVERY 
 MAN HAPPY. 
 
 A S they approached the city, which 
 ** filled the ftrangers with aftonifh- 
 ment, " This, faid Imlac to the prince, 
 is the place where travellers and mer- 
 chants afiemble from all the corners of 
 the earth. You will here find men of 
 every character, and every occupation. 
 Commerce is here honourable : I will 
 -act as a merchant, and you mall live as 
 ftrangers, who have no other end of tra- 
 vel than curiofity ; it will foon be ob- 
 ferved that we are rich j our reputation 
 will procure us accefs to all whom 
 we mail defire to know ; you will fee 
 all the conditions of humanity, and en- 
 able
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. to/ 
 
 able yourfelf at leifure to make your 
 choice of life. 
 
 They now entered the town, ftunned 
 by the noife, and offended by the crowds. 
 Inftruction had not yet fo prevailed over 
 habit, but that they wondered to fee 
 themfelves pafs undiftinguifhed along 
 the ftreet, and met by the loweft of the 
 people without reverence or notice. The 
 princefs could not at firft bear the 
 thought of being levelled with the vul- 
 gar, and, for fome days, continued in 
 her chamber, where fhe was ferved by 
 her favourite Pekuah as in the palace of 
 the valley. 
 
 Imlac, who underftood traffick, fold 
 part of the jewels the next day, and 
 hired a houfe s which he adorned with 
 fuch magnificence, that he was imme- 
 diately confidered as a merchant of great 
 
 wealth.
 
 io3 R ASS EL AS; 
 
 wealth. His politenefs attracted many 
 acquaintance, and his generofity made 
 him courted by many dependants. His 
 table was crowded by men of every 
 nation, who all admired his knowledge, 
 and folicited his favour. His compa- 
 nions, not being able to mix in the con- 
 verfation, could make no difcovery of 
 their ignorance or furprife, and were 
 gradually initiated in the world as they 
 gained knowledge of the language. 
 
 The prince had, by frequent lectures, 
 been taught the ufe and nature of 
 money but the ladies could not, for a 
 long time, comprehend what the mer- 
 chants did with fmall pieces of gold and 
 filver, or why things of fo little ufe 
 fhould be received as equivalent to the 
 necefTaries of life. 
 
 They 

 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 109 
 
 They ftudied the language two years, 
 while Imlac was preparing to fet before 
 them the various ranks and conditions 
 of mankind. He grew acquainted with 
 all who had anything uncommon in their 
 fortune or conduct. He frequented the 
 voluptuous and the frugal, the idle and 
 the bufy, the merchants and the men 
 of learning. 
 
 The prince being now able to con- 
 verfe with fluency, and having learned 
 the caution necefiary to be obferved in 
 his intercourfe with ftrangers, began to 
 accompany Imlac to places of refort, and 
 to enter into all aflemblies, that he might 
 make his choice of life. 
 
 For fome time he thought choice 
 needlefs, becaufe all appeared to him 
 equally happy. Wherever he went he 
 met gaiety and kindnefs, and heard the 
 
 fong
 
 no RASSELAS, 
 
 fong of joy, or the laugh of careleffnefs. 
 He began to believe that the world 
 overflowed with univerfal plenty, and 
 that nothing was withheld either from 
 want or merit j that every hand fhower- 
 ed liberality, and every heart melted 
 with benevolence : " and who then, fays 
 he, will be fuffered to be wretched ?" 
 
 Imlac permitted the pleafmg delufion, 
 and was unwilling to cr urn the hope of 
 inexperience ; till one day, having fat a 
 while filent, " I know not, faid the 
 prince, what can be the reafon that I am 
 more unhappy than any of our friends. 
 I fee them perpetually and unalterably 
 chearful, but feel my own mind reftlefs 
 and uneafy. I am unfatisfied with thofe 
 pleafures which I feem mod to court, 
 I live in the crowds of jollity, not fo 
 much to enjoy company as to fhun 
 
 myfelf,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. m 
 
 myfelf, and am only loud and merry to 
 conceal my fadnefs." 
 
 ." Every man, faid Imlac, may, by 
 examining his own mind, guefs what 
 pafles in the minds of others : when you- 
 feel that your own gaiety is counterfeit, 
 it may juftly lead you to fufpect that of 
 your companions not to be fincere. 
 Envy is commonly reciprocal. We are 
 long before we are convinced that hap- 
 pinefs is never to be found, and each 
 believes it pofiefled by others, to keej> 
 alive the hope of obtaining it for himfelf. 
 In the afiembly, where you pafied the 
 lad night, there appeared fuch fpright- 
 linefs cf air, and volatility of fancy, 
 as might have fuited beings of an higher 
 order, formed to inhabit ferener regions, 
 inaccefiible to care or forrow : yet, be- 
 lieve me, prince, there was not one who 
 
 did
 
 iii RASSELAS, 
 
 did not dread the moment when folitude 
 fhould deliver him to the tyranny of 
 reflection." 
 
