rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第20部分

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！


o　not　　love　to　repeat　the　elements　of　their　art；　and　I　am　not　certain　that　　even　of　the　elements；　as　he　will　deliver　them；　connected　with　　inferences　and　mingled　with　reflections；　you　are　a　very　capable　　auditress。〃　　〃That；〃　said　Pekuah；　〃must　be　my　care。　　I　ask　of　you　　only　to　take　me　thither。　　My　knowledge　is　perhaps　more　than　you　　imagine　it；　and　by　concurring　always　with　his　opinions　I　shall　make　　him　think　it　greater　than　it　is。〃
The　astronomer；　in　pursuance　of　this　resolution；　was　told　that　a　　foreign　lady；　travelling　in　search　of　knowledge；　had　heard　of　his　　reputation；　and　was　desirous　to　become　his　scholar。　　The　　uncommonness　of　the　proposal　raised　at　once　his　surprise　and　　curiosity；　and　when　after　a　short　deliberation　he　consented　to　　admit　her；　he　could　not　stay　without　impatience　till　the　next　day。
The　ladies　dressed　themselves　magnificently；　and　were　attended　by　　Imlac　to　the　astronomer；　who　was　pleased　to　see　himself　approached　　with　respect　by　persons　of　so　splendid　an　appearance。　　In　the　　exchange　of　the　first　civilities　he　was　timorous　and　bashful；　but　　when　the　talk　became　regular；　he　recollected　his　powers；　and　　justified　the　character　which　Imlac　had　given。　　Inquiring　of　Pekuah　　what　could　have　turned　her　inclination　towards　astronomy；　he　　received　from　her　a　history　of　her　adventure　at　the　Pyramid；　and　of　　the　time　passed　in　the　Arab's　island。　　She　told　her　tale　with　ease　　and　elegance；　and　her　conversation　took　possession　of　his　heart。　　　The　discourse　was　then　turned　to　astronomy。　　Pekuah　displayed　what　　she　knew。　　He　looked　upon　her　as　a　prodigy　of　genius；　and　entreated　　her　not　to　desist　from　a　study　which　she　had　so　happily　begun。
They　came　again　and　again；　and　were　every　time　more　welcome　than　　before。　　The　sage　endeavoured　to　amuse　them；　that　they　might　　prolong　their　visits；　for　he　found　his　thoughts　grow　brighter　in　　their　company；　the　clouds　of　solitude　vanished　by　degrees　as　he　　forced　himself　to　entertain　them；　and　he　grieved　when　he　was　left；　　at　their　departure；　to　his　old　employment　of　regulating　the　　seasons。
The　Princess　and　her　favourite　had　now　watched　his　lips　for　several　　months；　and　could　not　catch　a　single　word　from　which　they　could　　judge　whether　he　continued　or　not　in　the　opinion　of　his　　preternatural　commission。　　They　often　contrived　to　bring　him　to　an　　open　declaration；　but　he　easily　eluded　all　their　attacks；　and；　on　　which　side　soever　they　pressed　him；　escaped　from　them　to　some　other　　topic。
As　their　familiarity　increased；　they　invited　him　often　to　the　house　　of　Imlac；　where　they　distinguished　him　by　extraordinary　respect。　　　He　began　gradually　to　delight　in　sublunary　pleasures。　　He　came　　early　and　departed　late；　laboured　to　recommend　himself　by　assiduity　　and　compliance；　excited　their　curiosity　after　new　arts；　that　they　　might　still　want　his　assistance；　and　when　they　made　any　excursion　　of　pleasure　or　inquiry；　entreated　to　attend　them。
By　long　experience　of　his　integrity　and　wisdom；　the　Prince　and　his　　sister　were　convinced　that　he　might　be　trusted　without　danger；　and　　lest　he　should　draw　any　false　hopes　from　the　civilities　which　he　　received；　discovered　to　him　their　condition；　with　the　motives　of　　their　journey；　and　required　his　opinion　on　the　choice　of　life。
