rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第7部分

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CHAPTER　XIII　…　RASSELAS　DISCOVERS　THE　MEANS　OF　ESCAPE。

THE　Prince　now　dismissed　his　favourite　to　rest；　but　the　narrative　　of　wonders　and　novelties　filled　his　mind　with　perturbation。　　He　　revolved　all　that　he　had　heard；　and　prepared　innumerable　questions　　for　the　morning。
Much　of　his　uneasiness　was　now　removed。　　He　had　a　friend　to　whom　he　　could　impart　his　thoughts；　and　whose　experience　could　assist　him　in　　his　designs。　　His　heart　was　no　longer　condemned　to　swell　with　　silent　vexation。　　He　thought　that　even　the　Happy　Valley　might　be　　endured　with　such　a　companion；　and　that　if　they　could　range　the　　world　together　he　should　have　nothing　further　to　desire。
In　a　few　days　the　water　was　discharged；　and　the　ground　dried。　　The　　Prince　and　Imlac　then　walked　out　together；　to　converse　without　the　　notice　of　the　rest。　　The　Prince；　whose　thoughts　were　always　on　the　　wing；　as　he　passed　by　the　gate　said；　with　a　countenance　of　sorrow；　　〃Why　art　thou　so　strong；　and　why　is　man　so　weak？〃
〃Man　is　not　weak；〃　answered　his　companion；　〃knowledge　is　more　than　　equivalent　to　force。　　The　master　of　mechanics　laughs　at　strength。　　　I　can　burst　the　gate；　but　cannot　do　it　secretly。　　Some　other　　expedient　must　be　tried。〃
　As　they　were　walking　on　the　side　of　the　mountain　they　observed　　that　the　coneys；　which　the　rain　had　driven　from　their　burrows；　had　　taken　shelter　among　the　bushes；　and　formed　holes　behind　them　　tending　upwards　in　an　oblique　line。　　　〃It　has　been　the　opinion　of　　antiquity；〃　said　Imlac；　〃that　human　reason　borrowed　many　arts　from　　the　instinct　of　animals；　let　us；　therefore；　not　think　ourselves　　degraded　by　learning　from　the　coney。　　We　may　escape　by　piercing　the　　mountain　in　the　same　direction。　　We　will　begin　where　the　summit　　hangs　over　the　middle　part；　and　labour　upward　till　we　shall　issue　　out　beyond　the　prominence。〃
The　eyes　of　the　Prince；　when　he　heard　this　proposal；　sparkled　with　　joy。　　The　execution　was　easy　and　the　success　certain。
No　time　was　now　lost。　　They　hastened　early　in　the　morning　to　choose　　a　place　proper　for　their　mine。　　They　clambered　with　great　fatigue　　among　crags　and　brambles；　and　returned　without　having　discovered　　any　part　that　favoured　their　design。　　The　second　and　the　third　day　　were　spent　in　the　same　manner；　and　with　the　same　frustration；　but　　on　the　fourth　day　they　found　a　small　cavern　concealed　by　a　thicket；　　where　they　resolved　to　make　their　experiment。
Imlac　procured　instruments　proper　to　hew　stone　and　remove　earth；　　and　they　fell　to　their　work　on　the　next　day　with　more　eagerness　　than　vigour。　　They　were　presently　exhausted　by　their　efforts；　and　　sat　down　to　pant　upon　the　grass。　　The　Prince　for　a　moment　appeared　　to　be　discouraged。　　〃Sir；〃　said　his　companion；　〃practice　will　　enable　us　to　continue　our　labour　for　a　longer　time。　　Mark；　however；　　how　far　we　have　advanced；　and　ye　will　find　that　our　toil　will　some　　time　have　an　end。　　Great　works　are　performed　not　by　strength；　but　　perseverance；　yonder　palace　was　raised　by　single　stones；　yet　you　　see　its　height　and　spaciousness。　　He　that　shall　walk　with　vigour　　three　hours　a　day；　will　pass　in　seven　years　a　space　equal　to　the　　circumference　of　the　globe。〃
They　returned　to　their　work　day　after　day；　and　in　a　short　time　　found　a　fissure　in　the　rock；　which　enabled　them　to　pass　far　with　　very　little　obstruction。　　This　Rasselas　considered　as　a　good　omen。　　　〃Do　not　disturb　your　mind；〃　said　Imlac；　〃with　other　hopes　or　fears　　than　reason　may　suggest；　if　you　are　pleased　with　the　prognostics　of　　good；　you　will　be　terrified　likewise　with　tokens　of　evil；　and　your　　whole　life　will　be　a　prey　to　superstition。　　Whatever　facilitates　　our　work　is　more　than　an　omen；　it　is　a　cause　of　success。　　This　is　　one　of　those　pleasing　surprises　which　often　happen　to　active　　resolution。　　Many　things　difficult　to　design　prove　easy　to　　performance。〃

