fent from another. Their policy removes all publick inconveniencies: they have roads cut through their mountains, and bridges laid upon their rivers. And, if we defcend to the privacies of life, their habitations are more commodious, and their poffeffions are more fecure."

"They are furely happy," faid the prince, "who have all these conveniencies, of which I envy none fo much as the facility with which separated friends interchange their thoughts."

"The Europeans," anfwered Imlac, "are lefs unhappy than we, but they are not happy. Human life is every where a ftate in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed."

CHAP. XII.

THE STORY OF IMLAC CONTINUED.

I

AM not yet willing," said the prince, "to suppose that happiness is fo parfimoniously distributed to mortals; nor can believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I fhould be able to fill every day with pleafure. I would injure no man, and should provoke no refentment: I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude. I would chufe my friends among the wife, and my wife among the virtuous; and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindnefs. My children should, by my care, be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received. What would dare to moleft him

who might call on every fide to thousands enriched by his bounty, or affifted by his power? And why should not life glide quietly away in the foft reciprocation of protection and reverence? All this may be done without the help of European refinements, which appear by their effects to be rather fpecious than ufeful. Let us leave them, and perfue our journey."

"From Palestine," said Imlac," I paffed through many regions of Afia; in the more civilized kingdoms as a trader, and among the Barbarians of the mountains as a pilgrim. At last I began to long for my native country, that I might repofe after my travels and fatigues, in the places where I had spent my earliest years, and gladden my old companions with the recital of my adventures. Often did I figure to myself

those

those with whom I had fported away the gay hours of dawning life, fitting round me in its evening, wondering at my tales, and liftening to my counsels.

"When this thought had taken poffeffion of my mind, I confidered every moment as wafted which did not bring me nearer to Abiffinia. I haftened into Egypt, and notwithstanding my impatience, was detained ten months in the contemplation of its ancient magnificence, and in inquiries after the remains of its ancient learning. I found in Cairo a mixture of all nations; fome brought thither by the love of knowledge, fome by the hope of gain, and many by the defire of living after their own manner without obfervation, and of lying hid in the obscurity of multitudes: for in a city, populous as Cairo, it is poffible to obtain at the fame time

the gratifications of fociety, and the fecrecy of folitude.

"From Cairo I travelled to Suez, and embarked on the Red Sea, passing along the coaft till I arrived at the port from which I had departed twenty years before. Here I joined myself to a caravan, and re-entered my native country.

"I now expected the careffes of my kinfmen, and the congratulations of my friends, and was not without hope that my father, whatever value he had fet upon riches, would own with gladnefs and pride a fon who was able to add to the felicity and honour of the nation. But I was foon convinced that my thoughts were vain. My father had been dead fourteen years, having divided his wealth among my brothers, who were removed to fome other provinces. Of my companions the greater part