Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-09-17


the change itself is nothing: when we
have made it the next wish is to change
again. The world is not vet exhausted:
let me see something tomorrow which
never saw before
variety" said Rasselas. sis so neces-
sary to content that even the happy val
ley Disguised me by the recurrence of its
luXurie9. yet | could not forbear to re-
proach myself with Impotence when
saw the monks of st. Anthony support.
without complaint, a life, not of uniform
delight, but of uniform hardship"
Those men," answered Imlac ..are
less wretched in Their silent convent than
the Abyssinian princes in their prison of
pleasure. Whatever is done by the monks
is melted by an adequate and reasonable
motive. Their labor supplies them with
nccessaries it therefore cannot be omit
ted, and is certainly rewarded Their
devotion prepares them for another state.
and reminds them of its approach while
1t fits them for it. Their time is regular
~ distributed: one duty succeeds an
other, so that they are not left open to
the distraction of un guided choice, nor
lost III the shades of listless inactivity.
there Is certain task to be performed
at an appropriated hour; and their tolls
are cheerful because they consider Them
as acts of piety. by which they are al
ways advancing towards endless felicity"
"Do you think, said Nekayah. "that
the monastic rule is more holy and less
imperfect state than any other: Nav
not he equally hope for future happiness
who converses openly with mankind.
who succors the distressed by his chart
ty, nstructs the ignorant by his learn
ing, and contributes by his industry TO
the general system of life; even though
he should omit some of the notifications
which are practised in the cloister, and
allow himself such harmless delights as
his condition may place within his
reach"
This. said Imlac, lis question
which has long divided the wise and per
picked the good. am afraid to decide
va Ni'iiNl ltl liz llldl lives well III the
world Is better than he that lives we'll in
a monastery. But, perhaps. every one is
not able to stem the temptations of pub
lie life: and if he cannot conquer he NAV
properly retreat. Some have little DOW
er to do good, and have likewise little
strength to resist evil. Many are weary
of their conflicts with adversitv. and are
willing to eject those passions which
have long busted them in vain. And
many are dismissed by age and diseases
from the more laborious duties of socie-
ty. In mOnaSteries the weak and timor-
Gus may be happily sheltered. the weary
may repose and the penitent may medi-
tate. Those retreats of PRAYER and con-
temptation have something so congenial
: to the mind of man that, perhaps. there
Is scarcely one that does not purpose to
close his life in pious abstraction with Il
few associates serious as himself"
"Such. said Pekuah, has often been
my wish, and | have heard the princess
declare that she should not willingly
die in a crowd"
The liberty of using harmles, pleas
ure, proceeded Imlac. twill not be dis
puted; but it is still to be examined what
pleasures are harmless. The evil of any
pleasure that Nekayah can imagine is
not in the act itself but in its conSeuuen-
ces. Pleasure, in itself harmless. may
- become miSchievOus by endearng Us to
a state which we know to be transient
and predatory. and Withdrawing our
thoughts from that of which every hour
, brings Us nearer to the beginning. and of
- which no length of time will bring Us to
: the end. Modification is not virtuOu> in
itself, nor has any other use but that it
disengages Us from allurements of sense.
In the state of future perfection, to
which we all aspire, there will be pleasure
= without danger. and security without
= restraint
The princess was silent and RaS>elas,
/ turning to the astronomer, asked him
whether he could not delay her retreat
= by showing her something which She
II had not seen before?'
Il ~ our curiosity" said the sage has
y been 50 general, and your pursuit of
/ knowledge so vigorous, that novelties
q are not now very easily to be found: but
: what you can no longer procure from
II the living may be given by the dead
Among the wonders of this country are
II the catacombs, or the ancient repositories
L in which the bodies of the earliest genera
: tons were lodged. and where, by the
: virtue of the gums which embalmed them
they yet remain without corruption"
: II know not" said Rasselas, "what
pleasure the sight of the catacomb> can
afford: but. since nothing else is offered
| am resolved to view them, and shall
u, place this with many other things which
| have done because | would do some.
- thinu -