esteem. It must happen that one will pleafe more than another; he that knows himself defpifed will always be envious; and ftill more envious and malevolent, if he is condemned to live in the presence of those who defpife him. The invitations, by which they allure others to a state which they feel to be wretched, proceed from the natural malignity of hopeless mifery. They are weary of themselves, and of each other, and expect to find relief in new companions. They envy the liberty which their folly has forfeited, and would gladly fee all mankind imprifoned like themselves.

"From this crime, however, I am wholly free. No man can fay that he is wretched by my perfuafion. I look with pity on the crowds who are annually foliciting admiffion to captivity,

and

and wish that it were lawful for me to warn them of their danger.'

"My dear Imlac, faid the prince, I will open to thee my whole heart. I have long meditated an escape from the happy valley. I have examined the mountains on every fide, but find myself infuperably barred: teach me the way to break my prifon; thou shalt be the companion of my flight, my rambles, the partner of my fortune, and my fole director in the choice of life."

the guide of

"Sir, answered the poet, your escape will be difficult, and, perhaps, you may foon repent your curiofity. The world, which you figure to yourself smooth and quiet as the lake in the valley, you will find a fea foaming with tempefts, and boiling with whirlpools: you will be fometimes overwhelmed by the waves of violence, and fometimes dafhed against

the

the rocks of treachery. Amidft wrongs and frauds, competitions and anxieties, you will with a thousand times for thefe feats of quiet, and willingly quit hope to be free from fear."

"Do not feek to deter me from my purpose, said the prince: I am impatient to see what thou haft feen; and, fincethou art thyself weary of the valley, it is evident, that thy former ftate was better than this. Whatever be the con-fequence of my experiment, I am refolved to judge with mine own eyes of the various conditions of men, and then to make deliberately my choice of life.'

my

"I am afraid, faid Imlac, you are hindered by stronger reftraints than perfuafions; yet, if your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to defpair.. Few things are impoffible to diligence

and skill."

СНАР.

CHAP. XIII.

RASSELAS DISCOVERS THE MEANS OF

ESCAPE.

HE prince now difmiffed his fa

TH

vourite to reft, but the narrative of wonders and novelties filled his mind.

with perturbation. He revolved all that he had heard, and prepared innumerable questions for the morning.

Much of his uneafinefs was now removed. He had a friend to whom he could impart his thoughts, and whose experience could affift him in his defigns. His heart was no longer condemned to fwell with filent vexation. He thought that even the happy valley might be endured with such a companion, and that if they could range the world together, he should have nothing further to defire.

In

In a few days the water was discharged, and the ground dried. The prince and Imlac then walked out together to converse without the notice of the reft. The prince, whofe thoughts were always on the wing, as he paffed by the gate, said, with a countenance of forrow, Why art thou so strong, and why is man so weak?"

"Man is not weak, anfwered his companion; knowledge is more than equivalent to force. The master of mechanicks laughs at ftrength. I can burst the gate, but cannot do it fecretly. Some other expedient must be tried."

As they were walking on the fide of the mountain, they (obferved that the conies, which the rain had driven from their burrows, had taken fhelter among the bushes, and formed holes behind them, tending upwards in an oblique

line.