rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第6部分

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s　the　dream　of　idle　superstition；　but　that　some　places　may　operate　　upon　our　own　minds　in　an　uncommon　manner　is　an　opinion　which　hourly　　experience　will　justify。　　He　who　supposes　that　his　vices　may　be　　more　successfully　combated　in　Palestine；　will　perhaps　find　himself　　mistaken；　yet　he　may　go　thither　without　folly；　he　who　thinks　they　　will　be　more　freely　pardoned；　dishonours　at　once　his　reason　and　　religion。〃
〃These；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃are　European　distinctions。　　I　will　　consider　them　another　time。　　What　have　you　found　to　be　the　effect　　of　knowledge？　　Are　those　nations　happier　than　we？〃
〃There　is　so　much　infelicity；〃　said　the　poet；　〃in　the　world；　that　　scarce　any　man　has　leisure　from　his　own　distresses　to　estimate　the　　comparative　happiness　of　others。　　Knowledge　is　certainly　one　of　the　　means　of　pleasure；　as　is　confessed　by　the　natural　desire　which　　every　mind　feels　of　increasing　its　ideas。　　Ignorance　is　mere　　privation；　by　which　nothing　can　be　produced；　it　is　a　vacuity　in　　which　the　soul　sits　motionless　and　torpid　for　want　of　attraction；　　and；　without　knowing　why；　we　always　rejoice　when　we　learn；　and　　grieve　when　we　forget。　　I　am　therefore　inclined　to　conclude　that　if　　nothing　counteracts　the　natural　consequence　of　learning；　we　grow　　more　happy　as　out　minds　take　a　wider　range。
〃In　enumerating　the　particular　comforts　of　life；　we　shall　find　many　　advantages　on　the　side　of　the　Europeans。　　They　cure　wounds　and　　diseases　with　which　we　languish　and　perish。　　We　suffer　inclemencies　　of　weather　which　they　can　obviate。　　They　have　engines　for　the　　despatch　of　many　laborious　works；　which　we　must　perform　by　manual　　industry。　　There　is　such　communication　between　distant　places　that　　one　friend　can　hardly　be　said　to　be　absent　from　another。　　Their　　policy　removes　all　public　inconveniences；　they　have　roads　cut　　through　the　mountains；　and　bridges　laid　over　their　rivers。　　And；　if　　we　descend　to　the　privacies　of　life；　their　habitations　are　more　　commodious　and　their　possessions　are　more　secure。〃
〃They　are　surely　happy；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃who　have　all　these　　conveniences；　of　which　I　envy　none　so　much　as　the　facility　with　　which　separated　friends　interchange　their　thoughts。〃
〃The　Europeans；〃　answered　Imlac；　〃are　less　unhappy　than　we；　but　　they　are　not　happy。　　Human　life　is　everywhere　a　state　in　which　much　　is　to　be　endured　and　little　to　be　enjoyed。〃

