rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第22章
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〃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 impa
