CHAP. XVI.

THEY ENTER CAIRO, AND FIND EVERY MAN HAPPY.

As

S they approached the city, which filled the ftrangers with astonishment, "This," said Imlac to the prince, "is the place where travellers and merchants affemble from all the corners of the earth. You will here find men of every character, and every occupation. Commerce is here honourable: I will act as a merchant, and you fhall live as strangers, who have no other end of travel than curiofity; it will foon be obferved that we are rich; our reputation will procure us access to all whom we shall desire to know; you will fee all the conditions of humanity, and enable

F 4

yourself

yourself at leisure to make your choice

of life."

They now entered the town, stunned by the noife, and offended by the crowds. Inftruction had not yet fo prevailed over habit, but that they wondered to fee themselves pass undiftinguished along the street, and met by the lowest of the people without reverence or notice. The princess could not at first bear the thought of being levelled with the vulgar, and, for fome days, continued in her chamber, where he was served by her favourite Pekuah as in the palace of the valley.

Imlac, who understood traffick, fold part of the jewels the next day, and hired a house, which he adorned with fuch magnificence, that he was immediately confidered as a merchant of great wealth.

wealth. His politeness attracted many acquaintance, and his generofity made him courted by many dependants. His table was crowded by men of every nation, who all admired his knowledge, and folicited his favour. His companions, not being able to mix in the converfation, could make no discovery of their ignorance or furprife, and were gradually initiated in the world as they gained knowledge of the language.

The prince had, by frequent lectures, been taught the use and nature of money; but the ladies could not, for a long time, comprehend what the merchants did with fmall pieces of gold and filver, or why things of fo little ufe should be received as equivalent to the neceffaries of life.

They studied the language two years, while Imlac was preparing to fet before them

F 5

them the various ranks and conditions of mankind. He grew acquainted with all who had any thing uncommon in their fortune or conduct. He frequented the voluptuous and the frugal, the idle and the bufy, the merchants and the men of learning.

The prince being now able to converfe with fluency, and having learned the caution neceffary to be observed in his intercourse with strangers, began to accompany Imlac to places of refort, and to enter into all affemblies, that he might make his choice of life.

For fome time he thought choice needlefs, because all appeared to him equally happy. Wherever he went he met gaiety and kindness, and heard the fong of joy or the laugh of carele ffnefs. He began to believe that the world overflowed with univerfal plenty, and

that

that nothing was withheld either from want or merit; that every hand showered liberality, and every heart melted with benevolence;" and who then," fays he, "will be fuffered to be wretched?"

Imlac permitted the pleasing delufion, and was unwilling to crush the hope of inexperience, till one day, having fat a while filent, I know not," faid the prince, "what can be the reason that I am more unhappy than any of our friends. I see them perpetually and unalterably cheerful, but feel my own mind restless and uneafy. I am unfatisfied with those pleasures which I feem moft to court, I live in the crowds of jollity, not fo much to enjoy company as to fhun myself, and am only loud and merry to conceal my fadness."

"Every man," faid Imlac, "may, by examining his own mind, guess what F 6 paffes