rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第14部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


its　truth：　　those　that　　never　heard　of　one　another　would　not　have　agreed　in　a　tale　which　　nothing　but　experience　can　make　credible。　　That　it　is　doubted　by　　single　cavillers　can　very　little　weaken　the　general　evidence；　and　　some　who　deny　it　with　their　tongues　confess　it　by　their　fears。
〃Yet　I　do　not　mean　to　add　new　terrors　to　those　which　have　already　　seized　upon　Pekuah。　　There　can　be　no　reason　why　spectres　should　　haunt　the　Pyramid　more　than　other　places；　or　why　they　should　have　　power　or　will　to　hurt　innocence　and　purity。　　Our　entrance　is　no　　violation　of　their　privileges：　　we　can　take　nothing　from　them；　how；　　then；　can　we　offend　them？〃
〃My　dear　Pekuah；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　will　always　go　before　you；　　and　Imlac　shall　follow　you。　　Remember　that　you　are　the　companion　of　　the　Princess　of　Abyssinia。〃
〃If　the　Princess　is　pleased　that　her　servant　should　die；〃　returned　　the　lady；　〃let　her　command　some　death　less　dreadful　than　enclosure　　in　this　horrid　cavern。　　You　know　I　dare　not　disobey　you　…　I　must　go　　if　you　command　me；　but　if　I　once　enter；　I　never　shall　come　back。〃
The　Princess　saw　that　her　fear　was　too　strong　for　expostulation　or　　reproof；　and；　embracing　her；　told　her　that　she　should　stay　in　the　　tent　till　their　return。　　Pekuah　was　not　yet　satisfied；　but　　entreated　the　Princess　not　to　pursue　so　dreadful　a　purpose　as　that　　of　entering　the　recesses　of　the　Pyramids。　　〃Though　I　cannot　teach　　courage；〃　said　Nekayah；　〃I　must　not　learn　cowardice；　nor　leave　at　　last　undone　what　I　came　hither　only　to　do。〃

CHAPTER　XXXII　…　THEY　ENTER　THE　PYRAMID。

PEKUAH　descended　to　the　tents；　and　the　rest　entered　the　Pyramid。　　　They　passed　through　the　galleries；　surveyed　the　vaults　of　marble；　　and　examined　the　chest　in　which　the　body　of　the　founder　is　supposed　　to　have　been　deposited。　　They　then　sat　down　in　one　of　the　most　　spacious　chambers　to　rest　awhile　before　they　attempted　to　return。
〃We　have　now；〃　said　Imlac；　〃gratified　our　minds　with　an　exact　view　　of　the　greatest　work　of　man；　except　the　wall　of　China。
〃Of　the　wall　it　is　very　easy　to　assign　the　motive。　　It　secured　a　　wealthy　and　timorous　nation　from　the　incursions　of　barbarians；　　whose　unskilfulness　in　the　arts　made　it　easier　for　them　to　supply　　their　wants　by　rapine　than　by　industry；　and　who　from　time　to　time　　poured　in　upon　the　inhabitants　of　peaceful　commerce　as　vultures　　descend　upon　domestic　fowl。　　Their　celerity　and　fierceness　made　the　　wall　necessary；　and　their　ignorance　made　it　efficacious。
〃But　for　the　Pyramids；　no　reason　has　ever　been　given　adequate　to　　the　cost　and　labour　of　the　work。　　The　narrowness　of　the　chambers　　proves　that　it　could　afford　no　retreat　from　enemies；　and　treasures　　might　have　been　reposited　at　far　less　expense　with　equal　security。　　　It　seems　to　have　been　erected　only　in　compliance　with　that　hunger　　of　imagination　which　preys　incessantly　upon　life；　and　must　be　　always　appeased　by　some　employment。　　Those　who　have　already　all　　that　they　can　enjoy　must　enlarge　their　desires。　　He　that　has　built　　for　use　till　use　is　supplied　must　begin　to　build　for　vanity；　and　　extend　his　plan　to　the　utmost　power　of　human　performance　that　he　　may　not　be　soon　reduced　to　form　another　wish。
〃I　consider　this　mighty　structure　as　a　monument　of　the　　insufficiency　of　human　enjoyments。　　A　king　whose　power　is　　unlimited；　and　whose　treasures　surmount　all　real　and　imaginary　　wants；　is　compelled　to　solace；　by　the　erection　of　a　pyramid；　the　　satiety　of　dominion　and　tastelessness　of　pleasures；　and　to　amuse　　the　tediousness　of　declining　life　by　seeing　thousands　labouring　　without　end；　and　one　stone；　for　no　purpose；　laid　upon　another。　　　Whoever　thou　art　that；　not　content　with　a　moderate　condition；　　imaginest　happiness　in　royal　magnificence；　and　dreamest　that　　command　or　riches　can　feed　the　appetite　of　novelty　with　perpetual　　gratifications；　survey　the　Pyramids；　and　confess　thy　folly！〃

