rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第10节

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ses；　my　hopes；　are　at　an　end：　　I　am　now　a　lonely　being；　　disunited　from　society。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃mortality　is　an　event　by　which　a　wise　man　　can　never　be　surprised：　　we　know　that　death　is　always　near；　and　it　　should　therefore　always　be　expected。〃　　〃Young　man；〃　answered　the　　philosopher；　〃you　speak　like　one　that　has　never　felt　the　pangs　of　　separation。〃　　〃Have　you　then　forgot　the　precepts；〃　said　Rasselas；　　〃which　you　so　powerfully　enforced？　　Has　wisdom　no　strength　to　arm　　the　heart　against　calamity？　　Consider　that　external　things　are　　naturally　variable；　but　truth　and　reason　are　always　the　same。〃　　　〃What　comfort；〃　said　the　mourner；　〃can　truth　and　reason　afford　me？　　　Of　what　effect　are　they　now；　but　to　tell　me　that　my　daughter　will　　not　be　restored？〃
The　Prince；　whose　humanity　would　not　suffer　him　to　insult　misery　　with　reproof；　went　away；　convinced　of　the　emptiness　of　rhetorical　　sounds；　and　the　inefficacy　of　polished　periods　and　studied　　sentences。

CHAPTER　XIX　…　A　GLIMPSE　OF　PASTORAL　LIFE。

HE　was　still　eager　upon　the　same　inquiry；　and　having　heard　of　a　　hermit　that　lived　near　the　lowest　cataract　of　the　Nile；　and　filled　　the　whole　country　with　the　fame　of　his　sanctity；　resolved　to　visit　　his　retreat；　and　inquire　whether　that　felicity　which　public　life　　could　not　afford　was　to　be　found　in　solitude；　and　whether　a　man　　whose　age　and　virtue　made　him　venerable　could　teach　any　peculiar　　art　of　shunning　evils　or　enduring　them。
Imlac　and　the　Princess　agreed　to　accompany　him；　and　after　the　　necessary　preparations；　they　began　their　journey。　　Their　way　lay　　through　the　fields；　where　shepherds　tended　their　flocks　and　the　　lambs　were　playing　upon　the　pasture。　　〃This；〃　said　the　poet；　〃is　　the　life　which　has　been　often　celebrated　for　its　innocence　and　　quiet；　let　us　pass　the　heat　of　the　day　among　the　shepherds'　tents；　　and　know　whether　all　our　searches　are　not　to　terminate　in　pastoral　　simplicity。〃
The　proposal　pleased　them；　and　they　induced　the　shepherds；　by　small　　presents　and　familiar　questions；　to　tell　the　opinion　of　their　own　　state。　　They　were　so　rude　and　ignorant；　so　little　able　to　compare　　the　good　with　the　evil　of　the　occupation；　and　so　indistinct　in　　their　narratives　and　descriptions；　that　very　little　could　be　　learned　from　them。　　But　it　was　evident　that　their　hearts　were　　cankered　with　discontent；　that　they　considered　themselves　as　　condemned　to　labour　for　the　luxury　of　the　rich；　and　looked　up　with　　stupid　malevolence　towards　those　that　were　placed　above　them。
The　Princess　pronounced　with　vehemence　that　she　would　never　suffer　　these　envious　savages　to　be　her　companions；　and　that　she　should　not　　soon　be　desirous　of　seeing　any　more　specimens　of　rustic　happiness；　　but　could　not　believe　that　all　the　accounts　of　primeval　pleasures　　were　fabulous；　and　was　in　doubt　whether　life　had　anything　that　　could　be　justly　preferred　to　the　placid　gratification　of　fields　and　　woods。　　She　hoped　that　the　time　would　come　when；　with　a　few　　virtuous　and　elegant　companions；　she　should　gather　flowers　planted　　by　her　own　hands；　fondle　the　lambs　of　her　own　ewe；　and　listen　　without　care；　among　brooks　and　breezes；　to　one　of　her　maidens　　reading　in　the　shade。

