rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第16章

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！


　woman　who　　saw　no　other　man；　nor　was　much　obliged　by　that　regard　of　which　he　　could　never　know　the　sincerity；　and　which　he　might　often　perceive　　to　be　exerted　not　so　much　to　delight　him　as　to　pain　a　rival。　　That　　which　he　gave；　and　they　received；　as　love；　was　only　a　careless　　distribution　of　superfluous　time；　such　love　as　man　can　bestow　upon　　that　which　he　despises；　such　as　has　neither　hope　nor　fear；　neither　　joy　nor　sorrow。〃
〃You　have　reason；　lady；　to　think　yourself　happy；〃　said　Imlac；　〃that　　you　have　been　thus　easily　dismissed。　　How　could　a　mind；　hungry　for　　knowledge；　be　willing；　in　an　intellectual　famine；　to　lose　such　a　　banquet　as　Pekuah's　conversation？〃
〃I　am　inclined　to　believe；〃　answered　Pekuah；　〃that　he　was　for　some　　time　in　suspense；　for；　notwithstanding　his　promise；　whenever　I　　proposed　to　despatch　a　messenger　to　Cairo　he　found　some　excuse　for　　delay。　　While　I　was　detained　in　his　house　he　made　many　incursions　　into　the　neighbouring　countries；　and　perhaps　he　would　have　refused　　to　discharge　me　had　his　plunder　been　equal　to　his　wishes。　　He　　returned　always　courteous；　related　his　adventures；　delighted　to　　hear　my　observations；　and　endeavoured　to　advance　my　acquaintance　　with　the　stars。　　When　I　importuned　him　to　send　away　my　letters；　he　　soothed　me　with　professions　of　honour　and　sincerity；　and　when　I　　could　be　no　longer　decently　denied；　put　his　troop　again　in　motion；　　and　left　me　to　govern　in　his　absence。　　I　was　much　afflicted　by　this　　studied　procrastination；　and　was　sometimes　afraid　that　I　should　be　　forgotten；　that　you　would　leave　Cairo；　and　I　must　end　my　days　in　an　　island　of　the　Nile。
〃I　grew　at　last　hopeless　and　dejected；　and　cared　so　little　to　　entertain　him；　that　he　for　a　while　more　frequently　talked　with　my　　maids。　　That　he　should　fall　in　love　with　them　or　with　me；　might　　have　been　equally　fatal；　and　I　was　not　much　pleased　with　the　　growing　friendship。　　My　anxiety　was　not　long；　for；　as　I　recovered　　some　degree　of　cheerfulness；　he　returned　to　me；　and　I　could　not　　forbear　to　despise　my　former　uneasiness。
〃He　still　delayed　to　send　for　my　ransom；　and　would　perhaps　never　　have　determined　had　not　your　agent　found　his　way　to　him。　　The　gold；　　which　he　would　not　fetch；　he　could　not　reject　when　it　was　offered。　　　He　hastened　to　prepare　for　our　journey　hither；　like　a　man　delivered　　from　the　pain　of　an　intestine　conflict。　　I　took　leave　of　my　　companions　in　the　house；　who　dismissed　me　with　cold　indifference。〃
Nekayah　having　heard　her　favourite's　relation；　rose　and　embraced　　her；　and　Rasselas　gave　her　a　hundred　ounces　of　gold；　which　she　　presented　to　the　Arab　for　the　fifty　that　were　promised。

