might have the comfort of knowing that she did not suffer by negligence or sluggishness. "Yet what, faid fhe, is to be expected from our perfuit of happiness, when we find the state of life to be such, that happiness itself is the cause of mifery? Why should we endeavour to attain that, of which the poffeffion cannot be fecured? I fhall henceforward fear to yield my heart to excellence, however. bright, or to fondness, however tender, left I should lose again what I have loft in Pekuah."

CHAP.

CHA P. XXXVI.

THE PRINCESS HEARS NEWS OF PEKUAH.

N feven months, one of the messen

IN

gers, who had been fent away upon the day when the promife was drawn from the princefs, returned, after many unfuccessful rambles, from the borders of Nubia, with an account that Pekuah was in the hands of an Arab chief, who poffeffed a caftle or fortrefs on the extremity of Egypt. The Arab, whofe revenue was plunder, was willing to reftore her, with her two attendants, for two hundred ounces of gold.

The price was no fubject of debate. The princess was in extafies when she heard that her favourite was alive, and might fo cheaply be ranfomed. She could

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could not think of delaying for a moment Pekuah's happiness or her own, but entreated her brother to fend back the meffenger with the fum required. Imlac being confulted, was not very confident of the veracity of the relator, and was ftill more doubtful of the Arab's faith, who might, if he were too liberally trufted, detain at once the money and the captives. He thought it dangerous to put themselves in the power of the Arab, by going into his district, and could not expect that the Rover would fo much expofe himself as to come into the lower country, where he might be feized by the forces of the Baffa.

It is difficult to negociate where neither will truft. But Imlac, after fome deliberation, directed the meffenger to propose that Pekuah should be conduct

ed

ed by ten horsemen to the monaftery of St. Antony, which is fituated in the deferts of Upper-Egypt, where the fhould be met by the fame number, and her ransom should be paid.

That no time might be loft, as they expected that the propofal would not be refused, they immediately began their journey to the monaftery; and, when they arrived, Imlac went forward with the former meffenger to the Arab's fortrefs. Raffelas was defirous to go with them; but neither his fifter nor Imlac would confent. The Arab, according to the custom of his nation, observed the laws of hofpitality with great exactness to those who put themselves into his power, and, in a few days, brought Pekuah with her maids, by eafy journies, to their place appointed, where receiving the ftipulated price, he reftored her with great

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great refpect to liberty and her friends, and undertook to conduct them back. towards Cairo beyond all danger of robbery or violence,

The princess and her favourite embraced each other with transport too violent to be expreffed, and went out together to pour the tears of tendernefs in fecret, and exchange profeffions of kindness and gratitude. After a few hours they returned into the refectory of the convent, where, in the prefence of the prior and his brethren, the prince required of Pekuah the hiftory of her adventures.

CHAP.