prince, because pleasure has ceafed to please; I am lonely because I am miferable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others." "You, Sir, faid the fage, are the first who has complained of mifery in the hapPy valley. I hope to convince you that your complaints have no real caufe. You are here in full poffeffion of all that the emperour of Abiffinia can beftow; here is neither labour to be endured nor danger to be dreaded, yet here is all that labour or danger can procure or purchase. Look round and tell me which of your wants is without fupply: if you want nothing, how are you unhappy?"

"That I want nothing, faid the prince, or that I know not what I want, is the caufe of my complaint; if I had any

3

known

known want, I should have a certain wish ; that with would excite endeavour, and I should not then repine to fee the fun move fo flowly towards the western mountain, or lament when the day breaks and fleep will no longer hide me from myself. When I fee the kids and the lambs chafing one another, I fancy that I fhould be happy if I had fomething to perfue. But, poffeffing all that I can want, I find one day and one hour exactly like another, except that the latter is ftill more tedious than the former. Let your experience inform me how the day may now seem as short as in my childhood, while nature was yet fresh, and every moment shewed me what I never had obferved before. I have already enjoyed too much; give me something to defire."

The old man was furprized at this new fpecies of affliction, and knew not what to reply, yet was unwilling to be filent. "Sir, faid he, if you had seen the miferies of the world, you would know how to value your prefent state." "Now, faid the prince, you have given me fomething to defire; I fhall long to see the miseries of the world, fince the fight of them is neceffary to happiness."

CHA P. IV.

The prince continues to grieve and mufe.

A

T this time the found of mufick

proclaimed the hour of repaft, and the conversation was concluded. The

old

old man went away fufficiently discontented to find that his reafonings had produced the only conclufion which they were intended to prevent. But in the decline of life fhame and grief are of fhort duration; whether it be that we bear easily what we have born long, or that, finding ourselves in age lefs regarded, we lefs regard others; or, that we look with flight regard upon afflictions, to which we know that the hand of death is about to put an end.

The prince, whofe views were extended to a wider fpace, could not speedily quiet his emotions. He had been be

fore terrified at the length of life which nature promised him, because he confidered that in a long time much must be endured; he now rejoiced in his youth,

because in many years much might be done.

This first beam of hope, that had been ever darted into his mind, rekindled youth in his cheeks, and doubled the luftre of his eyes. He was fired with the defire of doing fomething, though he knew not yet with diftinctness, either end or means.

He was now no longer gloomy and unfocial; but, confidering himself as mafter of a secret stock of happiness, which he could enjoy only by concealing it, he affected to be bufy in all schemes of diverfion, and endeavoured to make others pleased with the state of which he himself was weary. But pleasures never can be fo multiplied or continued,

as