CHAPTER　XL　…　THE　HISTORY　OF　A　MAN　OF　LEARNING。

THEY　returned　to　Cairo；　and　were　so　well　pleased　at　finding　　themselves　together　that　none　of　them　went　much　abroad。　　The　Prince　　began　to　love　learning；　and　one　day　declared　to　Imlac　that　he　　intended　to　devote　himself　to　science　and　pass　the　rest　of　his　days　　in　literary　solitude。
〃Before　you　make　your　final　choice；〃　answered　Imlac；　〃you　ought　to　　examine　its　hazards；　and　converse　with　some　of　those　who　are　grown　　old　in　the　company　of　themselves。　　I　have　just　left　the　observatory　　of　one　of　the　most　learned　astronomers　in　the　world；　who　has　spent　　forty　years　in　unwearied　attention　to　the　motion　and　appearances　of　　the　celestial　bodies；　and　has　drawn　out　his　soul　in　endless　　calculations。　　He　admits　a　few　friends　once　a　month　to　hear　his　　deductions　and　enjoy　his　discoveries。　　I　was　introduced　as　a　man　of　　knowledge　worthy　of　his　notice。　　Men　of　various　ideas　and　fluent　　conversation　are　commonly　welcome　to　those　whose　thoughts　have　been　　long　fixed　upon　a　single　point；　and　who　find　the　images　of　other　　things　stealing　away。　　I　delighted　him　with　my　remarks。　　He　smiled　　at　the　narrative　of　my　travels；　and　was　glad　to　forget　the　　constellations　and　descend　for　a　moment　into　the　lower　world。
〃On　the　next　day　of　vacation　I　renewed　my　visit；　and　was　so　　fortunate　as　to　please　him　again。　　He　relaxed　from　that　time　the　　severity　of　his　rule；　and　permitted　me　to　enter　at　my　own　choice。　　　I　found　him　always　busy；　and　always　glad　to　be　relieved。　　As　each　　knew　much　which　the　other　was　desirous　of　learning；　we　exchanged　　our　notions　with　great　delight。　　I　perceived　that　I　had　every　day　　more　of　his　confidence；　and　always　found　new　cause　of　admiration　in　　the　profundity　of　his　mind。　　His　comprehension　is　vast；　his　memory　　capacious　and　retentive；　his　discourse　is　methodical；　and　his　　expression　clear。
〃His　integrity　and　benevolence　are　equal　to　his　learning。　　His　　deepest　researches　and　most　favourite　studies　are　willingly　　interrupted　for　any　opportunity　of　doing　good　by　his　counsel　or　his　　riches。　　To　his　closest　retreat；　at　his　most　busy　moments；　all　are　　admitted　that　want　his　assistance；　'For　though　I　exclude　idleness　　and　pleasure；　I　will　never；'　says　he；　'bar　my　doors　against　　charity。　　To　man　is　permitted　the　contemplation　of　the　skies；　but　　the　practice　of　virtue　is　commanded。'〃
〃Surely；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃this　man　is　happy。〃
〃I　visited　him；〃　said　Imlac；　〃with　more　and　more　frequency；　and　was　　every　time　more　enamoured　of　his　conversation；　he　was　sublime　　without　haughtiness；　courteous　without　formality；　and　communicative　　without　ostentation。　　I　was　at　first；　great　Princess；　of　your　　opinion；　thought　him　the　happiest　of　mankind；　and　often　　congratulated　him　on　the　blessing　that　he　enjoyed。　　He　seemed　to　　hear　nothing　with　indifference　but　the　praises　of　his　condition；　to　　which　he　always　returned　a　general　answer；　and　diverted　the　　conversation　to　some　other　topic。
〃Amidst　this　willingness　to　be　pleased　and　labour　to　please；　I　had　　quickly　reason　to　imagine　that　some　painful　sentiment　pressed　upon　　his　mind。　　He　often　looked　up　earnestly　towards　the　sun；　and　let　　his　voice　fall　in　the　midst　of　his　discourse。　　He　would　sometimes；　　when　we　were　alone；　gaze　upon　me　in　silence　with　the　air　of　a　man　　who　longed　to　speak　what　he　was　yet　resolved　to　suppress。　　He　would　　often　send　for　me　with　vehement　injunction　of　haste；　though　when　I　　came　to　him　he　had　nothing　extraordinary　to　say；　and　sometimes；　　when　I　was　leaving　him；　would　call　me　back；　pause　a　few　moments；　　and　then　dismiss　me。〃

CHAPTER　XLI　…　THE　ASTRONOMER　DISCOVERS　THE　CAUSE　OF　HIS　UNEASINESS。

〃AT　last　the　time　came　when　the　secret　burst　his　reserve。　　We　were　　sitting　together　last　night　in　the　turret　of　his　house　watching　the　　immersion　of　a　satellite　of　Jupiter。　　A　sudden　tempest　clouded　the　　sky　and　disappointed　our　observation。　　We　sat　awhile　silent　in　the　　dark；　and　then　he　addressed　himself　to　me　in　these　words：　　'Imlac；　　I　have　long　considered　thy　friendship　as　the　greatest　blessing　of　　my　life。　　Integrity　without　knowledge　is　weak　and　useless；　and　　knowledge　without　integrity　is　dangerous　and　dreadful。　　I　have　　found　in　thee　all　the　qualities　requisite　for　trust　…　benevolence；　　experience；　and　fortitude。　　I　have　long　discharged　an　office　which　　I　must　soon　quit　at　the　call　of　Nature；　and　shall　rejoice　in　the　　hour　of　imbecility　and　pain　to　devolve　it　upon　thee。'
〃I　thought　myself　honoured　by　this　testimony；　and　protested　that　　whatever　could　conduce　to　his　happiness　would　add　likewise　to　mine。
〃'Hear；　Imlac；　what　thou　wilt　not　without　difficulty　credit。　　I　　have　possessed　for　five　years　the　regulation　of　the　weather　and　the　　distribution　of　the　seasons。　　The　sun　has　listened　to　my　dictates；　　and　passed　from　tropic　to　tropic　by　my　direction；　the　clouds　at　my　　call　have　poured　their　waters；　and　the　Nile　has　overflowed　at　my　　command。　　I　have　restrained　the　rage　of　the　dog…star；　and　mitigated　　the　fervours　of　the　crab。　　The　winds　alone；　of　all　the　elemental　　powers；　have　hitherto　refused　my　authority；　and　multitudes　have　　perished　by　equinoctial　tempests　which　I　found　myself　unable　to　　prohibit　or　restrain。　　I　have　administered　this　great　office　with　　exact　justice；　and　made　to　the　different　nations　of　the　earth　an　　impartial　dividend　of　rain　and　sunshine。　　What　must　have　been　the　　misery　of　half　the　globe　if　I　had　limited　the　clouds　to　particular　　regions；　or　confined　the　sun　to　either　side　of　the　equator？'〃