CHAPTER　XX　…　THE　DANGER　OF　PROSPERITY。

ON　the　next　day　they　continued　their　journey　till　the　heat　　compelled　them　to　look　round　for　shelter。　　At　a　small　distance　they　　saw　a　thick　wood；　which　they　no　sooner　entered　than　they　perceived　　that　they　were　approaching　the　habitations　of　men。　　The　shrubs　were　　diligently　cut　away　to　open　walks　where　the　shades　ware　darkest；　　the　boughs　of　opposite　trees　were　artificially　interwoven；　seats　of　　flowery　turf　were　raised　in　vacant　spaces；　and　a　rivulet　that　　wantoned　along　the　side　of　a　winding　path　had　its　banks　sometimes　　opened　into　small　basins；　and　its　stream　sometimes　obstructed　by　　little　mounds　of　stone　heaped　together　to　increase　its　murmurs。
They　passed　slowly　through　the　wood；　delighted　with　such　unexpected　　accommodations；　and　entertained　each　other　with　conjecturing　what　　or　who　he　could　be　that　in　those　rude　and　unfrequented　regions　had　　leisure　and　art　for　such　harmless　luxury。
As　they　advanced　they　heard　the　sound　of　music；　and　saw　youths　and　　virgins　dancing　in　the　grove；　and　going　still　farther　beheld　a　　stately　palace　built　upon　a　hill　surrounded　by　woods。　　The　laws　of　　Eastern　hospitality　allowed　them　to　enter；　and　the　master　welcomed　　them　like　a　man　liberal　and　wealthy。
He　was　skilful　enough　in　appearances　soon　to　discern　that　they　were　　no　common　guests；　and　spread　his　table　with　magnificence。　　The　　eloquence　of　Imlac　caught　his　attention；　and　the　lofty　courtesy　of　　the　Princess　excited　his　respect。　　When　they　offered　to　depart；　he　　entreated　their　stay；　and　was　the　next　day　more　unwilling　to　　dismiss　them　than　before。　　They　were　easily　persuaded　to　stop；　and　　civility　grew　up　in　time　to　freedom　and　confidence。
The　Prince　now　saw　all　the　domestics　cheerful　and　all　the　face　of　　nature　smiling　round　the　place；　and　could　not　forbear　to　hope　that　　he　should　find　here　what　he　was　seeking；　but　when　he　was　　congratulating　the　master　upon　his　possessions　he　answered　with　a　　sigh；　〃My　condition　has　indeed　the　appearance　of　happiness；　but　　appearances　are　delusive。　　My　prosperity　puts　my　life　in　danger；　　the　Bassa　of　Egypt　is　my　enemy；　incensed　only　by　my　wealth　and　　popularity。　　I　have　been　hitherto　protected　against　him　by　the　　princes　of　the　country；　but　as　the　favour　of　the　great　is　uncertain　　I　know　not　how　soon　my　defenders　may　be　persuaded　to　share　the　　plunder　with　the　Bassa。　　I　have　sent　my　treasures　into　a　distant　　country；　and　upon　the　first　alarm　am　prepared　to　follow　them。　　Then　　will　my　enemies　riot　in　my　mansion；　and　enjoy　the　gardens　which　I　　have　planted。〃
They　all　joined　in　lamenting　his　danger　and　deprecating　his　exile；　　and　the　Princess　was　so　much　disturbed　with　the　tumult　of　grief　and　　indignation　that　she　retired　to　her　apartment。　　They　continued　with　　their　kind　inviter　a　few　days　longer；　and　then　went　to　find　the　　hermit。

