refuse her request, and grieved that he had loft an opportunity of fhewing his confidence by a voluntary communication. It was therefore agreed that she fhould leave the valley with them; and that, in the mean time, fhe should watch, left any other ftraggler fhould, by chance or curiofity, follow them to the mountain.

At length their labour was at an end; they faw light beyond the prominence, and, iffuing to the top of the mountain, beheld the Nile, yet a narrow current, wandering beneath them.

The prince looked round with rapture, anticipated all the pleasures of travel, and in thought was already tranfported beyond his father's dominions. Imlac, though very joyful at his escape, had lefs expectation of pleafure in the

world,

world, which he had before tried, and of which he had been weary.

Raffelas was fo much delighted with a wider horizon, that he could not foon be perfuaded to return into the valley. He informed his fifter that the way was open, and that nothing now remained but to prepare for their departure.

CHA P. XV.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS LEAVE THE

VALLEY, AND SEE MANY WONDERS.

HE prince and princess had jewels

THE

and

fufficient to make them rich whenever they came into a place of commerce, which, by Imlac's direction, they hid in their clothes, and, on the night of the next full moon, all left the valley. The princess was followed only by a fingle favourite, who did not know whither she was going.

They clambered through the cavity, and began to go down on the other fide. The princess and her maid turned their eyes towards every part, and, feeing nothing to bound their profpect, confidered themselves as in danger of being loft in a dreary vacuity. They ftopped +

and

and trembled. "I am almost afraid, faid the princess, to begin a journey of which I cannot perceive an end, and to venture into this immenfe plain, where I may be approached on every fide by men whom I never faw." The prince felt nearly the fame emotions, though he thought it more manly to conceal them.

Imlac fmiled at their terrours, and encouraged them to proceed; but the princess continued irrefolute till she had been imperceptibly drawn forward too far to return.

In the morning they found fome fhepherds in the field, who fet milk and fruits before them. The princess wondered that he did not fee a palace ready for her reception, and a table Spread with delicacies; but, being faint

and hungry, fhe drank the milk and eat the fruits, and thought them of a higher flavour than the products of the valley.

They travelled forward by easy journeys, being all unaccustomed to toil or difficulty, and knowing, that though they might be miffed, they could not be pursued. In a few days they came into a more populous region, where Imlac was diverted with the admiration which his companions expreffed at the diverfity of manners, ftations, and employments.

Their drefs was fuch as might not bring upon them the suspicion of having any thing to conceal, yet the prince, wherever he came, expected to be obeyed, and the princess was frighted, because those that came into her presence did not proftrate themselves before her. Imlac was forced to observe them with

great