CHAP. XLVIII.

THE CONCLUSION, IN WHICH NOTHING IS CONCLUDED.

IT

T was now the time of the inundation of the Nile a few days after their vifit to the catacombs, the river began to rise.

They were confined to their house. The whole region being under water gave them no invitation to any excurfions, and, being well fupplied with materials for talk, they diverted themselves with comparisons of the different forms of life which they had obferved, and with various fchemes of happiness, which each of them had formed.

Pekuah was never fo much charmed with any place as the convent of St. Anthony, where the Arab restored her to the princess, and wished only to fill it with pious maidens, and to be made priorefs of the order: fhe was weary of expectation and disgust, and would gladly be fixed in some unvariable state.

The princefs thought, that of all fublunary things, knowledge was the beft: fhe defired first to learn all sciences, and then purposed to found a college of learned women, in which fhe would prefide, that, by converfing with the old, and educating the young, the might divide her time between the acquifition and communication of wisdom, and raise up for the next age models of prudence, and patterns of piety.

The prince defired a little kingdom, in which he might adminifter juftice in his own perfon, and fee

all

all the parts of government with his own eyes; but he could never fix the limits of his dominion, and was always adding to the number of his fubjects.

Imlac and the aftronomer were contented to be driven along the ftream of life, without directing their courfe to any particular port.

Of these wishes that they had formed they well knew that none could be obtained. They deliberated awhile what was to be done, and refolved, when the inundation fhould ceafe, to return to Abiffinia.

THE

VISION OF THEODORE,

The HERMIT of TENERIFFE,

FOUND IN HIS CELL.

ON of Perfeverance, whoever thou art, whose curiofity has led thee hither, read and be wife. He that now calls upon thee is Theodore, the Hermit of Teneriffe, who in the fifty-feventh year of his retreat left this inftruction to mankind, left his folitary hours fhould be spent in vain.

I was once what thou art now, a groveller on the earth, and a gazer at the sky; I trafficked and heaped wealth together, I loved and was favoured, I wore the robe of honour and heard the mufick of adulation; I was ambitious, and rofe to greatness; I was unhappy, and retired. I fought for fome time what I at length found here, a place where all real wants might be eafily fupplied, and where I might not be under the neceflity of purchasing the affiftance of men by the toleration of their follies. Here I faw fruits and herbs and water, and here determined to wait the hand of death, which I hope, when at last it comes, will fall lightly upon me.

Forty-eight years had I now paffed in forgetfulnefs of all mortal cares, and without any inclination VOL. XI.

L

to

to wander farther than the neceffity of procuring fuftenance required; but as I ftood one day beholding the rock that overhangs my cell, I found in myself a defire to climb it; and when I was on its top, was in the fame manner determined to scale the next, till by degrees I conceived a wifh to view the fummit of the mountain, at the foot of which I had fo long refided. This motion of my thoughts I endeavoured to fupprefs, not because it appeared criminal, but because it was new; and all change, not evidently for the better, alarms a mind taught by experience to diftruft itself. I was often afraid that my heart was deceiving me, that my impatience of confinement rofe from fome earthly paffion, and that my ardour to furvey the works of nature was only a hidden longing to mingle once again in the fcenes of life. I therefore endeavoured to fettle my thoughts into their former ftate, but found their distraction every day greater. I was always reproaching myself with the want of happiness within my reach, and at last began to question whether it was not lazinefs rather than caution that restrained me from climbing to the fummit of Teneriffe.

I rofe therefore before the day, and began my journey up the steep of the mountain; but I had not advanced far, old as I was and burthened with provifions, when the day began to fhine upon me; the declivities grew more precipitous, and the fand flided from beneath my feet; at laft, fainting with labour, I arrived at a small plain almost inclosed by rocks, and open only to the east. I fat down to reft awhile, in full perfuafion that when I had recovered my strength I fhould proceed on my design;

but when once I had tafted eafe, I found many reafons against disturbing it. The branches fpread a shade over my head, and the gales of spring wafted odours to my bosom.

As I fat thus, forming alternately excufes for delay, and resolutions to go forward, an irresistible heavinefs fuddenly furprifed me; I laid my head upon the bank, and refigned myself to fleep: when methought I heard the found as of the flight of eagles, and a being of more than human dignity ftood before me. While I was deliberating how to addrefs him, he took me by the hand with an air of kindness, and asked me folemnly, but without feverity, "Theodore, whither art thou going?" "I "am climbing, anfwered I, to the top of the "mountain, to enjoy a more extenfive profpect of "the works of nature." "Attend first, said he, to "the profpect which this place affords, and what "thou doft not understand I will explain. I am one " of the benevolent beings who watch over the chil"dren of the duft, to preserve them from thofe evils "which will not ultimately terminate in good, and "which they do not, by their own faults, bring upon "themselves. Look round therefore without fear: "obferve, contemplate, and be inftructed."

Encouraged by this affurance, I looked and beheld a mountain higher than Teneriffe, to the fummit of which the human eye could never reach; when I had tired myself with gazing upon its height, I turned my eyes towards its foot, which I could cafily discover, but was amazed to find it without foundation, and placed inconceivably in emptiness and darkness. Thus I ftood terrified and confused;