with ftupid malevolence toward those that were placed above them. The princess pronounced with vehemence, that she would never fuffer these envious favages to be her companions, and that she should not foon be defirous of seeing any more fpecimens of ruftick happiness; but could not believe that all the accounts of primeval pleasures were fabulous; and was yet in doubt, whether life had any thing that could be justly preferred to the placid gratifications of fields and woods. She hoped that the time would come, when, with a few virtuous and elegant companions, she should gather flowers planted by her own hand, fondle the lambs of her own ewe, and listen, without care, among brooks and breezes, to one of her maidens reading in the fhade. СНАР. XX. THE DANGER OF PROSPERITY. N the next day they continued their journey, till the heat compelled them to look round for fhelter. At a fmall distance they faw a thick wood, which they no fooner entered than they perceived that they were approaching the habitations of men. The fhrubs were diligently cut away to open walks where the shades were darkest; the boughs of oppofite trees were artificially interwoven; feats of flowery turf were raised in vacant spaces, and a rivulet, that wantoned along the fide of a winding path, had its banks fometimes opened into small bafons, and its ftream fometimes obstructed by little mounds of ftone heaped together to increase its murmurs. They They paffed flowly through the wood, delighted with fuch unexpected accommodations, and entertained each other with conjecturing what, or who, he could be, that, in those rude and unfrequented regions, had leisure and art for fuch harmless luxury. As they advanced they heard the found of mufick, and faw youths and virgins dancing in the grove; and, going ftill further, beheld a stately palace built upon a hill furrounded with woods. The laws of eastern hospitality allowed them to enter, and the mafter welcomed them like a man liberal and wealthy. He was fkilful enough in appearances foon to discern that they were no common guests, and fpread his table with magnificence. The eloquence of Imlac caught his attention, and the lofty courtely G 3 tefy of the princefs excited his respect. When they offered to depart he entreated their ftay, and was the next day ftill more unwilling to difmifs them than before. They were eafily perfuaded to ftop, and civility grew up in time to freedom and confidence. The prince now faw all the domesticks cheerful, and all the face of nature fmiling round the place, and could not forbear to hope that he should find here what he was feeking; but when he was congratulating the mafter upon his poffeffions, he anfwered with a figh, "My condition has indeed the appearance of happiness, but appearances are delufive. My profperity puts my life in danger; the Baffa of Egypt is my enemy, incenfed only by my wealth and popularity. I have been hitherto protected against against him by the princes of the country; but, as the favour of the great is uncertain, I know not how foon my defenders may be perfuaded to share the plunder with the Baffa. I have fent my treasures into a diftant country, and, upon the first alarm, am prepared to follow them. Then will my enemies riot in my manfion, and enjoy the gardens which I have planted." They all joined in lamenting his danger, and deprecating his exile: and the princess was fo much disturbed with the tumult of grief and indignation, that she retired to her apartment. They continued with their kind inviter a few days longer, and then went forward to find the hermit. |