G CHA P. XXXIV. THEY RETURN TO CAIRO THERE was nothing to be hoped from longer ftay. They returned to Cairo repenting of their curiofity, cenfuring the negligence of the government, lamenting their own rafhnefs which had neglected to procure a guard, imagining many expedients by which the lofs of Pekuah might have been prevented, and refolving to do fomething for her recovery, though none could find any thing proper to be done. Nekayah retired to her chamber where her women attempted to comfort her, by telling her that all had their troubles, and that lady Pekuah had enjoyed much happiness in the world for a long time, and might reasonably expect a change M 4 a change of fortune. They hoped that fome good would befall her wherefoever fhe was, and that their mistress would find another friend who might supply her place. The princess made them no answer, and they continued the form of condolence, not much grieved in their hearts that the favourite was loft. Next day the prince prefented to the Baffa a memorial of the wrong which he had fuffered, and a petition The Baffa threatened to for redress, punish the robbers, but did not attempt to catch them, nor indeed, could any account or defcription be given by which he might direct the perfuit. It foon appeared that nothing would be done by authority. Governors, being accuftomed to hear of more crimes than they can punish, and more wrongs than they can redress, fet themselves at eafe by indifcriminate negligence, and presently presently forget the request when they lofe fight of the petitioner. Of. Imlac then endeavoured to gain fome intelligence by private agents. He found many who pretended to an exact knowledge of all the haunts of the Arabs, and to regular correfpondence. with their chiefs, and who readily undertook the recovery of Pekuah. thefe, fome were furnished with money for their journey, and came back no more; fome were liberally paid for accounts which a few days difcovered to be falfe. But the princess would not fuffer any means, however improbable, to be left untried. While fhe was doing something fhe kept her hope alive. As one expedient failed, another was fuggefted; when one meffenger returned unsuccessful, another was dispatched to a different quarter. Two months had now paffed, and of Pekuah nothing had been heard; the hopes which they had endeavoured to M raise raise in each other grew more languid, and the princess, when she saw nothing more to be tried, funk down inconfolable in hopeless dejection. A thousand times the reproached herself with the eafy compliance by which the permitted her fa avourite to ftay behind her. "Had not my fondness, faid the, leffened my authority, Pekuah had not dared to talk of her terrours. She ought to have feared me more than fpectres. A fevere look would have overpowered her; a peremptory command would have compelled obedience. Why did foolish indulgence prevail upon me? Why did I not speak and refuse to hear? " "Great princefs, faid Imlac, do not reproach yourself for your virtue, or confider that as blameable by which evil has accidentally been caused. Your tenderness for the timidity of Pekuah was generous and kind. When we act according to our duty, we commit the event to him by whofe laws our actions are governed, and who will fuffer none to be finally punished for obedience. When, in prospect of fome good, whether natural or moral, we break the rules prefcribed us, we withdraw from the direction of fuperiour wifdom, and take all confequences upon ourselves. Man cannot fo far know the connexion of caufes and events, as that he may venture to do wrong in order to do right. When we perfue our end by lawful means, we may always confole our mifcarriage by the hope of future recompence. When we confult only our own policy, and attempt to find a nearer way to good, by overleaping the settled boundaries of right and wrong, we cannot be happy even by fuccefs, becaufe we cannot escape the consciouf nels |