 " This, faid the prince, may be true 
 of others, fmce it is true of me-, yet, 
 whatever be the general infelicity of 
 man, one condition is more happy than 
 another, and wifdom fnrely directs us to 
 take the leaft evil in the choice of life" 
 
 " The caufes of good and evil, an- 
 fwered Imlac, are fo various and un- 
 certain, fo often entangled with each 
 other, fo diverfified by various relations, 
 and fo much fubjecl: to accidents which 
 cannot be forefeen, that he who would 
 fix his condition upon inconteftable 
 reafons of preference, muft live and die 
 inquiring and deliberating.'* 
 
 " But furely, faid Raflelas, the wife 
 men, to whom we liften with reverence 
 
 and 

 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 113 
 
 and wonder, chofe that mode of life for 
 themfelves which they thought moil 
 likely to make them happy." 
 
 " Very few, faid the poet, live by 
 choice. Every man is placed in his pre- 
 fent condition by caufes which acted 
 without his forefight, and with which 
 he did not always willingly co-operate j 
 and therefore you will rarely meet one 
 who does not think the lot of his neigh- 
 bour better than his own." 
 
 " I am pleafed to think, faid the 
 prince* that my birth has given me at 
 leafl one advantage over others, by en- 
 abling me to determine for myfelf. I 
 have here the world before me ; I will 
 review it at leifure : furely happinefs is 
 fomewhere to be found/* 
 
 VOL. I. I C H A P.
 
 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 THE PRINCE ASSOCIATES WITH YOUNG 
 MEN OF SPIRIT AND GAIETY. 
 
 RASSELAS rofe next day, and re- 
 folved to begin his experiments 
 upon life. " Youth, cried he, is the 
 time of gladnefs : I will join myfelf to 
 the young men, whofe only bufinefs is 
 to gratify their defires, and whofe time 
 is all fpent in a fucceflion of enjoyments." 
 To fuch focieties he was readily ad- 
 mitted, but a few days brought him 
 back weary and difgufted. Their mirth 
 was without images, their laughter 
 without motive ; their pleafures were 
 grofs and fenfual, in which the mind 
 had no part ; their conduct was at once 
 wild and mean ; they laughed at order 
 4 and 

 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 115 
 
 and at law, but the frown of power de- 
 jected, and the eye of wifdom abalhed 
 them. 
 
 The prince foon concluded, that he 
 fliould never be happy in a courfe of 
 life, of which he was afhamed. He 
 thought it unfuitable to a reafonable 
 being to aft without a plan, and to be 
 fad or chearful only by chance. " Hap- 
 pinefs, faid he, muft be fomething folid 
 and permanent, without fear and with- 
 out uncertainty." 
 
 But his young companions had gained 
 fo much of his regard by their frank- 
 nefs and courtefy, that he. could not 
 leave them without warning and re- 
 monftrance. " My friends, faid he, I 
 have ferioufly confidered our manners 
 and our profpecls, and find that we have 
 miftaken our own intereft. The firft 
 I 2 years
 
 n6 RASSELAS, 
 
 years of man mufl make provifion for 
 the laft. He that never thinks never 
 can be wife. Perpetual levity muft end 
 in ignorance j and intemperance, though 
 it may fire the fpirits for an hour, will 
 make life fhort or miferable. Let us 
 confider that youth is of no long dura- 
 tion, and that in matu-rer age, when the 
 enchantments of fancy fliall ceafe, and 
 phantoms of delight dance no more 
 about us, we lhall have no comforts but 
 the efteem of wife men, and the means 
 of doing good. Let us, therefore, Hop, 
 while to ftop is in our power : let us live 
 as men who are fome time to grow old, 
 and to whom it will be the moft dread- 
 ful of all evik not to count their paft 
 years by follies, and to be reminded of 
 their former luxuriance of health only by 
 the maladies which riot has produced.'* 
 
 They
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 117 
 
 They flared a while in filence one 
 upon another, and, at laft, drove him 
 away by a general chorus of continued 
 laughter. 
 
 The confcioufnefs that his fentiments 
 were juft, and his intentions kind, was 
 fcarcely fufficient to fupport him againit 
 the horror of derifion. But he recovered 
 his tranquillity, and perfued his fearch. 
 
 13 CHAP.
 
 n8 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE FINDS A WISE AND 
 HAPPY MAN. 
 