〃Of　the　various　conditions　which　the　world　spreads　before　you　which　　you　shall　prefer；〃　said　the　sage；　〃I　am　not　able　to　instruct　you。　　　I　can　only　tell　that　I　have　chosen　wrong。　　I　have　passed　my　time　in　　study　without　experience　…　in　the　attainment　of　sciences　which　can　　for　the　most　part　be　but　remotely　useful　to　mankind。　　I　have　　purchased　knowledge　at　the　expense　of　all　the　common　comforts　of　　life；　I　have　missed　the　endearing　elegance　of　female　friendship；　　and　the　happy　commerce　of　domestic　tenderness。　　If　I　have　obtained　　any　prerogatives　above　other　students；　they　have　been　accompanied　　with　fear；　disquiet；　and　scrupulosity；　but　even　of　these　　prerogatives；　whatever　they　were；　I　have；　since　my　thoughts　have　　been　diversified　by　more　intercourse　with　the　world；　begun　to　　question　the　reality。　　When　I　have　been　for　a　few　days　lost　in　　pleasing　dissipation；　I　am　always　tempted　to　think　that　my　　inquiries　have　ended　in　error；　and　that　I　have　suffered　much；　and　　suffered　it　in　vain。〃
Imlac　was　delighted　to　find　that　the　sage's　understanding　was　　breaking　through　its　mists；　and　resolved　to　detain　him　from　the　　planets　till　he　should　forget　his　task　of　ruling　them；　and　reason　　should　recover　its　original　influence。
From　this　time　the　astronomer　was　received　into　familiar　　friendship；　and　partook　of　all　their　projects　and　pleasures；　his　　respect　kept　him　attentive；　and　the　activity　of　Rasselas　did　not　　leave　much　time　unengaged。　　Something　was　always　to　be　done；　the　　day　was　spent　in　making　observations；　which　furnished　talk　for　the　　evening；　and　the　evening　was　closed　with　a　scheme　for　the　morrow。
The　sage　confessed　to　Imlac　that　since　he　had　mingled　in　the　gay　　tumults　of　life；　and　divided　his　hours　by　a　succession　of　　amusements；　he　found　the　conviction　of　his　authority　over　the　skies　　fade　gradually　from　his　mind；　and　began　to　trust　less　to　an　opinion　　which　he　never　could　prove　to　others；　and　which　he　now　found　　subject　to　variation；　from　causes　in　which　reason　had　no　part。　　〃If　　I　am　accidentally　left　alone　for　a　few　hours；〃　said　he；　〃my　　inveterate　persuasion　rushes　upon　my　soul；　and　my　thoughts　are　　chained　down　by　some　irresistible　violence；　but　they　are　soon　　disentangled　by　the　Prince's　conversation；　and　instantaneously　　released　at　the　entrance　of　Pekuah。　　I　am　like　a　man　habitually　　afraid　of　spectres；　who　is　set　at　ease　by　a　lamp；　and　wonders　at　　the　dread　which　harassed　him　in　the　dark；　yet；　if　his　lamp　be　　extinguished；　feels　again　the　terrors　which　he　knows　that　when　it　　is　light　he　shall　feel　no　more。　　But　I　am　sometimes　afraid；　lest　I　　indulge　my　quiet　by　criminal　negligence；　and　voluntarily　forget　the　　great　charge　with　which　I　am　entrusted。　　If　I　favour　myself　in　a　　known　error；　or　am　determined　by　my　own　ease　in　a　doubtful　question　　of　this　importance；　how　dreadful　is　my　crime！〃
〃No　disease　of　the　imagination；〃　answered　Imlac；　〃is　so　difficult　　of　cure　as　that　which　is　complicated　with　the　dread　of　guilt；　fancy　　and　conscience　then　act　interchangeably　upon　us；　and　so　often　shift　　their　places；　that　the　illusions　of　one　are　not　distinguished　from　　the　dictates　of　the　other。　　If　fancy　presents　images　not　moral　or　　religious；　the　mind　drives　them　away　when　they　give　it　pain；　but　　when　melancholy　notions　take　the　form　of　duty；　they　lay　hold　on　the　　faculties　without　opposition；　because　we　are　afraid　to　exclude　or　　banish　them。　　For　this　reason　the　superstitious　are　often　　melancholy；　and　the　melancholy　almost　always　superstitious。