CHAPTER　XLII　…　THE　OPINION　OF　THE　ASTRONOMER　IS　EXPLAINED　AND　　JUSTIFIED。

〃I　SUPPOSE　he　discovered　in　me；　through　the　obscurity　of　the　room；　　some　tokens　of　amazement　and　doubt；　for　after　a　short　pause　he　　proceeded　thus：…
〃'Not　to　be　easily　credited　will　neither　surprise　nor　offend　me；　　for　I　am　probably　the　first　of　human　beings　to　whom　this　trust　has　　been　imparted。　　Nor　do　I　know　whether　to　deem　this　distinction　a　　reward　or　punishment。　　Since　I　have　possessed　it　I　have　been　far　　less　happy　than　before；　and　nothing　but　the　consciousness　of　good　　intention　could　have　enabled　me　to　support　the　weariness　of　　unremitted　vigilance。'
〃'How　long；　sir；'　said　I；　'has　this　great　office　been　in　your　　hands？'
〃'About　ten　years　ago；'　said　he；　'my　daily　observations　of　the　　changes　of　the　sky　led　me　to　consider　whether；　if　I　had　the　power　　of　the　seasons；　I　could　confer　greater　plenty　upon　the　inhabitants　　of　the　earth。　　This　contemplation　fastened　on　my　mind；　and　I　sat　　days　and　nights　in　imaginary　dominion；　pouring　upon　this　country　　and　that　the　showers　of　fertility；　and　seconding　every　fall　of　rain　　with　a　due　proportion　of　sunshine。　　I　had　yet　only　the　will　to　do　　good；　and　did　not　imagine　that　I　should　ever　have　the　power。
〃'One　day　as　I　was　looking　on　the　fields　withering　with　heat；　I　　felt　in　my　mind　a　sudden　wish　that　I　could　send　rain　on　the　　southern　mountains；　and　raise　the　Nile　to　an　inundation。　　In　the　　hurry　of　my　imagination　I　commanded　rain　to　fall；　and　by　comparing　　the　time　of　my　command　with　that　of　the　inundation；　I　found　that　　the　clouds　had　listened　to　my　lips。'
〃'Might　not　some　other　cause；'　said　I；　'produce　this　concurrence？　　　The　Nile　does　not　always　rise　on　the　same　day。'
〃'Do　not　believe；'　said　he；　with　impatience；　'that　such　objections　　could　escape　me。　　I　reasoned　long　against　my　own　conviction；　and　　laboured　against　truth　with　the　utmost　obstinacy。　　I　sometimes　　suspected　myself　of　madness；　and　should　not　have　dared　to　impart　　this　secret　but　to　a　man　like　you；　capable　of　distinguishing　the　　wonderful　from　the　impossible；　and　the　incredible　from　the　false。'
〃'Why；　sir；'　said　I；　'do　you　call　that　incredible　which　you　know；　　or　think　you　know；　to　be　true？'
〃'Because；'　said　he；　'I　cannot　prove　it　by　any　external　evidence；　　and　I　know　too　well　the　laws　of　demonstration　to　think　that　my　　conviction　ought　to　influence　another；　who　cannot；　like　me；　be　　conscious　of　its　force。　　I　therefore　shall　not　attempt　to　gain　　credit　by　disputation。　　It　is　sufficient　that　I　feel　this　power　　that　I　have　long　possessed；　and　every　day　exerted　it。　　But　the　life　　of　man　is　short；　the　infirmities　of　age　increase　upon　me；　and　the　　time　will　soon　come　when　the　regulator　of　the　year　must　mingle　with　　the　dust。　　The　care　of　appointing　a　successor　has　long　disturbed　　me；　the　night　and　the　day　have　been　spent　in　comparisons　of　all　the　　characters　which　have　come　to　my　knowledge；　and　I　have　yet　found　　none　so　worthy　as　thyself。'〃

CHAPTER　XLIII　…　THE　ASTRONOMER　LEAVES　IMLAC　HIS　DIRECTIONS。

〃'HEAR；　therefore；　what　I　shall　impart　with　attention；　such　as　the　　welfare　of　a　world　requires。　　If　the　task　of　a　king　be