rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第15部分

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ents；　had　been　carried　away；　or　how　would　you　have　　borne　the　thought　if　you　had　forced　her　into　the　Pyramid；　and　she　　had　died　before　you　in　agonies　of　terror？〃
〃Had　either　happened；〃　said　Nekayah；　〃I　could　not　have　endured　life　　till　now；　I　should　have　been　tortured　to　madness　by　the　remembrance　　of　such　cruelty；　or　must　have　pined　away　in　abhorrence　of　myself。〃
〃This；　at　least；〃　said　Imlac；　〃is　the　present　reward　of　virtuous　　conduct；　that　no　unlucky　consequence　can　oblige　us　to　repent　it。〃

CHAPTER　XXXV　…　THE　PRINCESS　LANGUISHES　FOR　WANT　OF　PEKUAH。

NEKAYAH；　being　thus　reconciled　to　herself；　found　that　no　evil　is　　insupportable　but　that　which　is　accompanied　with　consciousness　of　　wrong。　　She　was　from　that　time　delivered　from　the　violence　of　　tempestuous　sorrow；　and　sunk　into　silent　pensiveness　and　gloomy　　tranquillity。　　She　sat　from　morning　to　evening　recollecting　all　　that　had　been　done　or　said　by　her　Pekuah；　treasured　up　with　care　　every　trifle　on　which　Pekuah　had　set　an　accidental　value；　and　which　　might　recall　to　mind　any　little　incident　or　careless　conversation。　　　The　sentiments　of　her　whom　she　now　expected　to　see　no　more　were　　treasured　in　her　memory　as　rules　of　life；　and　she　deliberated　to　no　　other　end　than　to　conjecture　on　any　occasion　what　would　have　been　　the　opinion　and　counsel　of　Pekuah。
The　women　by　whom　she　was　attended　knew　nothing　of　her　real　　condition；　and　therefore　she　could　not　talk　to　them　but　with　　caution　and　reserve。　　She　began　to　remit　her　curiosity；　having　no　　great　desire　to　collect　notions　which　she　had　no　convenience　of　　uttering。　　Rasselas　endeavoured　first　to　comfort　and　afterwards　to　　divert　her；　he　hired　musicians；　to　whom　she　seemed　to　listen；　but　　did　not　hear　them；　and　procured　masters　to　instruct　her　in　various　　arts；　whose　lectures；　when　they　visited　her　again；　were　again　to　be　　repeated。　　She　had　lost　her　taste　of　pleasure　and　her　ambition　of　　excellence；　and　her　mind；　though　forced　into　short　excursions；　　always　recurred　to　the　image　of　her　friend。
Imlac　was　every　morning　earnestly　enjoined　to　renew　his　inquiries；　　and　was　asked　every　night　whether　he　had　yet　heard　of　Pekuah；　till；　　not　being　able　to　return　the　Princess　the　answer　that　she　desired；　　he　was　less　and　less　willing　to　come　into　her　presence。　　She　　observed　his　backwardness；　and　commanded　him　to　attend　her。　　　〃You　　are　not；〃　said　she；　〃to　confound　impatience　with　resentment；　or　to　　suppose　that　I　charge　you　with　negligence　because　I　repine　at　your　　unsuccessfulness。　　I　do　not　much　wonder　at　your　absence。　　I　know　　that　the　unhappy　are　never　pleasing；　and　that　all　naturally　avoid　　the　contagion　of　misery。　　To　hear　complaints　is　wearisome　alike　to　　the　wretched　and　the　happy；　for　who　would　cloud　by　adventitious　　grief　the　short　gleams　of　gaiety　which　life　allows　us；　or　who　that　　is　struggling　under　his　own　evils　will　add　to　them　the　miseries　of　　another？
〃The　time　is　at　hand　when　none　shall　be　disturbed　any　longer　by　the　　sighs　of　Nekayah：　　my　search　after　happiness　is　now　at　an　end。　　I　　am　resolved　to　retire　from　the　world；　with　all　its　flatteries　and　　deceits；　and　will　hide　myself　in　solitude；　without　any　other　care　　than　to　compose　my　thoughts　and　regulate　my　hours　by　a　constant　　succession　of　innocent　occupations；　till；　with　a　mind　purified　from　　earthly　desires；　I　shall　enter　into　that　state　to　which　all　are　　hastening；　and　in　which　I　hope　again　to　enjoy　the　friendship　of　　Pekuah。〃