CHAPTER　XIV　…　RASSELAS　AND　IMLAC　RECEIVE　AN　UNEXPECTED　VISIT。

THEY　had　now　wrought　their　way　to　the　middle；　and　solaced　their　　toil　with　the　approach　of　liberty；　when　the　Prince；　coming　down　to　　refresh　himself　with　air；　found　his　sister　Nekayah　standing　at　the　　mouth　of　the　cavity。　　He　started；　and　stood　confused；　afraid　to　　tell　his　design；　and　yet　hopeless　to　conceal　it。　　A　few　moments　　determined　him　to　repose　on　her　fidelity；　and　secure　her　secrecy　by　　a　declaration　without　reserve。
〃Do　not　imagine；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃that　I　came　hither　as　a　spy。　　　I　had　long　observed　from　my　window　that　you　and　Imlac　directed　your　　walk　every　day　towards　the　same　point；　but　I　did　not　suppose　you　　had　any　better　reason　for　the　preference　than　a　cooler　shade　or　　more　fragrant　bank；　nor　followed　you　with　any　other　design　than　to　　partake　of　your　conversation。　　Since；　then；　not　suspicion；　but　　fondness；　has　detected　you；　let　me　not　lose　the　advantage　of　my　　discovery。　　I　am　equally　weary　of　confinement　with　yourself；　and　　not　less　desirous　of　knowing　what　is　done　or　suffered　in　the　world。　　　Permit　me　to　fly　with　you　from　this　tasteless　tranquillity；　which　　will　yet　grow　more　loathsome　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　sisters；　had　no　　inclination　to　refuse　her　request；　and　grieved　that　he　had　lost　an　　opportunity　of　showing　his　confidence　by　a　voluntary　communication。　　　It　was；　therefore；　agreed　that　she　should　leave　the　valley　with　　them；　and　that　in　the　meantime　she　should　watch；　lest　any　other　　straggler　should；　by　chance　or　curiosity；　follow　them　to　the　　mountain。
At　length　their　labour　was　at　an　end。　　They　saw　light　beyond　the　　prominence；　and；　issuing　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　　less　expectation　of　pleasure　in　the　world；　which　he　had　before　　tried　and　of　which　he　had　been　weary。
Rasselas　was　so　much　delighted　with　a　wider　horizon；　that　he　could　　not　soon　be　persuaded　to　return　into　the　valley。　　He　informed　his　　sister　that　the　way　was　now　open；　and　that　nothing　now　remained　but　　to　prepare　for　their　departure。