CHAPTER　XXXIII　…　THE　PRINCESS　MEETS　WITH　AN　UNEXPECTED　MISFORTUNE。

THEY　rose　up；　and　returned　through　the　cavity　at　which　they　had　　entered；　and　the　Princess　prepared　for　her　favourite　a　long　　narrative　of　dark　labyrinths　and　costly　rooms；　and　of　the　different　　impressions　which　the　varieties　of　the　way　had　made　upon　her。　　But　　when　they　came　to　their　train；　they　found　every　one　silent　and　　dejected：　　the　men　discovered　shame　and　fear　in　their　countenances；　　and　the　women　were　weeping　in　their　tents。
What　had　happened　they　did　not　try　to　conjecture；　but　immediately　　inquired。　　〃You　had　scarcely　entered　into　the　Pyramid；〃　said　one　of　　the　attendants；　〃when　a　troop　of　Arabs　rushed　upon　us：　　we　were　too　　few　to　resist　them；　and　too　slow　to　escape。　　They　were　about　to　　search　the　tents；　set　us　on　our　camels；　and　drive　us　along　before　　them；　when　the　approach　of　some　Turkish　horsemen　put　them　to　　flight：　　but　they　seized　the　Lady　Pekuah　with　her　two　maids；　and　　carried　them　away：　　the　Turks　are　now　pursuing　them　by　our　　instigation；　but　I　fear　they　will　not　be　able　to　overtake　them。〃
The　Princess　was　overpowered　with　surprise　and　grief。　　Rasselas；　in　　the　first　heat　of　his　resentment；　ordered　his　servants　to　follow　　him；　and　prepared　to　pursue　the　robbers　with　his　sabre　in　his　hand。　　　〃Sir；〃　said　Imlac；　〃what　can　you　hope　from　violence　or　valour？　　The　　Arabs　are　mounted　on　horses　trained　to　battle　and　retreat；　we　have　　only　beasts　of　burden。　　By　leaving　our　present　station　we　may　lose　　the　Princess；　but　cannot　hope　to　regain　Pekuah。〃
In　a　short　time　the　Turks　returned；　having　not　been　able　to　reach　　the　enemy。　　The　Princess　burst　out　into　new　lamentations；　and　　Rasselas　could　scarcely　forbear　to　reproach　them　with　cowardice；　　but　Imlac　was　of　opinion　that　the　escape　of　the　Arabs　was　no　　addition　to　their　misfortune；　for　perhaps　they　would　have　killed　　their　captives　rather　than　have　resigned　them。