 A S he was one day walking in the 
 ftreet, he faw a fpacious building 
 which all were, by the open doors, in- 
 vited to enter : he followed the ftream 
 of people, and found it a hall or fchool 
 of declamation, in which profeflbrs read 
 lectures to their auditory. He fixed his 
 eye upon a fage raifed above the reft, 
 who difcourfed with great energy on 
 the government of the pafiions. His 
 look was venerable, his action graceful, 
 his pronunciation clear, and his diction 
 ti^gant. He fhewed, with great ftrength 
 of fentiment, and variety of illuftration, 
 that human nature is degraded and de- 
 
 bafed,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 119 
 
 bafed, when the lower faculties predo- 
 minate over the higher; that when 
 fancy, the parent of pafiion, ufurps the 
 dominion of the mind, nothing enfues 
 but the natural effect of unlawful go- 
 vernment, perturbation and confufion ; 
 that me betrays the fortreffes of the in- 
 tellect to rebels, and excites her children 
 to fedition againft reafon their lawful 
 fovereign. He compared reafon to the 
 fun, of which the light is conftant, uni- 
 form, and lading ; and fancy to a me- 
 teor, of bright but tranfitory luftre, irre- 
 gular in its motion, and delufive in its 
 direction. 
 
 He then communicated the various 
 precepts given from time to time for the 
 conqueft of paffion, and difplayed the 
 happinefs of thofe who had obtained the 
 important victory, after which man is 
 14 no
 
 i2o RASSELAS, 
 
 no longer the flave of fear, nor the fool 
 of hope ; is no more emaciated by envy, 
 inflamed by anger, emafculated by ten- 
 dernefs, or deprefied by grief; but 
 walks on calmly through the tumults or 
 privacies of life, as the fun perfues alike 
 his courfe through the calm or the 
 ftormy iky. 
 
 He enumerated many examples of he- 
 roes immoveable by pain or pleafure, 
 who looked with indifference on thofe 
 modes or accidents to which the vulgar 
 give the names of good and evil. He 
 exhorted his hearers to lay afide their 
 prejudices, and arm themfelves againft 
 the lhafts of malic.e or misfortune, by 
 invulnerable patience ; concluding, that 
 this (late only was happinefs, and 
 that this happinefs was in every one's 
 
 Raffelas
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 121 
 
 Raffelas liftened to him with the vene- 
 ration due to the inftructions of a fupe- 
 riour being, and, waiting for him at the 
 door, humbly implored the liberty of 
 vifiting fo great a mafter of true wifdom. 
 The ledturer hefitated a moment, when 
 Raflelas put a purfe of gold into his 
 hand, which he received with a mixture 
 pf joy and wonder. 
 
 *' I have found, faid the prince, at his 
 return to Imlac, a man who can teach 
 all that is necefiary to be known, who, 
 from the unmaken throne of rational for- 
 titude, looks down on the fcenes of life 
 changing beneath him. He fpeaks, and 
 attention watches his lips. He reafons, 
 and conviction clofes his periods. This 
 man {hall be my future guide : I will 
 learn his doctrines, and imitate his 
 life," 
 
 "Be
 
 122 RASSELAS, 
 
 " Be not too hafty, faid Imlac, to 
 truft, or to admire, the teachers of mo- 
 rality : they difcourfe like angels, but 
 they live like men." 
 
 Raflelas, who could not conceive how 
 any man could reafon ib forcibly without 
 feeling the cogency of his own argu- 
 ments, paid his vifit in a few days, and 
 was denied admifiion. He had now 
 learned the power of money, and made 
 his way by a piece of gold to the inner 
 apartment, where he found the philofo- 
 pher in a room half darkened, with his 
 eyes mifty, and his face pale. " Sir, 
 faid he, you are come at a time when all 
 human friendfhip is ufelefs; what I fuffer 
 cannot be remedied, what I have loft can- 
 not be fupplied. My daughter, my only 
 daughter, from whofe tendernefs I ex- 
 pected all the comforts of my age, died 
 
 laft
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 123 
 
 laft night of a fever. My views, my 
 purpofes, my hopes are at an end : I am 
 now a lonely being difunited from fo- 
 ciety." 
 
 " Sir, faid the prince, mortality is an 
 event by which a wife man can never be 
 furprifed : we know that death is always 
 near, and it mould therefore always be 
 expefted." " Young man, anfwered 
 the philofopher, you fpeak like one that 
 has never felt the pangs of feparation." 
 " Have you then forgot the precepts, 
 faid Raflelas, which you fo powerfully 
 enforced ? Has wifdom no ftrength to 
 arm the heart againft calamity ? Con- 
 fider, that external things are naturally 
 variable, but truth and reafon are always 
 the fame." " What comfort, faid the 
 mourner, can truth and reafon afford 
 me ? of what effect are they now, but 
 
 to
 
 '124 RASSELAS, 
 
 to tell me, that my daughter will not 
 be reftored ?" 
 
 The prince, whofe humanity would 
 not fuffer him to infult mifery with re- 
 proof, went away convinced of the emp- 
 tinefs of rhetorical found, and the inef- 
 fkacy of polifhed periods and Itudied 
 fcntences. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 125. 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 A GLIMPSE OF PASTORAL LIFE. 
 
 TT E was ftill eager upon the fame en- 
 quiry; and having heard of a 
 hermit, that lived near the loweft cata- 
 ract of the Nile, and filled the whole 
 country with the fame of his fanctity, 
 refolved to vifit his retreat, and enquire 
 whether that felicity, which publick life 
 could not afford, was to be found in fa- 
 litude ; and whether a man, whofe age 
 and virtue made him venerable r could 
 teach any peculiar art of Ihunning evils, 
 or enduring them. 
 