CHAPTER　XV　…　THE　PRINCE　AND　PRINCESS　LEAVE　THE　VALLEY；　AND　SEE　MANY　　WONDERS。

THE　Prince　and　Princess　had　jewels　sufficient　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　Princess　was　followed　only　by　a　　single　favourite；　who　did　not　know　whither　she　was　going。
They　clambered　through　the　cavity；　and　began　to　go　down　on　the　　other　side。　　The　Princess　and　her　maid　turned　their　eyes　toward　　every　part；　and　seeing　nothing　to　bound　their　prospect；　considered　　themselves　in　danger　of　being　lost　in　a　dreary　vacuity。　　They　　stopped　and　trembled。　　〃I　am　almost　afraid；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃to　　begin　a　journey　of　which　I　cannot　perceive　an　end；　and　to　venture　　into　this　immense　plain　where　I　may　be　approached　on　every　side　by　　men　whom　I　never　saw。〃　　The　Prince　felt　nearly　the　same　emotions；　　though　he　thought　it　more　manly　to　conceal　them。
Imlac　smiled　at　their　terrors；　and　encouraged　them　to　proceed。　　But　　the　Princess　continued　irresolute　till　she　had　been　imperceptibly　　drawn　forward　too　far　to　return。
In　the　morning　they　found　some　shepherds　in　the　field；　who　set　some　　milk　and　fruits　before　them。　　The　Princess　wondered　that　she　did　　not　see　a　palace　ready　for　her　reception　and　a　table　spread　with　　delicacies；　but　being　faint　and　hungry；　she　drank　the　milk　and　ate　　the　fruits；　and　thought　them　of　a　higher　flavour　than　the　products　　of　the　valley。
They　travelled　forward　by　easy　journeys；　being　all　unaccustomed　to　　toil　and　difficulty；　and　knowing　that；　though　they　might　be　missed；　　they　could　not　be　pursued。　　In　a　few　days　they　came　into　a　more　　populous　region；　where　Imlac　was　diverted　with　the　admiration　which　　his　companions　expressed　at　the　diversity　of　manners；　stations；　and　　employments。　　Their　dress　was　such　as　might　not　bring　upon　them　the　　suspicion　of　having　anything　to　conceal；　yet　the　Prince；　wherever　　he　came；　expected　to　be　obeyed；　and　the　Princess　was　frighted　　because　those　who　came　into　her　presence　did　not　prostrate　　themselves。　　Imlac　was　forced　to　observe　them　with　great　vigilance；　　lest　they　should　betray　their　rank　by　their　unusual　behaviour；　and　　detained　them　several　weeks　in　the　first　village　to　accustom　them　　to　the　sight　of　common　mortals。
By　degrees　the　royal　wanderers　were　taught　to　understand　that　they　　had　for　a　time　laid　aside　their　dignity；　and　were　to　expect　only　　such　regard　as　liberality　and　courtesy　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　sea…coast。
The　Prince　and　his　sister；　to　whom　everything　was　new；　were　　gratified　equally　at　all　places；　and　therefore　remained　for　some　　months　at　the　port　without　any　inclination　to　pass　further。　　Imlac　　was　content　with　their　stay；　because　he　did　not　think　it　safe　to　　expose　them；　unpractised　in　the　world；　to　the　hazards　of　a　foreign　　country。
At　last　he　began　to　fear　lest　they　should　be　discovered；　and　　proposed　to　fix　a　day　for　their　departure。　　They　had　no　pretensions　　to　judge　for　themselves；　and　referred　the　whole　scheme　to　his　　direction。　　He　therefore　took　passage　in　a　ship　to　Suez；　and；　when　　the　time　came；　with　great　difficulty　prevailed　on　the　Princess　to　　enter　the　vessel。
They　had　a　quick　and　prosperous　voyage；　and　from　Suez　travelled　by　　land　to　Cairo。

CHAPTER　XVI　…　THEY　ENTER　CAIRO；　AND　FIND　EVERY　MAN　HAPPY。

AS　they　approached　the　city；　which　filled　the　strangers　with　　astonishment；　〃This；〃　said　Imlac　to　the　Prince；　〃is　the　place　where　　travellers　and　merchants　assemble　from　all　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　　shall　live　as　strangers　who　have　no　other　end　of　travel　than　　curiosity；　it　will　soon　be　observed　that　we　are　rich。　　Our　　reputation　will　procure　us　access　to　all　whom　we　shall　desire　to　　know；　you　sha