CHAPTER　XXXIV　…　THEY　RETURN　TO　CAIRO　WITHOUT　PEKUAH。

THERE　was　nothing　to　be　hoped　from　longer　stay。　　They　returned　to　　Cairo；　repenting　of　their　curiosity；　censuring　the　negligence　of　　the　government；　lamenting　their　own　rashness；　which　had　neglected　　to　procure　a　guard；　imagining　many　expedients　by　which　the　loss　of　　Pekuah　might　have　been　prevented；　and　resolving　to　do　something　for　　her　recovery；　though　none　could　find　anything　proper　to　be　done。
Nekayah　retired　to　her　chamber；　where　her　women　attempted　to　　comfort　her　by　telling　her　that　all　had　their　troubles；　and　that　　Lady　Pekuah　had　enjoyed　much　happiness　in　the　world　for　a　long　　time；　and　might　reasonably　expect　a　change　of　fortune。　　They　hoped　　that　some　good　would　befall　her　wheresoever　she　was；　and　that　their　　mistress　would　find　another　friend　who　might　supply　her　place。
The　Princess　made　them　no　answer；　and　they　continued　the　form　of　　condolence；　not　much　grieved　in　their　hearts　that　the　favourite　was　　lost。
Next　day　the　Prince　presented　to　the　Bassa　a　memorial　of　the　wrong　　which　he　had　suffered；　and　a　petition　for　redress。　　The　Bassa　　threatened　to　punish　the　robbers；　but　did　not　attempt　to　catch　　them；　nor　indeed　could　any　account　or　description　be　given　by　which　　he　might　direct　the　pursuit。
It　soon　appeared　that　nothing　would　be　done　by　authority。　　　Governors　being　accustomed　to　hear　of　more　crimes　than　they　can　　punish；　and　more　wrongs　than　they　can　redress；　set　themselves　at　　ease　by　indiscriminate　negligence；　and　presently　forget　the　request　　when　they　lose　sight　of　the　petitioner。
Imlac　then　endeavoured　to　gain　some　intelligence　by　private　agents。　　　He　found　many　who　pretended　to　an　exact　knowledge　of　all　the　haunts　　of　the　Arabs；　and　to　regular　correspondence　with　their　chiefs；　and　　who　readily　undertook　the　recovery　of　Pekuah。　　Of　these；　some　were　　furnished　with　money　for　their　journey；　and　came　back　no　more；　some　　were　liberally　paid　for　accounts　which　a　few　days　discovered　to　be　　false。　　But　the　Princess　would　not　suffer　any　means；　however　　improbable；　to　be　left　untried。　　While　she　was　doing　something；　she　　kept　her　hope　alive。　　As　one　expedient　failed；　another　was　　suggested；　when　one　messenger　returned　unsuccessful；　another　was　　despatched　to　a　different　quarter。
Two　months　had　now　passed；　and　of　Pekuah　nothing　had　been　heard；　　the　hopes　which　they　had　endeavoured　to　raise　in　each　other　grew　　more　languid；　and　the　Princess；　when　she　saw　nothing　more　to　be　　tried；　sunk　down　inconsolable　in　hopeless　dejection。　　A　thousand　　times　she　reproached　herself　with　the　easy　compliance　by　which　she　　permitted　her　favourite　to　stay　behind　her。　　〃Had　not　my　fondness；〃　　said　she；　〃lessened　my　authority；　Pekuah　had　not　dared　to　talk　of　　her　terrors。　　She　ought　to　have　feared　me　more　than　spectres。　　A　　severe　look　would　have　overpowered　her；　a　peremptory　command　would　　have　compelled　obedience。　　Why　did　foolish　indulgence　prevail　upon　　me？　　Why　did　I　not　speak；　and　refuse　to　hear？〃
〃Great　Princess；〃　said　Imlac；　〃do　not　reproach　yourself　for　your　　virtue；　or　consider　that　as　blameable　by　which　evil　has　　accidentally　been　caused。　　Your　tenderness　for　the　timidity　of　　Pekuah　was　generous　and　kind。　　When　we　act　according　to　our　duty；　　we　commit　the　events　to　Him　by　whose　laws　our　actions　are　governed；　　and　who　will　suffer　none　to　be　finally　punished　for　obedience。　　　When；　in　prospect　of　some　good；　whether　natural　or　moral；　we　break　　the　rules　prescribed　us；　we　withdraw　from　the　direction　of　superior　　wisdom；　and　take　all　consequences　upon　ourselves。　　Man　cannot　so　　far　know　the　connection　of　causes　and　events　as　that　he　may　venture　　to　do　wrong　in　order　to　do　right。　　When　we　pursue　our　end　by　lawful　　means；　we　may　always　console　our　miscarriage　by　the　hope　of　future　　recompense。　　When　we　consult　only　our　own　policy；　and　attempt　to　　find　a　nearer　way　to　good　by　over…leaping　the　settled　boundaries　of　　right　and　wrong；　we　cannot　be　happy　even　by　success；　because　we　　cannot　escape　the　consciousness　of　our　fault；　but　if　we　miscarry；　　the　disappointment　is　irremediably　embittered。　　How　comfortless　is　　the　sorrow　of　him　who　feels　at　once　the　pangs　of　guilt　and　the　　vexation　of　calamity　which　guilt　has　brought　upon　him！
〃Consider；　Princess；　what　would　have　been　your　condition　if　the　　Lady　Pekuah　had　entreated　to　accompany　you；　and；　being　compelled　to　　stay　in　the　tents；　had　been　carried　away；　or　how　would　you　have　　borne　the　thought　if　you　had　forced　her　into　the