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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 ftill more unwilling to difmifs 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 domefticks 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 have fent my treasures into a diftant country, and, upon the first alarm, am prepared to follow them. Then will my enemies riot in my manfion, and enjoy the gardens which I have planted."

They all joined in lamenting his danger, and deprecating his exile: and the princess was so much disturbed with the tumult of grief and indignation, that the retired to her apartment. They continued with their kind inviter a few days longer, and then went forward to find the hermit.

CHA P. XXI.

THE HAPPINESS OF

SOLITUDE.

HISTORY.

THE HERMIT'S

TH

HEY came on the third day, by the direction of the peafants, 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 whiftling among the branches. The first rude eflay 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 coolnefs of the evening. On one fide lay a book with pets and papers, on the other mechanical inftruments of various kinds. As they approached him unregarde', the princefs obferved that he had not the countenance of a man that had found, or could teach the way to happiness.

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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 at 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 fet flesh and wine before them, though he fed only upon fruits and water. His difcourfe was cheerful without levity, and pious without enthufiasm. He foon gained the efteem of his guefts, and the princess repented of her hafty cenfure.

At laft Imlac began thus: "I do not now wonder that your reputation is fo far extended; we have heard at Cairo of your wisdom, and came hither to implore your direction for this young man and maiden in the choice of life."

"To him that lives well, answered 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 moft 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, faid the hermit, but have no defire that my example fhould gain any imitators. In my youth I profeffed arms, and was raifed 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 escaped from the purfuit of the enemy by the fhelter of this cavern, and therefore chofe it for my final refidence. I em

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ployed artificers to form it into chambers, and stored 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 tafteless and irkfome. I have been for fome time unfettled and diftracted: my mind is disturbed with a thoufand perplexities of doubt, and vanities of imagination, which hourly prevail upon me, because 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 exercife of virtue, and begin to fufpect 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 efcape 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 miserable, 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.

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THE HAPPINESS OF A LIFE LED ACCORDING TO
NATURE.

ASSELAS Went often to an affembly of learned men, who met at ftated times to unbend their minds, and compare their opinions. Their manners were fomewhat coarfe, but their converfation was inftructive, and their difputations acute, though fometimes too violent, and often continued till neither controvertist remembered upon what question they began. Some faults were almoft general among them: every one was defirous to dictate to the reft, and every one was pleased to hear the genius or knowledge of another depreciated.

In this affembly Raffelas was relating his interview with the hermit, and the wonder with which he heard him cenfure a courfe of life which he had fo deliberately chofen, and fo laudably followed. The fentiments of the hearers were various. Some were of opinion, that the folly of his choice had been justly punished by condemnation to perpetual perfeverance. One of the youngest among them, with great vehemence, pronounced him an hypocrite. Some talked of the right of fociety to the labour of individuals, and confidered retirement as a desertion of duty. Others readily allowed, that there was a time when the claims of the publick were fatisfied, and when a man might properly fequefter himself, to review his life, and purify his heart.

One, who appeared more affected with the narrative than the reft, thought it likely, that the hermit would,

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