Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-26
THE HISTORY OF RASSElAS
PRINCE OF ABYSsINlA.
CHAPTER IN.

''When first entered upon the world of
waters, and lost sight of land, | looked
round about me with pleasing terror, and,
thinking my soul enlarged by the bound
less prospect, imagined that | could gaze
round without safety: but, in short
time. grew weary of looking on barren
uniformity. where could only see again
what had already seen. then descend
ed into the ship, and doubted for while
whether all my future pleasures would
not end like this, in disgust and disap-
pointment. Yet, surely, said |, the
ocean and the land are very different:
the only variety of water is rest and mo-
| ton. but the earth has mountains and
/ valleys. deserts and cities it is inhabited
by men of different customs and contrary
opinions and may hope to find variety
/ in life though | should miss it in nature.
"With this thought | quoted my mind,
and amused myself during the voyage.
sometimes by learning from the sailors
the art of navigation. which | have never
practced. and sometimes by forming
schemes for my conduct in different sit
uationS, in not one of which have been
ever placed.
Il was almost weary of my naval
amuScmcnts when we landed safely at
Surat. secured my money. and pur-
chasing some commodities for show
joined myself to caravan that was pass
So, ;,,,,, Il, ;,,1n
panions. for some reason or other. con-
occurring that was rich. and. by my
inquiries and admiration. finding that |
was ignorant. considered me as a novice
whom they had right to cheat. and who
was to learn at the usual expense the art
of fraud. They exposed me to the theft
of servants and the eXaction of officers.
and saw me plundered upon false prctcn-
ccs. without any advantage to themselves
but that of rejoicing in the superiority of
their own knowledge"
"Stop moment" said the prince. Il,
there such depravity in man "a that he
should iniure another without benefit tC
himself: | can easily conceive that al
are pleased with superiority; but your
ignorance was merely accidental, which
being neither your crime nor your folly
could afford them no reason to applique
/, themselves: and the knowledge whicl
they had, and which you wanted. they
might as etiectually have shown b!
warning as betraying you
e pride" said Imac, "is seldom delicate
it will please itself with very mean ad
vantages; and envy feels not its owl
happiness, but when it may be compared
with the misery of others. They wer
my enemies. because they grieved to thinl
me rich; and my oppressors, becaus
they delighted to find me weak
Proceed" said the prince; Il doub
not of the facts which you relate, but i'm
agine that you impute them to mistaken
motives
"In this company" said Imlac, II ar
rived at Agra. the capital of lndoStan
the city in which the Great MOgul com
monty resides. lapplied myself to tn
language of the country, and in Il fey
months was able to converse with tn
learned men: some of whom | foun
morose aud reserved. and Others cas-,
and communicative; some were unWil
ing to teach another what they had wit
difficulty learned themselves; and som
showed that the end of their studies wa
to gain the dignity of inStructing.
'. Ia Of ln min
recommended myself so much that wa
presented to the emperor as man of III
common knowledge. The emperor aske
me many questions concerning my coul
try and my travels and though | can
d. not now recollect anything that he utter
ed above the power of commOnman, h
dismissed me aStonshed at his wisdom
and enamored at his goodness.
my credit was now so high that tn
merchants, with whom travelled, appl
ed to me for recommendations to the lac
les of the court. | was surprised at thei
confidence of solicitation, and gently n
preached them with their practices on IL
road. They heard me with cold indifie
ence, and showed no tokens of shame
sorrow.
"They then urged their request with Il
offer of bride but what | would not d
for kindness, | would not do for none,
and refused them, not because they Ia
injured me, but because would not el
able them to injure others; for kne