rasselas, prince of abyssinia-第3章
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atch the fugitive with his utmost efforts； but； resolving to weary by perseverance him whom he could not surpass in speed； he pressed on till the foot of the mountain stopped his course。
Here he recollected himself； and smiled at his own useless impetuosity。 Then raising his eyes to the mountain； 〃This；〃 said he； 〃is the fatal obstacle that hinders at once the enjoyment of pleasure and the exercise of virtue。 How long is it that my hopes and wishes have flown beyond this boundary of my life； which yet I never have attempted to surmount？〃
Struck with this reflection； he sat down to muse； and remembered that since he first resolved to escape from his confinement； the sun had passed twice over him in his annual course。 He now felt a degree of regret with which he had never been before acquainted。 He considered how much might have been done in the time which had passed； and left nothing real behind it。 He compared twenty months with the life of man。 〃In life；〃 said he； 〃is not to be counted the ignorance of infancy or imbecility of age。 We are long before we are able to think； and we soon cease from the power of acting。 The true period of human existence may be reasonably estimated at forty years； of which I have mused away the four…and…twentieth part。 What I have lost was certain； for I have certainly possessed it； but of twenty months to come； who can assure me？〃
The consciousness of his own folly pierced him deeply； and he was long before he could be reconciled to himself。 〃The rest of my time；〃 said he； 〃has been lost by the crime or folly of my ancestors； and the absurd institutions of my country； I remember it with disgust； yet without remorse： but the months that have passed since new light darted into my soul； since I formed a scheme of reasonable felicity； have been squandered by my own fault。 I have lost that which can never be restored； I have seen the sun rise and set for twenty months； an idle gazer on the light of heaven； in this time the birds have left the nest of their mother； and committed themselves to the woods and to the skies； the kid has forsaken the teat； and learned by degrees to climb the rocks in quest of independent sustenance。 I only have made no advances； but am still helpless and ignorant。 The moon； by more than twenty changes； admonished me of the flux of life； the stream that rolled before my feet upbraided my inactivity。 I sat feasting on intellectual luxury； regardless alike of the examples of the earth and the instructions of the planets。 Twenty months are passed： who shall restore them？〃
These sorrowful meditations fastened upon his mind； he passed four months in resolving to lose no more time in idle resolves； and was awakened to more vigorous exertion by hearing a maid； who had broken a porcelain cup； remark that what cannot be repaired is not to be regretted。
This was obvious； and Rasselas reproached himself that he had not discovered it … having not known； or not considered； how many useful hints are obtained by chance； and how often the mind； hurried by her own ardour to distant views； neglects the truths that lie open before her。 He for a few hours regretted his regret； and from that time bent his whole mind upon the means of escaping from the Valley of Happiness。
CHAPTER V … THE PRINCE MEDITATES HIS ESCAPE。
HE now found that it would be very difficult to effect that which it was very easy to suppose effected。 When he looked round about him； he saw himself confined by the bars of nature； which had never yet been broken； and by the gate through which none that had once passed it were ever able to return。 He was now impatient as an eagle in a grate。 He passed week after week in clambering the mountains to see if there was any aperture which the bushes might conceal； but found all the summits inaccessible by their prominence。 The iron gate he despaired to open for it was not only secured with all the power of art； but was always watched by successive sentinels； and was； by its position； exposed to the perpetual observation of all the inhabitants。
He then examined the cavern through which the waters of the lake were discharged； and； looking down at a time when the sun shone strongly upon its mouth； he discovered it to be full of broken rocks； which； though they permitted the stream to flow through many narrow passages； would stop any body of solid bulk。 He returned discouraged and dejected； but having now known the blessing of hope； resolved never to despair。
In these fruitless researches he spent ten months。 The time； however； passed cheerfully away … in the morning he rose with new hope； in the evening applauded his own diligence； and in the night slept soundly after his fatigue。 He met a thousand amusements； which beguiled his labour and diversified his thoughts。 He discerned the various instincts of animals and properties of plants； and found the place replete with wonders； of which he proposed to solace himself with the contemplation if he should never be able to accomplish his flight … rejoicing that his endeavours； though yet unsuccessful； had supplied him with a source of inexhaustible inquiry。 But his original curiosity was not yet abated； he resolved to obtain some knowledge of the ways of men。 His wish still continued； but his hope grew less。 He ceased to survey any longer the walls of his prison； and spared to search by new toils for interstices which he knew could not be found； yet determined to keep his design always in view； and lay hold on any expedient that time should offer。
CHAPTER VI … A DISSERTATION ON THE ART OF FLYING。
AMONG the artists that had been allured into the Happy Valley； to labour for the accommodation and pleasure of its inhabitants； was a man eminent for his knowledge of the mechanic powers； who had contrived many engines both of use and recreation。 By a wheel which the stream turned he forced the water into a tower； whence it was distributed to all the apartments of the palace。 He erected a pavilion in the garden； around which he kept the air always cool by artificial showers。 One of the groves； appropriated to the ladies； was ventilated by fans； to which the rivulets that ran through it gave a constant motion； and instruments of soft music were played at proper distances； of which some played by the impulse of the wind； and some by the power of the stream。
This artist was sometimes visited by Rasselas who was pleased with every kind of knowledge； imagining that the time would come when all his acquisitions should be of use to him in the open world。 He came one day to amuse himself in his usual manner； and found the master busy in building a sailing chariot。 He saw that the design was practicable upon a level surface； and with expressions of great esteem solicited its completion。 The workman was pleased to find himself so much regarded by the Prince； and resolved to gain yet higher honours。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃you have seen but a small part of what the mechanic sciences can perform。 I have been long of opinion that； instead of the tardy conveyance of ships and chariots； man might use the swifter migration of wings； that the fields of air are open to knowledge； and that only ignorance and idleness need crawl upon the ground。〃
This hint rekindled the Prince's desire of passing the mountains。 Having seen what the mechanist had already performed； he was willing to fancy that he could do more； yet resolved to inquire further before he suffered hope to afflict him by disappointment。 〃I am afraid；〃 said he to the artist； 〃that your imagination prevails over your skill； and that you now tell me rather what you wish than what you know。 Every animal has his element assigned him； the birds have the air； and man and beasts the earth。〃 〃So；〃 replied the mechanist； 〃fishes have the water； in which yet beasts can swim by nature and man by art。 He that can swim needs not despair to fly； to swim is to fly in a grosser fluid； and to fly is to swim in a subtler。 We are only to proportion our power of resistance to the different density of matter through which we are to pass。 You will be necessarily up…borne