CHAPTER　XII　…　THE　STORY　OF　IMLAC　（CONTINUED）。

〃I　AM　not　willing；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃to　suppose　that　happiness　is　　so　parsimoniously　distributed　to　mortals；　nor　can　I　believe　but　　that；　if　I　had　the　choice　of　life；　I　should　be　able　to　fill　every　　day　with　pleasure。　　I　would　injure　no　man；　and　should　provoke　no　　resentments；　I　would　relieve　every　distress；　and　should　enjoy　the　　benedictions　of　gratitude。　　I　would　choose　my　friends　among　the　　wise　and　my　wife　among　the　virtuous；　and　therefore　should　be　in　no　　danger　from　treachery　or　unkindness。　　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　molest　him　who　might　　call　on　every　side　to　thousands　enriched　by　his　bounty　or　assisted　　by　his　power？　　And　why　should　not　life　glide　away　in　the　soft　　reciprocation　of　protection　and　reverence？　　All　this　may　be　done　　without　the　help　of　European　refinements；　which　appear　by　their　　effects　to　be　rather　specious　than　useful。　　Let　us　leave　them　and　　pursue　our　journey。〃
〃From　Palestine；〃　said　Imlac；　〃I　passed　through　many　regions　of　　Asia；　in　the　more　civilised　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　repose　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　with　whom　I　had　sported　away　the　gay　　hours　of　dawning　life；　sitting　round　me　in　its　evening；　wondering　　at　my　tales　and　listening　to　my　counsels。
〃When　this　thought　had　taken　possession　of　my　mind；　I　considered　　every　moment　as　wasted　which　did　not　bring　me　nearer　to　Abyssinia。　　　I　hastened　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：　　some　brought　　thither　by　the　love　of　knowledge；　some　by　the　hope　of　gain；　many　by　　the　desire　of　living　after　their　own　manner　without　observation；　　and　of　lying　hid　in　the　obscurity　of　multitudes；　for　in　a　city　　populous　as　Cairo　it　is　possible　to　obtain　at　the　same　time　the　　gratifications　of　society　and　the　secrecy　of　solitude。
〃From　Cairo　I　travelled　to　Suez；　and　embarked　on　the　Red　Sea；　　passing　along　the　coast　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　caresses　of　my　kinsmen　and　the　congratulations　　of　my　friends；　and　was　not　without　hope　that　my　father；　whatever　　value　he　had　set　upon　riches；　would　own　with　gladness　and　pride　a　　son　who　was　able　to　add　to　the　felicity　and　honour　of　the　nation。　　　But　I　was　soon　convinced　that　my　thoughts　were　vain。　　My　father　had　　been　dead　fourteen　years；　having　divided　his　wealth　among　my　　brothers；　who　were　removed　to　some　other　provinces。　　Of　my　　companions；　the　greater　part　was　in　the　grave；　of　the　rest；　some　　could　with　difficulty　remember　me；　and　some　considered　me　as　one　　corrupted　by　foreign　manners。
〃A　man　used　to　vicissitudes　is　not　easily　dejected。　　I　forgot；　　after　a　time；　my　disappointment；　and　endeavoured　to　recommend　　myself　to　the　nobles　of　the　kingdom；　they　admitted　me　to　their　　tables；　heard　my　story；　and　dismissed　me。　　I　opened　a　school；　and　　was　prohibited　to　teach。　　I　then　resolved　to　sit　down　in　the　quiet　　of　domestic　life；　and　addressed　a　lady　that　was　fond　of　my　　conversation；　but　rejected　my　suit　because　my　father　was　a　　merchant。
〃Wearied　at　last　with　solicitation　and　repulses；　I　resolved　to　hide　　myself　for　ever　from　the　world；　and　depend　no　longer　on　the　opinion　　or　caprice　of　others。　　I　waited　for　the　time　when　the　gate　of　the　　Happy　Valley　should　open；　that　I　might　bid　farewell　to　hope　and　　fear；　the　day　came；　my　performance　was　distinguished　with　favour；　　and　I　resigned　myself　with　joy　to　perpetual　confinement。〃
〃Hast　thou　here　found　happiness　at　last？〃　said　Rasselas。　　〃Tell　me；　　without　reserve；　art　thou　content　with　thy　condition；　or　dost　thou　　wish　to　be　again　wandering　and　inquiring？　　All　the　inhabitants　of　　this　valley　celebrate　their　lot；　and　at　the　annual　visit　of　the　　Emperor　invite　others　to　partake　of　their　felicity。〃
