happen to active refolution. Many things difficult to defign prove easy to performance."

CHA P. XIV.

RASSELAS AND IMLAC RECEIVE AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.

THEY

HEY had now wrought their way to the middle, and folaced their toil with the approach of liberty, when the prince, coming down to refresh himself with air, found his fifter Nekayah standing before the mouth of the cavity. He ftarted and stood confufed, afraid to tell his defign, and yet hopelefs to conceal it. A few moments determined him to repofe on her fidelity, and fecure her fecrecy by a declaration without referve.

"Do not imagine, faid the princefs, that I came hither as a fpy: I had long obferved from my window, that you and Imlac directed your walk every day towards the fame point, but I did not fuppofe you had any better reafon for the preference than a cooler fhade, or more fragrant bank; nor followed you with any other defign than to partake of your converfation. Since then not fufpicion but fondnes has detected you, let me not lofe the advantage of my difcovery. I am equally weary of confinement with yourif, and not lefs defirous of knowing what is done or fuffered in the world. Permit me to fly with you from this tafteleis tranquillity, which will yet grow more loathfome when you have left me. You may deny me to accompany you, but cannot hinder me from following."

The prince, who loved Nekayah above his other Laters, had no inclination to refufe her requeft, and grieved

grieved that he had loft an opportunity of shewing his confidence by a voluntary communication. It was therefore agreed that she should leave the valley with them; and that, in the mean time, fhe should watch, left any other ftraggler fhould, by chance or curiofity, follow them to the mountain.

At length their labour was at an end; they faw light beyond the prominence, and, iffuing to the top of the mountain, beheld the Nile, yet a narrow current, wandering beneath them.

The prince looked round with rapture, anticipated all the pleasures of travel, and in thought was already transported beyond his father's dominions. Imlac, though very joyful at his escape, had lefs expectation of pleafure in the world, which he had before tried, and of which he had been weary.

Raffelas was fo much delighted with a wider horizon, that he could not foon be perfuaded to return into the valley. He informed his fifter that the way was open, and that nothing now remained but to prepare for their departure.

CHAP. XV.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS LEAVE THE VALLEY, AND SEE MANY WONDERS.

THE prince and princess had jewels fufficient to make them rich whenever they came into a place of commerce, which, by Imlac's direction, they hid in their clothes, and, on the night of the next full moon, all left the valley. The princefs was followed

followed only by a fingle favourite, who did not know whither she was going.

"I am

They clambered through the cavity, and began to go down on the other fide. The princefs and her maid turned their eyes towards every part, and, feeing nothing to bound their profpect, confidered themselves as in danger of being loft in a dreary vacuity. They ftopped and trembled. almoft afraid, faid the princefs, to begin a journey of which I cannot perceive an end, and to venture into this immenfe plain, where I may be approached on every fide by men whom I never faw." The prince felt nearly the fame emotions, though he thought it more manly to conceal them.

Imlac fimiled at their terrours, and encouraged them to proceed; but the princefs continued irrefolute till fhe had been imperceptibly drawn for ward too far to return.

In the morning they found fome fhepherds in the field, who fet milk and fruits before them. The princefs wondered that he did not fee a palace ready for her reception, and a table fpread with delicacies; but, being faint and hungry, fhe drank the milk and eat the fruits, and thought them of a higher flavour than the products of the valley.

They travelled forward by eafy journies, being all unaccustomed to toil or difficulty, and knowing, that though they might be miffed, they could not be purfued. In a few days they came into a more populous region, where Imlac was diverted with the admiration which his companions expreffed at the diverfity of manners, ftations, and employ

ments.

Their drefs was fuch as might not bring upon them the fufpicion of having any thing to conceal, yet the prince, wherever he came, expected to be obeyed, and the princefs was frighted, because those that came into her prefence did not proftrate themfelves before her. Imlac was forced to obferve them with great vigilance, left they fhould betray their rank by their unufual behaviour, and detained them feveral weeks in the first village, to accustom them to the fight of common mortals.

By degrees the royal wanderers were taught to understand that they had for a time laid afide their dignity, and were to expect only fuch regard as liberality and courtefy could procure. And Imlac, having, by many admonitions, prepared them to endure the tumults of a port, and the ruggedness of the commercial race, brought them down to the fea-coaft.

The prince and his fifter, to whom every thing was new, were gratified equally at all places, and therefore remained for fome months at the port without any inclination to pass further. Imlac was content with their stay, because he did not think it fafe to expose them, unpractised in the world, to the hazards of a foreign country.

At last he began to fear left they should be difcovered, and propofed to fix a day for their departure. They had no pretenfions to judge for themselves, and referred the whole fcheme to his direction. He therefore took paffage in a fhip to Suez; and, when the time came, with great difficulty prevailed on the princess to enter the veffel. They had a quick and profperous voyage, and from Suez travelled by land to Cairo.

CHAP. XVI.

THEY ENTER CAIRO, AND FIND EVERY MAN HAPPY.

AS

S they approached the city, which filled the ftrangers with aftonishment, "This, faid Imlac to the prince, is the place where travellers and merchants affemble from all the corners of the earth. You will here find men of every character, and every occupation. Commerce is here honourable : I will act as a merchant, and you fhall live as ftrangers, who have no other end of travel than curiofity; it will foon be observed that we are rich; our reputation will procure us accefs to all whom we fhall defire to know; you will fee all the conditions of humanity, and enable yourself at leifure to make your choice of life.

They now entered the town, ftunned by the noife, and offended by the crowds. Inftruction had not yet fo prevailed over habit, but that they wondered to fe themfelves pals undiftinguifhed along the street, and met by the lowest of the people without reverence or notice. The princefs could not at first bear the thought of being levelled with the vulgar, and, for fo.me days, continued in her chamber, where she was served by her favourite Pekuah as in the palace of the valley.

Imlac, who understood traffick, fold part of the jewels the next day, and hired a houfe, which he adorned with fuch magnificence, that he was immediately confidered as a merchant of great wealth. His politeness attracted many acquaintance, and his generofity made him courted by many dependants.