〃Do　not　entangle　your　mind；〃　said　Imlac；　〃by　irrevocable　　determinations；　nor　increase　the　burden　of　life　by　a　voluntary　　accumulation　of　misery。　　The　weariness　of　retirement　will　continue　　to　increase　when　the　loss　of　Pekuah　is　forgot。　　That　you　have　been　　deprived　of　one　pleasure　is　no　very　good　reason　for　rejection　of　　the　rest。〃
〃Since　Pekuah　was　taken　from　me；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　have　no　　pleasure　to　reject　or　to　retain。　　She　that　has　no　one　to　love　or　　trust　has　little　to　hope。　　She　wants　the　radical　principle　of　　happiness。　　We　may　perhaps　allow　that　what　satisfaction　this　world　　can　afford　must　arise　from　the　conjunction　of　wealth；　knowledge；　　and　goodness。　　Wealth　is　nothing　but　as　it　is　bestowed；　and　　knowledge　nothing　but　as　it　is　communicated。　　They　must　therefore　　be　imparted　to　others；　and　to　whom　could　I　now　delight　to　impart　　them？　　Goodness　affords　the　only　comfort　which　can　be　enjoyed　　without　a　partner；　and　goodness　may　be　practised　in　retirement。〃
〃How　far　solitude　may　admit　goodness　or　advance　it；　I　shall　not；〃　　replied　Imlac；　〃dispute　at　present。　　Remember　the　confession　of　the　　pious　hermit。　　You　will　wish　to　return　into　the　world　when　the　　image　of　your　companion　has　left　your　thoughts。〃
〃That　time；〃　said　Nekayah；　〃will　never　come。　　The　generous　　frankness；　the　modest　obsequiousness；　and　the　faithful　secrecy　of　　my　dear　Pekuah　will　always　be　more　missed　as　I　shall　live　longer　to　　see　vice　and　folly。〃
〃The　state　of　a　mind　oppressed　with　a　sudden　calamity；〃　said　Imlac；　　〃is　like　that　of　the　fabulous　inhabitants　of　the　new…created　earth；　　who；　when　the　first　night　came　upon　them；　supposed　that　day　would　　never　return。　　When　the　clouds　of　sorrow　gather　over　us；　we　see　　nothing　beyond　them；　nor　can　imagine　how　they　will　be　dispelled；　　yet　a　new　day　succeeded　to　the　night；　and　sorrow　is　never　long　　without　a　dawn　of　ease。　　But　they　who　restrain　themselves　from　　receiving　comfort　do　as　the　savages　would　have　done　had　they　put　　out　their　eyes　when　it　was　dark。　　Our　minds；　like　our　bodies；　are　　in　continual　flux；　something　is　hourly　lost；　and　something　　acquired。　　To　lose　much　at　once　is　inconvenient　to　either；　but　　while　the　vital　power　remains　uninjured；　nature　will　find　the　means　　of　reparation。　　Distance　has　the　same　effect　on　the　mind　as　on　the　　eye；　and　while　we　glide　along　the　stream　of　time；　whatever　we　leave　　behind　us　is　always　lessening；　and　that　which　we　approach　　increasing　in　magnitude。　　Do　not　suffer　life　to　stagnate：　　it　will　　grow　muddy　for　want　of　motion；　commit　yourself　again　to　the　current　　of　the　world；　Pekuah　will　vanish　by　degrees；　you　will　meet　in　your　　way　some　other　favourite；　or　learn　to　diffuse　yourself　in　general　　conversation。〃
〃At　least；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃do　not　despair　before　all　remedies　　have　been　tried。　　The　inquiry　after　the　unfortunate　lady　is　still　　continued；　and　shall　be　carried　on　with　yet　greater　diligence；　on　　condition　that　you　will　promise　to　wait　a　year　for　the　event；　　without　any　unalterable　resolution。〃
Nekayah　thought　this　a　reasonable　demand；　and　made　the　promise　to　　her　brother；　who　had　been　obliged　by　Imlac　to　require　it。　　Imlac　　had；　indeed；　no　great　hope　of　regaining　Pekuah；　but　he　supposed　　that　if　he　could　secure　the　interval　of　a　year；　the　Princess　would　　be　then　in　no　danger　of　a　cloister。

