!ratives and defcriptions, that very little could be learned from them. But it was evident that their hearts were cankered with discontent; that they confidered themselves as condemned to labour for the luxury of the rich, and looked up with ftupid malevolence toward thofe 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 juftly preferred to the placid gratifications of fields and woods. She hoped that the

time

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 liften, without care, among brooks and breezes, to one of her maidens reading in the shade.

CHA P. XX.

The danger of profperity.

N the next day they continued their journey, till the heat compelled them to look round for shelter. 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.

VOL. I.

K

The fhrubs were

dili

diligently cut away to open walks where the fhades were darkeft; the boughs of oppofite trees were artificially interwoven; feats of flowery turf were raised in vacant fpaces, and a rivulet, that wantoned along the fide of a winding path, had its banks fometimes opened into fmall bafons, and its stream sometimes obftructed by little mounds of stone heaped together to increase its mur

murs.

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 thofe rude and unfrequented regions, had leifure and art for fuch harmless luxury.

As

As they advanced, they heard the found of mufick, and faw youths and virgins dancing in the grove; and, going still further, beheld a stately palace built upon a hill furrounded with woods. The laws of eastern hofpitality allowed them to enter, and the mafter welcomed them like a man liberal and wealthy.

He was skilful enough in appearances foon to difcern that they were no common guests, and fpread his table with magnificence. The eloquence of Imlac caught his attention, and the lofty courtesy of the princefs excited his refpect. When they offered to depart he entreat-' ed their stay, and was the next day still more unwilling to difmifs them than before. They were eafily perfuaded to K 2 ftop,

ftop, and civility grew up in time to freedom and confidence.

The prince now saw all the domefticks chearful, and all the face of nature fmiling round the place, and could not forbear to hope that he fhould find here what he was feeking; but when he was congratulating the mafter upon his poffeffions, he answered 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 him by the princes of the country; but, as the favour of the great is uncertain, I know not how foon defenders may be perfuaded to share the plunder with

my

the