 Imlac and the princefs agreed to ae.- 
 company him, and, after the neceifary 
 preparations, they began their journey. 
 Their way lay through the fields, where 
 
 ihephcrds
 
 R A S S E L A S, 
 
 fhepherds tended their flocks, and the 
 lambs were playing upon the pafture. 
 " This, faid the poet, is the life which 
 has been often celebrated for its inno- 
 cence and quiet ; let us pafs the heat of 
 the day among the fhepherds tents, and 
 know whether all our fearches are not 
 to terminate in paftoral fimplicity." 
 
 The propofal pleafed them, and they 
 induced the (hepherds, by fmall prefents 
 and familiar queftions, to tell their opi- 
 nion of their own ftate : they were fo 
 rude and ignorant, fo little able to com- 
 pare the good with the evil of the oc- 
 cupation, and fo indiftinct in their nar- 
 ratives and defcriptions, that very little 
 could be learned from them. But it was 
 evident that their hearts were cankered 
 with difcontent; that they confidered 
 themfelves as condemned to labour for 
 
 the
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 12? 
 
 the luxury of the rich, and looked up 
 with flupid malevolence toward thofe 
 that were placed above them. 
 
 The princefs pronounced with vehe- 
 mence, that me would never fuffer thefe 
 envious favages to be her companions, 
 and that me mould not Toon be defirous 
 of feeing any more fpecimens of ruftick 
 happinefs ; but could not believe that all 
 the accounts of primeval pleafures were 
 fabulous, and was yet in doubt whether 
 life had any thing that could be juftly 
 preferred to the placid gratifications of 
 fields and woods. She hoped that the time 
 would come, when with a few virtuous 
 and elegant companions, me mould ga- 
 ther flowers planted by her own hand, 
 fondle the lambs of her own ewe, and 
 Jiften, without care, among brooks and 
 breezes, to one of her maidens reading 
 
 in the made. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 128 RASSELA^ 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 THE DANGER OF PROSPERITY 
 
 N the next day they continued their 
 journey, till the heat compelled 
 them to look round for flicker. At a 
 fmall diftance they faw a thick wood, 
 which they no fooner entered than they 
 perceived that they were approaching 
 the habitations of men. The fhrubs 
 were diligently cut away to open walks 
 where the (hades were darkefl ; the 
 boughs of oppofite trees were artificially 
 interwoven , feats of flowery turf were 
 raifed in vacant fpaces, and a rivulet, 
 that wantoned along the fide of a wind- 
 ing path, had its banks fometirnes open- 
 ed into fmall bafons, and its ftream 
 fometimes obftrutfted by little mounds 
 i of
 
 PRINCE OF AB1SSINIA. 129 
 
 bf ftone heaped together to increafe its 
 murmurs. 
 
 They pafled flowly through the wood, 
 delighted with fuch unexpected accom- 
 fciodations, and entertained each other 
 with conjecturing what, or who, he 
 could be, that in thofe rude and unfre- 
 quented regions, had leifure and art for 
 fuch harmlefs luxury. 
 
 As they advanced they heard the 
 found of mufick,- and faw youths and 
 virgins dancing in the grove ; and, go- 
 ing ftill further beheld a ftately palace 
 built upon a hill furrounded with woods. 
 The laws of eaftern hofpitality allowed 
 them to enter, and the mafter welcomed 
 them like a man liberal and wealthy. 
 
 He was fkilful enough in appearances 
 foon to difcern that they were no com- 
 mon guefts, and fpread his table with 
 
 V.OL. I. K magni-
 
 i 3 o RASSELAS, 
 
 magnificence. The eloquence of Imlac 
 caught his attention, and the lofty cour- 
 tefy of the princefs excited his refpedb. 
 When they offered to depart he entreat- 
 ed their ftay, and was the next day dill 
 more unwilling to difmifs them than be- 
 fore. They were eafily perfuaded to 
 ftop, and civility grew up in time to 
 freedom and confidence. 
 
 The prince now faw all the domef- 
 ticks chearful, and all the face of nature 
 fmiling round the place, and could not 
 forbear to hope that he fhould find here 
 what he was feeking ; but when he was 
 congratulating the matter upon his pof- 
 feflions, he anfwered with a figh, " My 
 condition has indeed the appearance of 
 happinefs, but appearances are delufive. 
 My profperity puts my life in danger ; 
 the Bafla of Egypt is my enemy, in- 
 cenfed h 
 
 4
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 131 
 
 cenied only by my wealth and popula- 
 rity. I have been hitherto protected 
 againft him by the princes of the coun- 
 try; bur, as the favour of the great is 
 uncertain,' I know not how foon my de- 
 fenders may be perfuaded to fhare the 
 plunder with the BafTa. I have fent rny 
 treafures into a diftant country, and, 
 upon the firft alarm, am prepared to fol- 
 low them. Then will my enemies riot 
 in my manfion, and enjoy the gardens 
 which I have planted." 
 
