"I have indeed lived fifteen years in folitude, faid the hermit, but have no defire that my example fhould gain any imitators. In my youth I profeffed arms, and was raised by degrees to the highest military rank. I have traversed wide countries at the head of my troops, and feen many battles and fieges. At laft, being disgusted by the preferments of a younger officer, and feeling that my vigour was beginning to decay, I refolved to close my life in peace, having found the world full of fnares, dif cord and mifery. I had once escaped from the pursuit of the enemy by the fhelter of this cavern, and therefore chose it for my final refidence. I employed 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 noise and hurry of war to ftillness and repofe. When the pleasure of novelty went away, I employed my hours in exΙ amining the plants which grow in the valley, and the minerals which I collected from the rocks. But that inquiry is now grown tastelefs and irksome. I have been for fome time unfettled and distracted: my mind is difturbed with a thousand perplexities of doubt, and vanities of imagination, which hourly prevail upon me, because I have no opportunities of relaxation or diverfion. I am fometimes afhamed to think that I could not fecure myfelf from vice, but by retiring from the exercise of virtue, and begin to fufpect that I was rather impelled

impelled by refentment, than led by devotion, 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 example of bad men, I want likewife the counsel and converfation of the good. I have been long comparing the evils with the advantages of fociety, and refolve to return into the world to-morrow. The life of a folitary man will be certainly miferable, but not certainly devout."

།

They heard his refolution with furprife, but after a fhort pause, offered to conduct him to Cairo. He dug up a confiderable treafure which he had hid among the rocks, and accompanied them to the city, on which, as he approached it, he gazed with rapture.

CHAP

CHAP. XXII.

THE HAPPINESS OF A LIFE LED ACCORD

R

ING TO NATURE.

ASSELAS went often to an affembly 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 continued till neither controvertist remembered upon what question they began. Some faults were almoft general among them: every one was defirous to dictate to the reft, and every one was pleased to hear the genius or knowledge of another depreciated.

In this affembly Raffelas was relating his interview with the hermit, and the

wonder

wonder with which he heard him cenfure a course of life which he had fo deliberately chosen, and fo laudably followed. The fentiments of the hearers were various. Some were of opinion, that the folly of his choice had been justly punished by condemnation to perpetual perfeverance. One of the youngeft among them, with great vehemence, pronounced him an hypocrite. Some talked of the right of fociety to the labour of individuals, and confidered retirement as a desertion of duty. Others readily allowed, that there was a time when the claims of the publick were fatisfied, and when a man might properly fequefter himself, to review his life, and purify his heart.

One, who appeared more affected with the narrative than the reft, thought it likely, that the hermit would, in a few