〃But　do　not　let　the　suggestions　of　timidity　overpower　your　better　　reason；　the　danger　of　neglect　can　be　but　as　the　probability　of　the　　obligation；　which；　when　you　consider　it　with　freedom；　you　find　very　　little；　and　that　little　growing　every　day　less。　　Open　your　heart　to　　the　influence　of　the　light；　which　from　time　to　time　breaks　in　upon　　you；　when　scruples　importune　you；　which　you　in　your　lucid　moments　　know　to　be　vain；　do　not　stand　to　parley；　but　fly　to　business　or　to　　Pekuah；　and　keep　this　thought　always　prevalent；　that　you　are　only　　one　atom　of　the　mass　of　humanity；　and　have　neither　such　virtue　nor　　vice　as　that　you　should　be　singled　out　for　supernatural　favours　or　　afflictions。〃

CHAPTER　XLVII　…　THE　PRINCE　ENTERS；　AND　BRINGS　A　NEW　TOPIC。

〃ALL　this；〃　said　the　astronomer；　〃I　have　often　thought；　but　my　　reason　has　been　so　long　subjugated　by　an　uncontrollable　and　　overwhelming　idea；　that　it　durst　not　confide　in　its　own　decisions。　　　I　now　see　how　fatally　I　betrayed　my　quiet；　by　suffering　chimeras　to　　prey　upon　me　in　secret；　but　melancholy　shrinks　from　communication；　　and　I　never　found　a　man　before　to　whom　I　could　impart　my　troubles；　　though　I　had　been　certain　of　relief。　　I　rejoice　to　find　my　own　　sentiments　confirmed　by　yours；　who　are　not　easily　deceived；　and　can　　have　no　motive　or　purpose　to　deceive。　　I　hope　that　time　and　variety　　will　dissipate　the　gloom　that　has　so　long　surrounded　me；　and　the　　latter　part　of　my　days　will　be　spent　in　peace。〃
〃Your　learning　and　virtue；〃　said　Imlac；　〃may　justly　give　you　　hopes。〃
Rasselas　then　entered；　with　the　Princess　and　Pekuah；　and　inquired　　whether　they　had　contrived　any　new　diversion　for　the　next　day。　　　〃Such；〃　said　Nekayah；　〃is　the　state　of　life；　that　none　are　happy　　but　by　the　anticipation　of　change；　the　change　itself　is　nothing；　　when　we　have　made　it　the　next　wish　is　to　change　again。　　The　world　　is　not　yet　exhausted：　　let　me　see　something　to…morrow　which　I　never　　saw　before。〃
〃Variety；〃　said　Rasselas；　〃is　so　necessary　to　content；　that　even　　the　Happy　Valley　disgusted　me　by　the　recurrence　of　its　luxuries；　　yet　I　could　not　forbear　to　reproach　myself　with　impatience　when　I　　saw　the　monks　of　St。　Anthony　support；　without　complaint；　a　life；　　not　of　uniform　delight；　but　uniform　hardship。〃
〃Those　men；〃　answered　Imlac；　〃are　less　wretched　in　their　silent　　convent　than　the　Abyssinian　princes　in　their　prison　of　pleasure。　　　Whatever　is　done　by　the　monks　is　incited　by　an　adequate　and　　reasonable　motive。　　Their　labour　supplies　them　with　necessaries；　it　　therefore　cannot　be　omitted；　and　is　certainly　rewarded。　　Their　　devotion　prepares　them　for　another　state；　and　reminds　them　of　its　　approach　while　it　fits　them　for　it。　　Their　time　is　regularly　　distributed；　one　duty　succeeds　another；　so　that　they　are　not　left　　open　to　the　distraction　of　unguided　choice；　nor　lost　in　the　shades　　of　listless　inactivity。　　There　is　a　certain　task　to　be　performed　at　　an　appropriated　hour；　and　their　toils　are　cheerful；　because　they　　consider　them　as　acts　of　piety　by　which　they　are　always　advancing　　towards　endless　felicity。〃
〃Do　you　think；〃　said　Nekayah；　〃that　the　monastic　rule　is　a　more　　holy　and　less　imperfect　state　than　any　other？　　May　not　he　equally　　hope　for　future　happiness　who　converses　openly　with　mankind；　who　　succours　the　distressed　by　his　charity；　instructs　the　ignorant　by　　his　learning；　and　contributes　by　his　industry　to　the　general　system　　of　life；　even　though　he　should　omit　some　of　the　mortifications　　which　are　practised　in　the　cloister；　and　allow　himself　s