wants the radical principle of happiness. We may, perhaps, allow that what fatisfaction this world can afford, muft arife from the conjunction of wealth, knowledge and goodness: wealth is nothing but as it is beftowed, and knowledge nothing but as it is communicated: they must therefore be imparted to others, and to whom could I now delight to impart them? Goodness affords the only comfort which can be enjoyed without a partner, and goodness may be practifed in retirement."

"How far folitude may admit goodness, or advance it, I fhall not, replied Imlac, difpute at prefent. Remember the confeffion of the pious hermit. You will wish to return into the world, when the image of your companion has left your thoughts." "That time, faid Ne

kayah,

kayah, will never come.

The generous

franknefs, the modeft obfequioufnefs, and the faithful fecrecy of my dear Pekuah, will always be more miffed, as I shall live longer to fee vice and folly."

"The state of a mind oppreffed with a fudden calamity, faid Imlac, is like that of the fabulous inhabitants of the new created earth, who, when the first night came upon them, fuppofed that day never would return. When the clouds of forrow gather over us, we fee nothing beyond them, nor can imagine how they will be difpelled: yet a new day fucceeded to the night, and forrow is never long without a dawn of ease. But they who restrain themselves from receiving comfort, do as the favages would have done, had they put out their eyes when it was dark. Our minds,

like our bodies, are in continual flux; fomething is hourly loft, and fomething acquired. To lofe much at once is inconvenient to either, but while the vital powers remain uninjured, nature will find the means of reparation.

Distance

has the fame effect on the mind as on the eye, and while we glide along the ftream of time, whatever we leave behind. us is always leffening, and that which we approach increafing in magnitude. Do not fuffer life to ftagnate; it will grow muddy for want of motion: commit yourself again to the current of the world; Pekuah will vanish by degrees; you will meet in your way fome other favourite, or learn to diffuse yourself in general conversation."

VOL. II.

F

"At

"At least, faid the prince, do not defpair before all remedies have been tried: the enquiry after the unfortunate lady is ftill continued, and fhall be carried on with yet greater diligence, on condition that you will promise to wait a year for the event, without any unalterable refolution."

Nekayah thought this a reasonable demand, and made the promise to her brother, who had been advised by Imlac to require it. Imlac had, indeed, no great hope of regaining Pekuah, but he fuppofed, that if he could fecure the interval of a year, the princess would be then in no danger of a cloister.

CHAP.

CHA P. XXXV.

Pekuah is ftill remembered. The progrefs of forrow.

NEKAYAH, feeing that nothing

was omitted for the recovery of

her favourite, and having, by her promife, fet her intention of retirement at a distance, began imperceptibly to return to common cares and common pleasures. She rejoiced without her own confent at the fufpenfion of her forrows, and fometimes caught herself with indignation in the act of turning away her mind from the remembrance of her, whom yet she refolved never to forget.