rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第11节
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sudden change of the noise and hurry of war to stillness and repose。 When the pleasure of novelty went away； I employed my hours in examining the plants which grow in the valley； and the minerals which I collected from the rocks。 But that inquiry is now grown tasteless and irksome。 I have been for some time unsettled and distracted： my mind is disturbed with a thousand perplexities of doubt and vanities of imagination； which hourly prevail upon me； because I have no opportunities of relaxation or diversion。 I am sometimes ashamed to think that I could not secure myself from vice but by retiring from the exercise of virtue； and begin to suspect that I was rather impelled by resentment than led by devotion into solitude。 My fancy riots in scenes of folly； and I lament that I have lost so much； and have gained so little。 In solitude； if I escape the example of bad men； I want likewise the counsel and conversation of the good。 I have been long comparing the evils with the advantages of society； and resolve to return into the world to…morrow。 The life of a solitary man will be certainly miserable； but not certainly devout。〃
They heard his resolution with surprise； but after a short pause offered to conduct him to Cairo。 He dug up a considerable treasure which he had hid among the rocks； and accompanied them to the city； on which； as he approached it； he gazed with rapture。
CHAPTER XXII … THE HAPPINESS OF A LIFE LED ACCORDING TO NATURE。
RASSELAS went often to an assembly of learned men； who met at stated times to unbend their minds and compare their opinions。 Their manners were somewhat coarse； but their conversation was instructive； and their disputations acute； though sometimes too violent； and often continued till neither controvertist remembered upon what question he began。 Some faults were almost general among them： every one was pleased to hear the genius or knowledge of another depreciated。
In this assembly Rasselas was relating his interview with the hermit； and the wonder with which he heard him censure a course of life which he had so deliberately chosen and so laudably followed。 The sentiments of the hearers were various。 Some were of opinion that the folly of his choice had been justly punished by condemnation to perpetual perseverance。 One of the youngest among them； with great vehemence； pronounced him a hypocrite。 Some talked of the right of society to the labour of individuals； and considered retirement as a desertion of duty。 Others readily allowed that there was a time when the claims of the public were satisfied； and when a man might properly sequester himself； to review his life and purify his heart。
One who appeared more affected with the narrative than the rest thought it likely that the hermit would in a few years go back to his retreat； and perhaps； if shame did not restrain or death intercept him； return once more from his retreat into the world。 〃For the hope of happiness；〃 said he； 〃is so strongly impressed that the longest experience is not able to efface it。 Of the present state； whatever it be； we feel and are forced to confess the misery； yet when the same state is again at a distance； imagination paints it as desirable。 But the time will surely come when desire will no longer be our torment and no man shall be wretched but by his own fault。
〃This；〃 said a philosopher who had heard him with tokens of great impatience； 〃is the present condition of a wise man。 The time is already come when none are wretched but by their own fault。 Nothing is more idle than to inquire after happiness which Nature has kindly placed within our reach。 The way to be happy is to live according to Nature； in obedience to that universal and unalterable law with which every heart is originally impressed； which is not written on it by precept； but engraven by destiny； not instilled by education； but infused at our nativity。 He that lives according to Nature will suffer nothing from the delusions of hope or importunities of desire； he will receive and reject with equability of temper； and act or suffer as the reason of things shall alternately prescribe。 Other men may amuse themselves with subtle definitions or intricate ratiocination。 Let them learn to be wise by easier means： let them observe the hind of the forest and the linnet of the grove： let them consider the life of animals； whose motions are regulated by instinct； they obey their guide； and are happy。 Let us therefore at length cease to dispute； and learn to live： throw away the encumbrance of precepts； which they who utter them with so much pride and pomp do not understand； and carry with us this simple and intelligible maxim： that deviation from Nature is deviation from happiness。
When he had spoken he looked round him with a placid air； and enjoyed the consciousness of his own beneficence。
〃Sir；〃 said the Prince with great modesty； 〃as I； like all the rest of mankind； am desirous of felicity； my closest attention has been fixed upon your discourse： I doubt not the truth of a position which a man so learned has so confidently advanced。 Let me only know what it is to live according to Nature。〃
〃When I find young men so humble and so docile；〃 said the philosopher； 〃I can deny them no information which my studies have enabled me to afford。 To live according to Nature is to act always with due regard to the fitness arising from the relations and qualities of causes and effects； to concur with the great and unchangeable scheme of universal felicity； to co…operate with the general disposition and tendency of the present system of things。〃
The Prince soon found that this was one of the sages whom he should understand less as he heard him longer。 He therefore bowed and was silent； and the philosopher； supposing him satisfied and the rest vanquished； rose up and departed with the air of a man that had co… operated with the present system。
CHAPTER XXIII … THE PRINCE AND HIS SISTER DIVIDE BETWEEN THEM THE WORK OF OBSERVATION。
RASSELAS returned home full of reflections； doubting how to direct his future steps。 Of the way to happiness he found the learned and simple equally ignorant； but as he was yet young； he flattered himself that he had time remaining for more experiments and further inquiries。 He communicated to Imlac his observations and his doubts； but was answered by him with new doubts and remarks that gave him no comfort。 He therefore discoursed more frequently and freely with his sister； who had yet the same hope with himself； and always assisted him to give some reason why； though he had been hitherto frustrated； he might succeed at last。
〃We have hitherto；〃 said she； 〃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 seen the private recesses of domestic peace。 Imlac favours not our search； lest we should in time find him mistaken。 We will divide the task between us； you shall try what is to be found in the splendour of Courts； and I will range the shades of humbler life。 Perhaps command and authority may be the supreme blessings； as they afford the most opportunities of doing good； or perhaps what this world can give may be found in the modest habitations of middle fortune … too low for great designs； and too high for penury and distress。〃
CHAPTER XXIV … THE PRINCE EXAMINES THE HAPPINESS OF HIGH STATIONS。
RASSELAS applauded the design； and appeared next day with a splendid retinue at the Court of the Bassa。 He was soon distinguished for his magnificence； and admitted； as a Prince whose curiosity had brought him from distant countries； to an intimacy with the great officers and frequent conversation with the Bassa himself。
He was at first inclined to believe that the man must be pleased with his own condition whom all approached with reverence and heard with obedience； and who had the power to extend his edicts to a whole kingdom。 〃There can be no pleasure；〃 said he； 〃equal to that of feeling at once the joy of thousands all made happy by wise administration。 Yet； since by the law of subordination this sublime delight can be in one nation but the lot of one； it is surely reasonable to think that there is some satisfaction more popular and accessible； and that millions can hardly be subjected to the will of a single man； only to fill his particular breast with incommunicable content。〃
These thoughts were often in his mind； and he found no solution of the difficulty。 But as presents and civilities gained him more familiarity； he found that almost every man who stood high in his employment hated all the rest and was hated by them； and that their lives were a continual succession of plots and detections； stratagems and escapes； faction and treachery。 Many of those who surrounded the Bassa were sent only to watch and report his conduct： every tongue was muttering censure； and every eye was searching for a fault。
At last the letters of revocation arrived： the Bassa was carried in chains to Constantinople； and his name was mentioned no more。
〃What are we now to think of