 They all joined in lamenting his dan- 
 ger, and deprecating his exile j and the 
 princefs was fo much difturbed wiih the 
 tumult of grief and indignation, that 
 fhe retired to her apartment. They 
 continued with their kind inviter a few 
 days longer, and then went forward to 
 find the hermit. 
 
 K 2 CHAP.
 
 R ASS EL AS, 
 
 CHAP. XXt 
 
 THE HAPPINESS OF SOLITUDE. THE 
 HERMIT'S HISTORY. 
 
 /"T^HEY came on the third day, by 
 -* the direction of the peafants, to 
 the hermit's cell: it was a cavern in 
 the fide of a mountain, over- fhado wed 
 with palm-trees ; at fuch a diftance from 
 the cataract, that nothing more was 
 heard than a gentle uniform murmur, 
 fuch as compofed the mind to penfive 
 meditation, efpecially when it was aflift- 
 ed by the wind whittling among the 
 branches. The fifft rude efTay of na- 
 ture had been fo much improved by 
 human labour, that the cave contained 
 feveral apartments appropriated to dif- 
 ferent ufes, and often afforded lodgirrg 
 
 to
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 133 
 
 to travellers, whom darknefs or tempefts 
 happened to overtake. 
 
 The hermit fat on a bench at the door, 
 to enjoy the coolnefs of the evening. 
 On one fide lay a book with pens and 
 papers, on the other mechanical inftru- 
 ments of various kinds. As they ap- 
 proached him unregarded, the princefs 
 obferved that he had not the counte- 
 nance of a man that had found, or could 
 teach the way to happinefs. 
 
 They faluted him with great refpect, 
 which he repaid like a man not unac- 
 cuftomed to the forms of courts. " My 
 children, faid he, if you have loft your 
 way, you mall be willingly fupplied with 
 fuch conveniencies for the night as this 
 cavern will afford. I have all that na- 
 ture requires, and you will not expect 
 delicacies in a hermit's cell." 
 
 K 3 They
 
 T34 RASSELAS, 
 
 They thanked him, and, entering, 
 were pleafed with the neatnefs and regu- 
 larity of the place. The hermit fet flefli 
 and wine before them, though he fed 
 only upon fruits and Water. His dif- 
 courfe was chearful without levity, and 
 pious without enthufiafm. He foon 
 gained the efteem of his guefts, and 
 the princefs repented of her hafty 
 cenfure. 
 
 At Jafl Imlac began thus : " I do not 
 riow wonder that your reputation is fo 
 far extended ; we have heard at Cairo 
 of your wifdom, and came hither to im- 
 plore your dirtclion for this young man 
 an4 maiden in the choice of life.' 1 
 
 " To him that lives well, anfwered 
 the hermit, every form of life is good ; 
 nor can I give any other rule for choice, 
 than to remove from all apparent evil." 
 
 "He
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 135 
 
 " He will remove moft certainly from 
 evil, faid the prince, who fhall devote 
 himfelf to that folitude which you have 
 recommended by your example." 
 
 *' I have indeed lived fifteen years in 
 folitude, faid the hermit, but have no 
 defire that my example mould gain any 
 imitators. In my youth I profefled 
 arms, and was raifed by degrees to the 
 higheft military rank. I have traverfed 
 wide countries at the head of my troops, 
 and feen many battles and fieges. At 
 laft, being difgufted by the preferments 
 of a younger officer, and feeling that 
 my vigour was beginning to decay, I 
 refolved to clofe my life in peace, hav- 
 ing found the world full of fnares, dif- 
 cord and mifery. I had once efcaped 
 from the perfuit of the enemy by the 
 flicker of this cavern, and therefore 
 K 4 chofe
 
 136* RASSELAS, 
 
 chofe it for my final refidencc. I em- 
 ployed artificers to form it into cham- 
 bers, and ftored it with all that I was 
 likely to want. 
 
 " For fome time after my retreat, I 
 rejoiced like a tempeft-beaten failor at 
 his entrance into the harbour, being 
 delighted with the fudden change of the 
 noife and hurry of war to flillnefs and 
 repofe. When the pleafure of novelty 
 went away, I employed my hours in ex- 
 amining the plants which grow in the 
 valley, and the minerals which I collec- 
 ted from the rocks. But that enquiry 
 is now grown tailelefs and irkfome. I 
 have been for fome time unfettled and 
 diffracted: my mind is difturbed with 
 a thoufand perplexities of doubt, and 
 vanities of imagination, which hourly 
 prevail upon me, becaufe I have no 
 
 oppor-
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. ,37 
 
 Opportunities of relaxation or diverfion. 
 I am fometimcs afhamed to think that I 
 could not fecure myfelf from vice, but 
 by retiring from the exercife of virtue, 
 and begin to fufpe<5 that I was rather 
 impelled by refentment, than led by de- 
 votion, into folitude. My fancy riots 
 in fcenes of folly, and I lament that I 
 have loft fo much, and have gained fo 
 little. In folitude, if I efcape the ex- 
 ample of bad men, I want likewife the 
 counfel and converfation of the good. 
 I have been long comparing the evils 
 with the Advantages of fociety, and re- 
 folve to return into the world to mor- 
 row. The life of a folitary man will 
 be certainly miferable, but not certainly 
 devout." 
 
