CHAP. VI. THE PRINCE CONTINUES TO GRIEVE A AND MUSE. T this time the found of mufick proclaimed the hour of repast, and the converfation was concluded. The old man went away fufficiently difcontented, 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 short duration; whether it be that we bear easily what we have born long, or that, finding ourselves in age less 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 . The prince, whofe views were extended to a wider fpace, could not fpeedily quiet his emotions. He had been before terrified at the length of life which nature promifed 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 fecret ftock of happiness, which he could enjoy only by concealing it, s, and dou cs. He was doing fomenot yet with or means. ger gloomy and Bering himfelf as tock of happiness, y only by concealing it, it, he affected to be bufy in all schemes of diverfion, and endeavoured to make others pleased with the state of which he himfelf was weary. But pleasures never can be fo multiplied or continued, as not to leave much of life unemployed; there were many hours, both of the night and day, which he could spend without fufpicion in folitary thought. The load of life was much lightened: he went eagerly into the affemblies, because he supposed the frequency of his prefence neceffary to the fuccefs of his purposes; he retired gladly to privacy, because he had now a fubject of thought. His chief amufement was to picture to himself that world which he had never feen; to place himself in various conditions; to be entangled in imaginary dif ficulties, ficulties, and to be engaged in wild adventures: but his benevolence always terminated his projects in the relief of distress, the detection of fraud, the defeat of oppreffion, and the diffufion of happiness. Thus paffed twenty months of the life of Raffelas. He bufied himself fo intenfely in vifionary buftle, that he forgot his real folitude; and, amidst hourly preparations for the various incidents of human affairs, neglected to confider by what means he should mingle with mankind. One day, as he was fitting on a bank, he feigned to himself an orphan virgin robbed of her little portion by a treach erous lover, and crying after him for reftitution and redrefs. So ftrongly was the image impreffed upon his mind, that he he started up in the maid's defence, and run forward to seize the plunderer with all the eagerness of real purfuit. Fear naturally quickens the flight of guilt. Raffelas could not catch the fugitive with his utmost efforts; but, refolving to weary by perfeverance, him whom he could not furpass in speed, he preffed on till the foot of the mountain stopped his courfe. Here he recollected himself, and fmiled at his own ufelefs impetuofity. Then raising his eyes to the mountain, This, faid he, is the fatal obftacle that hinders at once the enjoyment of pleafure, and the exercife of virtue. How long is it that my hopes and wishes have flown beyond this boundary of my life, which yet I never have attempted to furmount!" |