Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12
Continued.
THE HISTORY OF RASSElAS,
PRINCE OF ABYsSINlA.
CHAPTER ".

7hc Prince continues to griere and muse.
At this time the sound of music pro
claimed the hour of repast. and the con-
versation was concluded. The old man
went away sufficiently discontinued, to
find that his rcasonings had produced the
only conclusion which they were intend-
ed to prevent. But in the decline of life
shame and grief are of short duration;
whether it be that we bear easily what
we have borne long; or that, finding our
selves in age less regarded, we less regard
others or, that we look with slight re-
gard upon Affections to which we know
that the hand of death is about to put an
end.
The prince, whose views We're extended
to Il wider space, could not speedily quiet
his emotions. He had been before terrti-
ed at the length of life which nature
promised him, because he considered that
i'm a long time much must be endured: he
now reioiced in his youth, because in
many years much might be done.
This first beam of hope, that had been
ever darted into his mind, reiindled youth
in his checks. and doubled the lustre of
his eyes. lie was fired with the desire of
doing something, though he knew not
vet with distinctness either end or means.
He was now no longer gloomy and UNI
social; but, considering himself as master
of secret stock of happiness, which he
could enjoy only by concealing it, he
affected to be busy in all schemes of di-
version. and endeavored to make Others
pleased with the state of which he him
self was weary. But pleasures never can
be so 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 Sus-
pcon in solitary thought. The load of
life was much lightened; he went eagerly
into the assemblies, because he supposed
the frequency OF ms presence necessary
to the success of his purposes: he retired
gladly to privacy. because he had now Il
subject of thought.
His chief amusement was to picture to
himself that world which he had never
seen: to place himself in various condi-
tions; to be cntangled in imaginary diff
culties, and to be engaged in wild adven-
lures but his bencvocnce always termi-
mated his projects in the relief of distress,
the detection of fraud, the defeat of OPP
preston, and the diffusion of happiness.
Thus passed twenty months of the life
of Rasselas. He busted himself so i'll
tensely in visionary hustle that he forgot
his real solitude; and, amidst hourly prep
aratons for the various incidents of hui
man affairs, neglected to consider by
what means he should mingle with man
kind.
One day, as he was sitting on bank
he feigned to himself an orphan virgin
robbed of her little portion by "A treacher
Gus lover, and crying after him for reSti
tuition and redress. SO strongly was tn
image Impressed upon his mind that n
started up in the maids defence, and IA
forward to seize the plunderer, with al
the eagerness of real pursuit Fca
naturally quickens the flight of gull
Rasselas could not catch the fugitive wit
his utmost efforts; but, resolving
weary,'by perseverance, him whom Il
could not surpaSs in speed. he pressed o
till the foot of the mountain stopped Ii
course.
Here he rccolected himself, and smile
at his own useless impeuosity. Thel
raising his eyes to the mountain, "Ihis
said he, lis the fatal obstacle that hinde
at once the enjoyment of pleasure, al
the exercise of virtue. How long is
that my hopes and wishes have flown b
yond this boundary of my life, which Y
never have attempted to surmOunt!"
Struck with this reflection. he sat dow
to muse; and remembered that since
first resolved to escape from his confin
ment, the sun had passed twice over hi
in his annual course. lie now felt d
gree of regret with which he had nev
been before acquainted. He consider
how much might have been done in t
time which had passed, and left nothi
real behind it. He compared TWEEN
months with the life of man. SIN life
said he, sis not to be counted the ign,
ance of infancy, or imbecility of "A!
We are long before we are able to thin
and we soon cease from the power of a
ing. The true period of human eXistel
may be reasonably estimated at fol
years of which | have unused away
four and twentieth part. What HI
lost was certain, for have certainly p
sessed it; but of twenty months to co
who can assure meY'
The consciousness of his own 70
pierced him deeply, and he was long
fore he could be reconciled to hims