CHAPTER　XXI　…　THE　HAPPINESS　OF　SOLITUDE　…　THE　HERMIT'S　HISTORY。

THEY　came　on　the　third　day；　by　the　direction　of　the　peasants；　to　　the　hermit's　cell。　　It　was　a　cavern　in　the　side　of　a　mountain；　　overshadowed　with　palm　trees；　at　such　a　distance　from　the　cataract　　that　nothing　more　was　heard　than　a　gentle　uniform　murmur；　such　as　　composes　the　mind　to　pensive　meditation；　especially　when　it　was　　assisted　by　the　wind　whistling　among　the　branches。　　The　first　rude　　essay　of　Nature　had　been　so　much　improved　by　human　labour　that　the　　cave　contained　several　apartments　appropriated　to　different　uses；　　and　often　afforded　lodging　to　travellers　whom　darkness　or　tempests　　happened　to　overtake。
The　hermit　sat　on　a　bench　at　the　door；　to　enjoy　the　coolness　of　the　　evening。　　On　one　side　lay　a　book　with　pens　and　paper；　on　the　other　　mechanical　instruments　of　various　kinds。　　As　they　approached　him　　unregarded；　the　Princess　observed　that　he　had　not　the　countenance　　of　a　man　that　had　found　or　could　teach　the　way　to　happiness。
They　saluted　him　with　great　respect；　which　he　repaid　like　a　man　not　　unaccustomed　to　the　forms　of　Courts。　　〃My　children；〃　said　he；　〃if　　you　have　lost　your　way；　you　shall　be　willingly　supplied　with　such　　conveniences　for　the　night　as　this　cavern　will　afford。　　I　have　all　　that　Nature　requires；　and　you　will　not　expect　delicacies　in　a　　hermit's　cell。〃
They　thanked　him；　and；　entering；　were　pleased　with　the　neatness　and　　regularity　of　the　place。　　The　hermit　set　flesh　and　wine　before　　them；　though　he　fed　only　upon　fruits　and　water。　　His　discourse　was　　cheerful　without　levity；　and　pious　without　enthusiasm。　　He　soon　　gained　the　esteem　of　his　guests；　and　the　Princess　repented　her　　hasty　censure。
At　last　Imlac　began　thus：　　〃I　do　not　now　wonder　that　your　　reputation　is　so　far　extended：　　we　have　heard　at　Cairo　of　your　　wisdom；　and　came　hither　to　implore　your　direction　for　this　young　　man　and　maiden　in　the　CHOICE　OF　LIFE。〃
〃To　him　that　lives　well；〃　answered　the　hermit；　〃every　form　of　life　　is　good；　nor　can　I　give　any　other　rule　for　choice　than　to　remove　　all　apparent　evil。〃
〃He　will　most　certainly　remove　from　evil；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃who　　shall　devote　himself　to　that　solitude　which　you　have　recommended　by　　your　example。〃
〃I　have　indeed　lived　fifteen　years　in　solitude；〃　said　the　hermit；　　〃but　have　no　desire　that　my　example　should　gain　any　imitators。　　In　　my　youth　I　professed　arms；　and　was　raised　by　degrees　to　the　highest　　military　rank。　　I　have　traversed　wide　countries　at　the　head　of　my　　troops；　and　seen　many　battles　and　sieges。　　At　last；　being　disgusted　　by　the　preferments　of　a　younger　officer；　and　feeling　that　my　vigour　　was　beginning　to　decay；　I　resolved　to　close　my　life　in　peace；　　having　found　the　world　full　of　snares；　discord；　and　misery。　　I　had　　once　escaped　from　the　pursuit　of　the　enemy　by　the　shelter　of　this　　cavern；　and　therefore　chose　it　for　my　final　residence。　　I　employed　　artificers　to　form　it　into　chambers；　and　stored　it　with　all　that　I　　was　likely　to　want。
〃For　some　time　after　my　retreat　I　rejoiced　like　a　tempest…beaten　　sailor　at　his　entrance　into　the　harbour；　being　delighted　with　the　　sudden　change　of　the　noise　and　hurry　of　war　to　stillness　and　　repose。　　When　the　pleasure　of　novelt