 They heard his refolution with fur- 
 prife, but, after a fhort paufe, offered 
 
 to
 
 ic . ASSELAS, 
 
 t h'm to Cairo. He dug up 
 
 L durable treafure which he had hid 
 dttiongthe rocks, and accompanied them 
 to the city, on which, as he approached 
 it, he gazed with rapture. 
 
 * GT 
 fir. twfnifcl io toiriafos -** 
 
 
 taw 2i3nrrHrrt ibrf'T 
 jr>rh If".' 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 : "iOqb roi^ 

 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 139 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 THE HAPPINESS OF A LIFE LED AC- 
 CORDING TO NATURE. 
 
 "OASSELAS went often to an 
 **- afiembly of learned men, who 
 met at ftated times to unbend their 
 minds, and compare their opinions. 
 Their manners were fomewhat coarfe, 
 but their converfation was inftructive, 
 and their difputations acute, though 
 fometimes too violent, and often conti- 
 nued till neither controvertift remem- 
 bered upon what queftion they began. 
 Some faults were almofl general among 
 them : every one was defirous to dictate 
 to the reft, and every one was pleafed 
 to hear the genius or knowledge of 
 
 another depreciated. 
 
 In
 
 140 RASSELAS, 
 
 In this afiembly Rafifclas was relating 
 his interview with the hermit, and the 
 wonder with which he heard him cen- 
 fure a courfe of life which he had fo 
 deliberately chofen, and fo laudably fol- 
 lowed. The fentiments of the hearers 
 were various. Some were of opinion, 
 that the folly of his choice had been 
 juftly punimed by condemnation to per- 
 petual perfeverance. One of the young- 
 eft among them, with great vehemence, 
 pronounced him an hypocrite. Some 
 talked of the right of fociety to the la- 
 bour of individuals, and conlidered re- 
 tirement as a defertion of duty. Others 
 readily allowed, that there was a time 
 when the claims of the publick were 
 fatisfied, and when a man might pro- 
 perly fequefter himfelf, to review his 
 life, and purify his heart. 
 
 One,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 141 
 
 One, who appeared more affected 
 With the narrative than the reft, thought 
 it likely, that the hermit would, in a 
 few years, go back to his retreat, and, 
 perhaps, if fhame did not reflrain, or 
 death intercept him, return once more 
 from his retreat into the world : " For 
 the hope of happinefs, faid he, is fo 
 ftrongly impreflfed, that the longeft ex- 
 perience is not able to efface it. Of the 
 prefent ftate, whatever it be, we feel, 
 and, are forced to confefs, the mifcry, 
 yet, when the fame ilate is again at a 
 diftance, imagination paints it as de- 
 firable. But the time will furely come, 
 when defire will be no longer our tor- 
 ment, and no man mall be wretched 
 but by his own fault." 
 
 " This, faid a philofopher, who had 
 heard him with tokens of great impa- 
 tience,
 
 i 4 2 RASSELAS, 
 
 tience, is the prefent condition of a 
 wife man. The time is already come, 
 when none are wretched but by their 
 own fault. Nothing is more idle, than 
 to enquire after happinefs, which na- 
 ture has kindly placed within our reach; 
 The way to be happy is to live accord- 
 ing to nature, in obedience to that uni- 
 verfal and unalterable law with which 
 every heart is originally imprefled; 
 which is not written on it by precept, 
 but engraven by deftiny, not inftilled 
 by education, but infufed at our nati- 
 vity. He that lives according to nature 
 will furFer nothing from the delufions 
 of hope, or importunities of defire : 
 he will receive and reject with equability 
 of temper; .and act or fuffer as the rea- 
 fon of things mall alternately prefcribe* 
 Other men may amufe themfelves with 
 
 fubtle
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. > 
 
 fubtle definitions, or intricate raciociaa- 
 tion. Let them learn to be wile by 
 eafier means: let them obferye.the fti^d 
 of the foreft, and the linnet of the 
 grove : let them confider the life of ani- 
 mals, whole motions are regulated by 
 inftindl ; they obey their guide and are 
 happy. Let us therefore, at length, 
 ceafe to difpute, and learn to live ; throw 
 away the incumbrance of precepts, 
 which they who utter them with fo 
 much pride and pomp do not under- 
 ftand, and carry with us this fimple 
 and intelligible maxim, That dev-ation 
 from nature is deviation from happi- 
 nefs." 
 
