按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
day after day on the banks of rivulets sheltered with trees； where he sometimes listened to the birds in the branches； sometimes observed the fish playing in the streams； and anon cast his eyes upon the pastures and mountains filled with animals； of which some were biting the herbage； and some sleeping among the bushes。 The singularity of his humour made him much observed。 One of the sages； in whose conversation he had formerly delighted； followed him secretly； in hope of discovering the cause of his disquiet。 Rasselas； who knew not that any one was near him； having for some time fixed his eyes upon the goats that were browsing among the rocks； began to compare their condition with his own。
〃What；〃 said he； 〃makes the difference between man and all the rest of the animal creation？ Every beast that strays beside me has the same corporal necessities with myself： he is hungry； and crops the grass； he is thirsty； and drinks the stream； his thirst and hunger are appeased； he is satisfied； and sleeps； he rises again； and is hungry； he is again fed； and is at rest。 I am hungry and thirsty； like him； but when thirst and hunger cease； I am not at rest。 I am； like him； pained with want； but am not； like him； satisfied with fulness。 The intermediate hours are tedious and gloomy； I long again to be hungry that I may again quicken the attention。 The birds peck the berries or the corn； and fly away to the groves； where they sit in seeming happiness on the branches； and waste their lives in tuning one unvaried series of sounds。 I likewise can call the lutist and the singer； but the sounds that pleased me yesterday weary me to…day； and will grow yet more wearisome to… morrow。 I can discover in me no power of perception which is not glutted with its proper pleasure； yet I do not feel myself delighted。 Man surely has some latent sense for which this place affords no gratification； or he has some desire distinct from sense； which must be satisfied before he can be happy。〃
After this he lifted up his head； and seeing the moon rising； walked towards the palace。 As he passed through the fields； and saw the animals around him； 〃Ye；〃 said he； 〃are happy； and need not envy me that walk thus among you； burdened with myself； nor do I； ye gentle beings； envy your felicity； for it is not the felicity of man。 I have many distresses from which you are free； I fear pain when I do not feel it； I sometimes shrink at evils recollected； and sometimes start at evils anticipated： surely the equity of Providence has balanced peculiar sufferings with peculiar enjoyments。〃
With observations like these the Prince amused himself as he returned； uttering them with a plaintive voice； yet with a look that discovered him to feel some complacence in his own perspicacity； and to receive some solace of the miseries of life from consciousness of the delicacy with which he felt and the eloquence with which he bewailed them。 He mingled cheerfully in the diversions of the evening； and all rejoiced to find that his heart was lightened。
CHAPTER III … THE WANTS OF HIM THAT WANTS NOTHING。
ON the next day； his old instructor； imagining that he had now made himself acquainted with his disease of mind； was in hope of curing it by counsel； and officiously sought an opportunity of conference； which the Prince； having long considered him as one whose intellects were exhausted； was not very willing to afford。 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃does this man thus intrude upon me？ Shall I never be suffered to forget these lectures； which pleased only while they were new； and to become new again must be forgotten？〃 He then walked into the wood； and composed himself to his usual meditations； when； before his thoughts had taken any settled form； he perceived his pursuer at his side； and was at first prompted by his impatience to go hastily away； but being unwilling to offend a man whom he had once reverenced and still loved； he invited him to sit down with him on the bank。
The old man； thus encouraged； began to lament the change which had been lately observed in the Prince； and to inquire why he so often retired from the pleasures of the palace to loneliness and silence。 〃I fly from pleasure；〃 said the Prince； 〃because pleasure has ceased to please： I am lonely because I am miserable； and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others。〃 〃You； sir；〃 said the sage； 〃are the first who has complained of misery in the Happy Valley。 I hope to convince you that your complaints have no real cause。 You are here in full possession of all the Emperor of Abyssinia can bestow； here is neither labour to be endured nor danger to be dreaded； yet here is all that labour or danger can procure or purchase。 Look round and tell me which of your wants is without supply： if you want nothing； how are you unhappy？〃
〃That I want nothing；〃 said the Prince； 〃or that I know not what I want； is the cause of my complaint： if I had any known want； I should have a certain wish； that wish would excite endeavour； and I should not then repine to see the sun move so slowly towards the western mountains； or to lament when the day breaks； and sleep will no longer hide me from myself。 When I see the kids and the lambs chasing one another； I fancy that I should be happy if I had something to pursue。 But； possessing all that I can want； I find one day and one hour exactly like another； except that the latter is still more tedious than the former。 Let your experience inform me how the day may now seem as short as in my childhood； while nature was yet fresh； and every moment showed me what I never had observed before。 I have already enjoyed too much： give me something to desire。〃 The old man was surprised at this new species of affliction； and knew not what to reply； yet was unwilling to be silent。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃if you had seen the miseries of the world； you would know how to value your present state。〃 〃Now；〃 said the Prince； 〃you have given me something to desire。 I shall long to see the miseries of the world； since the sight of them is necessary to happiness。〃
CHAPTER IV … THE PRINCE CONTINUES TO GRIEVE AND MUSE
AT this time the sound of music proclaimed the hour of repast； and the conversation was concluded。 The old man went away sufficiently discontented to find that his reasonings had produced the only conclusion which they were intended 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 ourselves in age less regarded； we less regard others； or that we look with slight regard upon afflictions to which we know that the hand of death is about to put an end。
The Prince； whose views were extended to a wider space； could not speedily quiet his emotions。 He had been before terrified at the length of life which nature promised him； because he considered that in a long time much must be endured： he now rejoiced in his youth； because in many years much might be done。 The first beam of hope that had been ever darted into his mind rekindled youth in his cheeks； and doubled the lustre