〃Great　Prince；〃　said　Imlac；　〃I　shall　speak　the　truth。　　I　know　not　　one　of　all　your　attendants　who　does　not　lament　the　hour　when　he　　entered　this　retreat。　　I　am　less　unhappy　than　the　rest；　because　I　　have　a　mind　replete　with　images；　which　I　can　vary　and　combine　at　　pleasure。　　I　can　amuse　my　solitude　by　the　renovation　of　the　　knowledge　which　begins　to　fade　from　my　memory；　and　by　recollection　　of　the　accidents　of　my　past　life。　　Yet　all　this　ends　in　the　　sorrowful　consideration　that　my　acquirements　are　now　useless；　and　　that　none　of　my　pleasures　can　be　again　enjoyed。　　The　rest；　whose　　minds　have　no　impression　but　of　the　present　moment；　are　either　　corroded　by　malignant　passions　or　sit　stupid　in　the　gloom　of　　perpetual　vacancy。〃
〃What　passions　can　infest　those；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃who　have　no　　rivals？　　We　are　in　a　place　where　impotence　precludes　malice；　and　　where　all　envy　is　repressed　by　community　of　enjoyments。〃
〃There　may　be　community；〃　said　Imlac；　〃of　material　possessions；　but　　there　can　never　be　community　of　love　or　of　esteem。　　It　must　happen　　that　one　will　please　more　than　another；　he　that　knows　himself　　despised　will　always　be　envious；　and　still　more　envious　and　　malevolent　if　he　is　condemned　to　live　in　the　presence　of　those　who　　despise　him。　　The　invitations　by　which　they　allure　others　to　a　　state　which　they　feel　to　be　wretched；　proceed　from　the　natural　　malignity　of　hopeless　misery。　　They　are　weary　of　themselves　and　of　　each　other；　and　expect　to　find　relief　in　new　companions。　　They　envy　　the　liberty　which　their　folly　has　forfeited；　and　would　gladly　see　　all　mankind　imprisoned　like　themselves。
〃From　this　crime；　however；　I　am　wholly　free。　　No　man　can　say　that　　he　is　wretched　by　my　persuasion。　　I　look　with　pity　on　the　crowds　　who　are　annually　soliciting　admission　to　captivity；　and　wish　that　　it　were　lawful　for　me　to　warn　them　of　their　danger。〃
〃My　dear　Imlac；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃I　will　open　to　thee　my　whole　　heart。　　I　have　long　meditated　an　escape　from　the　Happy　Valley。　　I　　have　examined　the　mountain　on　every　side；　but　find　myself　　insuperably　barred　…　teach　me　the　way　to　break　my　prison；　thou　　shalt　be　the　companion　of　my　flight；　the　guide　of　my　rambles；　the　　partner　of　my　fortune；　and　my　sole　director　in　the　CHOICE　OF　LIFE。
〃Sir；〃　answered　the　poet；　〃your　escape　will　be　difficult；　and　　perhaps　you　may　soon　repent　your　curiosity。　　The　world；　which　you　　figure　to　yourself　smooth　and　quiet　as　the　lake　in　the　valley；　you　　will　find　a　sea　foaming　with　tempests　and　boiling　with　whirlpools；　　you　will　be　sometimes　overwhelmed　by　the　waves　of　violence；　and　　sometimes　dashed　against　the　rocks　of　treachery。　　Amidst　wrongs　and　　frauds；　competitions　and　anxieties；　you　will　wish　a　thousand　times　　for　these　seats　of　quiet；　and　willingly　quit　hope　to　be　free　from　　fear。〃
〃Do　not　seek　to　deter　me　from　my　purpose；〃　said　the　Prince。　　〃I　am　　impatient　to　see　what　thou　hast　seen；　and　since　thou　art　thyself　　weary　of　the　valley；　it　is　evident　that　thy　former　state　was　better　　than　this。　　Whatever　be　the　consequence　of　my　experiment；　I　am　　resolved　to　judge　with　mine　own　eyes　of　the　various　conditions　of　　men；　and　then　to　make　deliberately　my　CHOICE　OF　LIFE。〃
〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Imlac；　〃you　are　hindered　by　stronger　restraints　　than　my　persuasions；　yet；　if　your　determination　is　fixed；　I　do　not　　counsel　you　to　despair。　　Few　things　are　impossible　to　diligence　and　　skill。〃

CHAPTER　XIII　…　RASSELAS　DISCOVERS　THE　MEANS　OF　ESCAPE。

THE　Prince　now　dismissed　his　favourite　to　rest；　but　the　narrative　　of　wonders　and　novelties　filled　his　min