 When he had fpoken, he looked 
 round him with a placid air, and en^ 
 joyed the conlcioufnefs of his own be- 
 neficence. " Sir, faid the prince, with 
 
 great
 
 144 RASSELAS, 
 
 great modefty, as I, like all the reft of 
 mankind, am deflrous of felicity, my 
 clofeft attention has been fixed upoit 
 your difcourfe : I doubt not the truth 
 of a pofition which a man fo learned 
 has fo confidently advanced. Let me 
 only know what it is to live according 
 to"nature." 
 
 " When 1 find young men fo humble 
 and fo docile, faid the philofopher, I can 
 deny them no information which my 
 ftudies have enabled me to afford. To 
 live according to nature, is to aft always 
 with due regard to the fitnefsarifing from 
 the relations and qualities of caufes and 
 effects -, to concur with the great and 
 unchangeable fcheme of univerfal feli- 
 city , to co-operate with the general dif- 
 ppfition and tendency of the prefent 
 fyftem of things." 
 
 The
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 145 
 
 The prince foon found that this was 
 one of the fages whom he fhould under- 
 ftand lefs as he heard him longer. He 
 therefore bowed and was filent, and the 
 philofopher, fuppofinghim fatisfied, and 
 the reft vanquifted, rofe up and de- 
 parted with the air of a man that had 
 co-operated with the prefent fyftem. 
 
 VOL.1. L CHAP.
 
 [4 6 RASSELAS, 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 THE PRINCE AND HIS SISTER DIVIDE 
 
 BETWEEN THEM THE WORK OF 
 
 OBSERVATION. 
 
 R 
 
 ASSELAS returned home full of 
 refleftions, doubtful how to direft 
 his future fteps. Of the way to happi- 
 nefs he found the learned and fimple 
 equally ignorant-, but, as he was yet 
 young, he flattered himfelf that he had 
 time Remaining for more experiments, 
 and further enquiries. He communi- 
 cated to Imlac his obfervations and his 
 doubts, but was anfwered by him with 
 new doubts, and remarks that gave him 
 no comfort. He therefore difcourf- 
 cd more frequently and freely with his 
 filter, who had yet the fame hope with 
 
 himfelf,
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 147 
 
 himfclf, and always affifted him to give 
 fome reafon why, though he had been 
 hitherto fruftrated, he might fucceed 
 at laft. 
 
 We have hitherto^ faid fhe, known 
 but little of the world : we have never 
 yet been either great or mean. In our 
 own country, though we had royalty, 
 we had no power, and in this we have 
 not yet feen the private recefies of do- 
 meftick peace. Imlac favours not our 
 fearch, left we mould in time find him 
 miftaken. We will divide the tafk be- 
 tween us: you mail try what is to be 
 found in the fplendour of courts, and 
 I will range the ihades of humbler life. 
 Perhaps command and authority may- 
 be the fupreme bleflings, as they afford 
 mod opportunities of doing good : or, 
 L 2 perhaps,
 
 148 RASSELAS, 
 
 perhaps, what this world can give may 
 be found in the modeft habitations of 
 middle fortune; too low for great de- 
 figns, and too high for penury and 
 diftrefs." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 149 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 THE PRINCE EXAMINES THE HAPPI- 
 NESS OF HIGH STATIONS. 
 
 "OASSELAS applauded the defign, 
 ** and appeared next day with a 
 fpiendid retinue at the court of the BafTa. 
 He was foon diftinguifhed for his mag- 
 nificence, and admitted, as a prince 
 whofe curiofity had brought him from 
 diftant countries, to an intimacy with 
 the great officers, and frequent conver- 
 fation with the Bafla himfelf. 
 
 He was at firft inclined to believe, 
 that the man muft be pleafed with his 
 own condition, whom all approached 
 with reverence, and heard with obedi- 
 ence, and who had the power to ex- 
 tend his edicts to a whole kingdom. 
 L 3 " Ther?
 
 1 50 RASSELAS, 
 
 " There can be no pleaiure, faid he, 
 equal to that of feeling at once the joy of 
 thoufands all made happy by wife admi- 
 niflration. Yet, fince, by the law of fub- 
 ordination, this fublime delight can be 
 in one nation but the lot of one, it is 
 furely reafonable to think that there is 
 fome fatisfaction more popular and ac- 
 ceffible, and that millions can hardly be 
 fubjecled to the will of a fingle man, 
 only to fill his particular breaft with 
 incommunicable content.'* 
 
 Thefe thoughts were often in his 
 mind, and he found no folution of the 
 difficulty. But as prefents and civilities 
 gained him more familiarity, he found 
 that almoft every man who flood high 
 in employment hated all the reft, and 
 was hated by them, and that their lives 
 were a continual fucceffion of plots and 
 
 detect
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 151 
 
 detections, ftratagems and efcapes, fac- 
 tion and treachery. Many of thofe, 
 who furrounded the Bafia, were fent 
 only to watch and report his conduct , 
 every tongue was muttering cenfure, 
 and every eye was fearching for a 
 fault. 
 
