works, which we must perform by manual induftry. There is fuch communication between diftant places, that one friend can hardly be faid to be abfent from another. Their policy removes all publick inconveniencies: they have roads cut through their mountains, and bridges laid upon their rivers. And, if we defcend to the privacies of life, their habitations are more commodious, and their poffeffions are more fecure."

"They are furely happy, faid the prince, who have all these conveniencies, of which I envy none fo much as the facility with which feparated friends interchange their thoughts."

"The Europeans, anfwered Imlac, are lefs unhappy than we, but they are not happy. Human life is every where a ftate in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed."

"I

THE STORY OF IMLAC CONTINUED.

AM not yet willing, faid the prince, to fuppose that happiness is so parfimoniously distributed to mortals; nor can believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I fhould be able to fill every day with pleasure. I would injure no man, and fhould provoke no refentment: I would relieve every diftrefs, and fhould enjoy the benedictions of gratitude. I would chufe my friends among the wife, and my wife among the virtuous; and therefore fhould be in no danger from treachery or unkindnefs. My children fhould, by my care, be

learned

learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received. What would dare to moleft him who might call on every fide to thoufands enriched by his bounty, or affifted by his power? And why fhould not life glide quietly away in the foft reciprocation of protection and reverence? All this may be done without the help of European refinements, which appear by their effects to be rather fpecious than useful. Let us leave them, and pursue our journey."

"From Palestine, faid Imlac, I paffed through many regions of Afia; in the more civilized kingdoms as a trader, and among the barbarians of the mountains as a pilgrim. At laft I began to long for my native country, that I might repofe after my travels and fatigues, in the places where I had spent my earliest years, and gladden my old companions with the recital of my adventures. Often did I figure to myself those with whom I had sported away the gay hours of dawning life, fitting round me in its evening, wondering at my tales, and liftening to my counfels.

"When this thought had taken poffeflion of my mind, I confidered every moment as wafted which did not bring me nearer to Abiffinia. I haftened into Egypt, and notwithstanding my impatience, was detained ten months in the contemplation of its ancient magnificence, and in enquiries after the remains of its ancient learning. I found in Cairo a mixture of all nations; fome brought thither by the love of knowledge, fome by the hope of gain, and many by the defire of living after their own manner without obfervation, and of lying hid in the ob

fcurity of multitudes: for in a city, populous as Cairo, it is poffible to obtain at the fame time the gratifications of fociety, and the fecrecy of folitude.

"From Cairo I travelled to Suez, and embarked on the Red Sea, paffing along the coaft till I arrived at the port from which I had departed twenty years before, Here I joined myself to a caravan, and reentered my native country.

"I now expected the careffes of my kinfmen, and the congratulations of my friends, and was not without hope that my father, whatever value he had fet upon riches, would own with gladnefs and pride a fon who was able to add to the felicity and honour of the nation. But I was foon convinced that my thoughts were vain. My father had been dead fourteen years, having divided his wealth among my brothers, who were removed to fome other provinces. Of my companions the greater part was in the grave, of the reft, fome could with difficulty remember me, and fome confidered me as one corrupted by foreign manners.

"A man ufed to viciffitudes is not eafily dejected. I forgot, after a time, my difappointment, and endeavoured to recommend myfelf to the nobles of the kingdom; they admitted me to their tables, heard my ftory, and difmiffed me. I opened a school, and was prohibited to teach. I then refolved to fit down in the quiet of domestick life, and addreffed a lady that was fond of my converfation, but rejected my fuit, because my father was a merchant.

"Wearied at laft with folicitation and repulfes, I refolved to hide myfelf for ever from the world, and depend no longer on the opinion or caprice of others.

others. I waited for the time when the gate of the happy valley fhould open, that I might bid fare'well to hope and fear: the day came; my performance was diftinguished with favour, and I refigned myself with joy to perpetual confinement."

"Haft thou here found happiness at last? faid Raffelas. Tell me without referve; art thou content with thy condition? or, doft thou wish to be again wandering and enquiring? All the inhabitants of this valley celebrate their lot, and at the annual vifit of the emperour, invite others to partake of their felicity."

"Great prince, faid Imlac, I shall speak the truth; I know not one of all your attendants who does not lament the hour when he entered this retreat. I am less unhappy than the reft, because I have a mind replete with images, which I can vary and combine at pleasure. I can amufe my folitude by the renovation of the knowledge which begins to fade from my memory, and by recollection of the accidents of my paft life. Yet all this ends in the forrowful confideration, that my acquirements are now useless, and that none of my pleasures can be again enjoyed. The reft, whose minds have no impreffion but of the prefent moment, are either corroded by malignant paffions, or fit ftupid in the gloom of perpetual vacancy.'

"What paffions can infeft thofe, faid the prince, who have no rivals? We are in a place where impotence precludes malice, and where all envy is repreffed by community of enjoyments."

"There may be community, faid Imlac, of material possessions, but there can never be community

D 4

munity of love or of efteem. It must happen that one will pleafe more than another; he that knows himfelf defpifed will always be envious; and ftill more envious and malevolent, if he is condemned to live in the prefence of those who defpife him. The invitations, by which they allure others to a ftate which they feel to be wretched, proceed from the natural malignity of hopeless mifery. They are weary of themfelves, 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 imprisoned 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 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 efcape 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, the guide of my rambles, the partner of my fortune, and my fole director in the choice of life."

"Sir, answered the poet, your escape will be difficult, and, perhaps, you may foon repent your curiofity. The world, which you figure to yourself fmooth 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