the prince, wherever he came, expected to be obeyed, and the princess was frightened, because those that came into her presence did not prostrate themselves before her. Imlac was forced to observe them with great vigilance, lest they should betray their rank by their unusual behaviour, and detained them several weeks in the first village, to accustom them to the sight of common mortals.

By degrees the royal wanderers were taught to understand that they had for a time laid aside their dignity, and were to expect only such regard as liberality and courtesy could procure. And Imlac having, by many admonitions, prepared them to endure the tumults of a port, and the ruggedness of the commercial race, brought them down to the sea-coast.

The prince and his sister, to whom every thing was new, were gratified equally at all places, and therefore remained for some months at the port without any inclination to pass further. Imlac was content with their stay, because he did not think it safe to expose them, unpractised in the world, to the hazards of a foreign country.

At last he began to fear lest they should be discov ered, and proposed to fix a day for their departure. They had no pretensions to judge for themselves, and referred the whole scheme to his direction. He therefore took passage in a ship to Suez; and, when the time came, with great difficulty prevailed on the princess to enter the vessel. They had a quick and prosperous voyage, and from Suez travelled by land to

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CHAP. XVI.

THEY ENTER CAIRO, AND FIND EVERY MAN HAPPY.

As they approached the city, which filled the strangers with astonishment, "This," said Imlac to the prince, "is the place where travellers and merchants assemble from all the corners of the earth. You will here find men of every character, and every occupation.

Commerce is here honourable: I will act as a merchant, and you shall live as strangers, who have no other end of travel than curiosity: It will soon be observed that we are rich; our reputation will procure us access to all whom we shall desire to know; you will see all the conditions of humanity, and enable yourself at leisure to make your choice of life.

They now entered the town, stunned by the noise, and offended by the crowds. Instruction had not yet so prevailed over habit, but that they wondered to see themselves pass undistinguished along the street, and met by the lowest of the people without reverence or notice. The princess could not at first bear the thonght of being levelled with the vulgar, and, for some days, continued in her chamber, where she was served by her favourite Pekuah as in the palace of the valley.

Imlac, who understood traffick, sold part of the jewels the next day, and hired a house, which he adorned with such magnificence, that he was immediately considered as a merchant of great wealth. His politeness attracted many acquaintance, and his generosity made him courted by many dependants. His table was crowded by men of every nation, who all admired his knowHedge, and solicited his favour. His companions not being able to mix in the conversation, could make no

discovery of their ignorance or surprise, and were gradually initiated in the world as they gained knowledge of the language.

The prince had by frequent lectures, been taught the use and nature of money; but the ladies could not for a long time, comprehend what the merchants did with small pieces of gold and silver, or why things of so little use should be received as equivalent to the necessaries of life.

They studied the language two years, while Imlac was preparing to set before them the various ranks and conditions of mankind. He grew acquainted with all who had any thing uncommon in their fortune or conduct. He frequented the voluptuous and the frugal, the idle and the busy, the merchants and the men of learning.

The prince being now able to converse with fluency, and having learned the caution necessary to be observed in his intercourse with strangers, began to accompany Imlac to places of resort, and to enter into all assemblies, that he might make his choice of life.

For some time he thought choice needless, because all appeared to him equally happy. Wherever he went he met gaiety and kindness, and heard the song of joy or the laugh of carelessness. He began to believe that the world overflowed with universal- plenty, and that nothing was withheld either from want or merit; that every hand showered liberality, and every heart melted with benevolence; "and who then," says he, “will be suffered to be wretched?"

Imlac permitted the pleasing delusion, and was unwilling to crush the hope of inexperience, till one day having sat a while silent, "I know not," said the prince, "what can be the reason that I am more unhappy than any of our friends. I see them perpetually and unal

y cheerful, but feel my own mind restless and unI am unsatisfied with those pleasures which I most to court; I live in the crowds of jollity, not uch to enjoy company, as to shun myself, and am loud and merry to conceal my sadness."

Every man," said Imlac, "may, by examining his mind, guess what passes in the minds of others: you feel that your own gaiety is counterfeit, it justly lead you to suspect that of your companions o be sincere. Envy is commonly reciprocal. We ong before we are convinced that happiness is nevbe found, and each believes it possessed by others, eep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself. In assembly, where you passed the last night, there cared such sprightliness of air, and volatility of fans might have suited beings of an higher order, ed to inhabit serener regions, inaccessible to care orrow: yet, believe me, prince, there was not one did not dread the moment when solitude should ver him to the tyranny of reflection."

This," said the prince, "may be true of others, e it is true of me; yet, whatever be the general incity of man, one condition is more happy than aner, and wisdom surely directs us to take the least in the choice of life."

The causes of good and evil," answered Imlac, e so various and uncertain, so often entangled with h other, so diversified by various relations, and so ch subject to accidents which cannot be foreseen, the who would fix his condition upon incontestible sons of preference, must live and die inquiring and berating."

But surely" said Rasselas, "the wise men to whom listen with reverence and wonder, chose that mode