 At laft the letters of revocation ar- 
 rived, the BafTa was carried in chains to 
 Conftantinople, and his name was men- 
 tioned no more. 
 
 " What are we now to think of the 
 prerogatives of power, faid Rafielas to 
 his fitter; is it without any efficacy to 
 good ? or, is the fubordinate degree 
 only dangerous, and the fupreme fafe 
 and glorious ? Is the Sultan the only 
 happy man in his dominions ? or, is 
 the Sultan himfelf fubject to the tor- 
 L 4 ments
 
 152 RASSELAS, 
 
 ments of fufpicion, and the dread of 
 enemies ?" 
 
 In a fhort time the fecond.Bafifa was 
 depofed. The Sultan, that had advanced 
 him, was murdered by the Janifaries, 
 and his fuccefTor had other views and 
 different favourites. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 153 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 THE PRINCESS PERSUES HER ENQUIRY 
 WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN 
 SUCCESS. 
 
 T I ^HE princefs, in the mean time, 
 "*- infinuated herfelf into many fa- 
 milies , for there are few doors, through 
 which liberality, joined with good hu- 
 mour, cannot find its way. The daugh- 
 ters of many houfes were airy and chear- 
 ful, butNekayah had been too long ac- 
 cuftomed to the converfation of Imlac 
 and her brother to be much pleafed 
 with childim levity and prattle which 
 had no meaning. She found their 
 thoughts narrow, their wifhes low, and 
 their merriment often artificial. Their 
 pleafures, poor as they were, could not 
 
 be
 
 I 5 4 RASSELAS, 
 
 be preferred pure, but were embittered 
 by petty competitions and worthlefs 
 emulation. They were always jealous 
 of the beauty of each other ; of a quality 
 to which folicitude can add nothing, 
 and from which detraction can take no- 
 thing away. Many were in love with 
 trifiers like themfelves, and many fan- 
 cied that they were in love when in 
 truth they were only idle. Their affec- 
 tion was v fixed on fenfe or virtue, and 
 therefore feldom ended but in vexation. 
 Their grief, however, like their joy, was 
 tranficnt ; every thing floated in their 
 jnind unconnected with the pad or fu- 
 ture, fo that one defire eafily gave way 
 to another, as a fecond Hone caft into 
 the water effaces and confounds the 
 circles of the firft. 
 
 With
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 155 
 
 With thefe girls (he played as with 
 inoffenfive animals, and found them 
 proud of her countenance, and weary of 
 her company. 
 
 But her purpofe was to examine more 
 deeply > and her affability eafily perfuad- 
 ed the hearts that were fwelling with 
 forrow to difcharge their fecrets in her 
 ear : and thofe whom hope flattered, or 
 profperity delighted, often courted her 
 to partake their pleafures. 
 
 The princefs and her brother com- 
 monly met in the evening in a private 
 fummer-houfe on the bank of the Nile, 
 and related to each other the occurrences 
 of the day. As they were fitting to- 
 gether, the princefs caft her eyes upon 
 the river that flowed before her. " An- 
 fwer, faid me, great father of waters, 
 tkou that rolleft thy floods through 
 
 eighty
 
 i$6 RASSELAS, 
 
 eighty nations, to the invocations of the 
 daughter of thy native king, Tell me if 
 thou watered, through all thy courfe, 
 a fingle habitation from which thou doft 
 not hear the murmurs of complaint ?" 
 
 " You are then, faid Raflelas, not 
 more fuccefsful in private houfes than I 
 have been in courts." " J have, fince 
 the laft partition of our provinces, faid 
 the princefs, enabled myfelf to enter fa- 
 miliarly into many families, where there 
 was the faireft faew of profperity and 
 peace, and know n,ot one houfe that is 
 not haunted by fome fury that deftroys 
 their quiet. 
 
 " I did not feek eafe among the poor, 
 becaufe I concluded that there it could 
 not be found. But I faw many poor 
 whom I had fupoofcd to live in affluence. 
 Poverty has, in large cities, very differ 
 3
 
 PRINCE OF ABISSINIA. 157 
 
 rent appearances : it is often concealed 
 in fplendour, and often in extravagance. 
 It is the care of a very great part of 
 mankind to conceal their indigence from 
 the reft : they fupport themfelves bj 
 temporary expedients, and every day is 
 loft in contriving for the morrow. 
 
 " This however, was an evil, which, 
 though frequent, I faw with lefs pain, 
 becaufe I could relieve it. Yet fome 
 have refufed my bounties ; more offend- 
 ed with my quicknefs to detect their 
 wants, than pleafed with my readinefs to 
 fuccour them : and others, whole exi- 
 gencies compelled them to admit my 
 kindnefs, have never been able to for- 
 give their benefacTrefs. Many however, 
 have been fincerely grateful without the 
 oftentation of gratitude, or the hope of 
 other favours." 
 
 END of the FIRST VOLUME.
 
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 13DNV-SC 
 
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 date stamped below
 
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