CHAPTER　XXXVI　…　PEKUAH　IS　STILL　REMEMBERED。　　THE　PROGRESS　OF　　SORROW。

NEKAYAH；　seeing　that　nothing　was　omitted　for　the　recovery　of　her　　favourite；　and　having　by　her　promise　set　her　intention　of　　retirement　at　a　distance；　began　imperceptibly　to　return　to　common　　cares　and　common　pleasures。　　She　rejoiced　without　her　own　consent　　at　the　suspension　of　her　sorrows；　and　sometimes　caught　herself　with　　indignation　in　the　act　of　turning　away　her　mind　from　the　　remembrance　of　her　whom　yet　she　resolved　never　to　forget。
She　then　appointed　a　certain　hour　of　the　day　for　meditation　on　the　　merits　and　fondness　of　Pekuah；　and　for　some　weeks　retired　　constantly　at　the　time　fixed；　and　returned　with　her　eyes　swollen　　and　her　countenance　clouded。　　By　degrees　she　grew　less　scrupulous；　　and　suffered　any　important　and　pressing　avocation　to　delay　the　　tribute　of　daily　tears。　　She　then　yielded　to　less　occasions；　and　　sometimes　forgot　what　she　was　indeed　afraid　to　remember；　and　at　　last　wholly　released　herself　from　the　duty　of　periodical　　affliction。
Her　real　love　of　Pekuah　was　not　yet　diminished。　　A　thousand　　occurrences　brought　her　back　to　memory；　and　a　thousand　wants；　which　　nothing　but　the　confidence　of　friendship　can　supply；　made　her　　frequently　regretted。　　She　therefore　solicited　Imlac　never　to　　desist　from　inquiry；　and　to　leave　no　art　of　intelligence　untried；　　that　at　least　she　might　have　the　comfort　of　knowing　that　she　did　　not　suffer　by　negligence　or　sluggishness。　　〃Yet　what；〃　said　she；　　〃is　to　be　expected　from　our　pursuit　of　happiness；　when　we　find　the　　state　of　life　to　be　such　that　happiness　itself　is　the　cause　of　　misery？　　Why　should　we　endeavour　to　attain　that　of　which　the　　possession　cannot　be　secured？　　I　shall　henceforward　fear　to　yield　　my　heart　to　excellence；　however　bright；　or　to　fondness；　however　　tender；　lest　I　should　lose　again　what　I　have　lost　in　Pekuah。〃

CHAPTER　XXXVII　…　THE　PRINCESS　HEARS　NEWS　OF　PEKUAH。

IN　seven　mouths　one　of　the　messengers　who　had　been　sent　away　upon　　the　day　when　the　promise　was　drawn　from　the　Princess；　returned；　　after　many　unsuccessful　rambles；　from　the　borders　of　Nubia；　with　an　　account　that　Pekuah　was　in　the　hands　of　an　Arab　chief；　who　　possessed　a　castle　or　fortress　on　the　extremity　of　Egypt。　　The　　Arab；　whose　revenue　was　plunder；　was　willing　to　restore　her；　with　　her　two　attendants；　for　two　hundred　ounces　of　gold。
The　price　was　no　subject　of　debate。　　The　Princess　was　in　ecstasies　　when　she　heard　that　her　favourite　was　alive；　and　might　so　cheaply　　be　ransomed。　　She　could　not　think　of　delaying　for　a　moment　Pekuah's　　happiness　or　her　own；　but　entreated　her　brother　to　send　back　the　　messenger　with　the　sum　required。　　Imlac；　being　consulted；　was　not　　very　confident　of　the　veracity　of　the　relater；　and　was　still　more　　doubtful　of　the　Arab's　faith；　who　might；　if　he　were　too　liberally　　trusted；　detain　at　once　the　money　and　the　captives。　　He　thought　it　　dangerous　to　put　themselves　in　the　power　of　the　Arab　by　going　into　　his　district；　and　could　not　expect　that　the　rover　would　so　much　　expose　himself　as　to　come　into　the　lower　country；　where　he　might　be　　seized　by　the　forces　of　the　Bassa。
It　is　difficult　to　negotiate　where　neither　will　trust。　　But　Imlac；　　after　some　deliberation；　directed　the　messenger　to　propose　that　　Pekuah　should　be　conducted　by　ten　horsemen　to　the　monastery　of　St。　　Anthony；　which　is　situated　in　the　deserts　of　Upper　Egypt；　where　she　　should　be　met　by　the　same　number；　and　her　ransom　should　be　paid。
That　no　time　might　be　lost；　as　they　ex