CHAP. XX. THE DANGER OF PROSPERITY. ON the next day till the heat compelled them to look round. for fhelter. At a small 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 fhades were darkeft; 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 finall bafons, and its stream fometimes obftructed by little mounds of ftone heaped together to increase its murmurs. 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 they advanced they heard the found of mufick, and faw youths and virgins dancing in the grove; and, going ftill further, beheld a ftately palace built upon a hill furrounded with woods. The laws of eaftern hofpitality allowed them to enter, and the mafter welcomed them like a man liberal and wealthy. He was fkilful enough in appearances foon to difcern that they were no common guests, and spread his table with magnificence. The eloquence of Imlac caught his attention, and the lofty courtesy of the princess excited his refpect. When they offered to depart he entreated their stay, and was the next day still more unwilling to difinifs them than before. They were eafily perfuaded to stop, 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 fhould find here what he was feeking; but when he was congratulating the master 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 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 treasures into a diftant country, and, alarm, am prepared to follow them. enemies riot in my manfion, and enjoy the gardens which I have planted." have fent my upon the first Then will my 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. CHAP. XXI. THE HAPPINESS OF SOLITUDE. HISTORY. THE HERMIT'S THE HEY came on the third day, by the direction of the peasants, to the hermit's cell: it was a cavern in the fide of a mountain, over-fhadowed with palm-trees; at fuch a distance from the cataract, that nothing more was heard than a gentle uniform murmur, fuch as compofed the mind to penfive meditation, especially when it was affifted by the wind whistling among the branches. The first rude effay of nature had been fo much improved by human labour, that the cave contained feveral apartments appropriated to different ufes, and often afforded lodging to travellers, whom darkness or tempefts happened to overtake. The hermit fat on a bench at the door, to enjoy the coolness of the evening. On one fide lay a book with pens and papers, on the other mechanical inftruments of various kinds. As they approached him unregarded, the princefs obferved that he had not the countenance of a man that had found, or could teach the way to happiness. They faluted him with great refpect, which he repaid like a man not unaccustomed to the forms of courts. "My children, faid he, if you have loft your way, you fhall be willingly fupplied with fuch conveniencies for the night as this cavern will afford. I have all that nature requires, and you will not expect delicacies in a hermit's cell." They They thanked him, and, entering, were pleased with the neatnefs and regularity of the place. The hermit set flesh and wine before them, though he fed only upon fruits and water. His difcourfe was cheerful without levity, and pious without enthufiafm. He foon gained the esteem of his guests, and the princefs repented of her hafty cenfure. At laft Imlac began thus: "I do not now wonder that your reputation is fo far extended; we have head at Cairo of your wifdom, and came hither to implore your direction for this young man and maiden in the choice of life." "To him that lives well, anfwered the hermit, every form of life is good; nor can I give any other rule for choice, than to remove from all apparent evil." "He will remove most certainly from evil, faid the prince, who fhall devote himself to that folitude which you have recommended by your example." "I have indeed lived fifteen years in folitude, said the hermit, but have no defire that my example fhould gain any imitators. In my youth I profeffed arms, and was raised by degrees to the highest military rank. I have traverfed wide countries at the head of my troops, and feen many battles and fieges. At laft, being difgufted by the preferments of a younger officer, and feeling that my vigour was beginning to decay, I refolved to close my life in peace, having found the world full of fnares, difcord, and mifery. I had once efcaped from the purfuit of the enemy by the shelter of this cavern, and therefore chose it for my final refidence. I em ployed ployed artificers to form it into chambers, and ftored it with all that I was likely to want. "For fome time after my retreat, I rejoiced like a tempeft-beaten failor at his entrance into the harbour, being delighted with the fudden change of the noife and hurry of war to ftillness and repofe. When the pleasure of novelty went away, I employed my hours in examining the plants which grow in the valley, and the minerals which I collected from the rocks. But that enquiry is now grown tasteless and irkfome. I have been for fome time unfettled and distracted: my mind is disturbed with a thoufand perplexities of doubt, and vanities of imagination, which hourly prevail upon me, becaufe I have no opportunities of relaxation or diverfion. I am fometimes afhamed to think that I could not fecure myfelf from vice, but by retiring from the exercise of virtue, and begin to suspect that I was rather impelled by refentment, than led by devotion, into folitude. My fancy riots in fcenes of folly, and I lament that I have loft fo much, and have gained fo little. In folitude, if I escape the example of bad men, I want likewife the counfel and converfation of the good. I have been long comparing the evils with the advantages of fociety, and refolve to return into the world to-morrow. The life of a folitary man will be certainly miferable, but not certainly devout." They heard his refolution with furprise, but after a fhort paufe, offered to conduct him to Cairo. He dug up a confiderable treasure which he had hid among the rocks, and accompanied them to the city, on which, as he approached it, he gazed with rapture. |