higher the earth's attraction and the body's gravity will be

gradually diminished, till we shall arrive at a region where the
man shall float in the air without any tendency to fall; no care

will then be necessary but to move forward, which the gentlest
impulse will effect. You, sir, whose curiosity is so extensive,

will easily conceive with what pleasure a philosopher, furnished
with wings and hovering in the sky, would see the earth and all its

inhabitants rolling beneath him, and presenting to him
successively, by its diurnal motion, all the countries within the

same parallel. How must it amuse the pendent spectator to see the
moving scene of land and ocean, cities and deserts; to survey with

equal security the marts of trade and the fields of battle;
mountains infested by barbarians, and fruitful regions gladdened by

plenty and lulled by peace. How easily shall we then trace the
Nile through all his passages, pass over to distant regions, and

examine the face of nature from one extremity of the earth to the
other."

"All this," said the Prince, "is much to be desired, but I am
afraid that no man will be able to breathe in these regions of

speculation and tranquillity. I have been told that respiration is
difficult upon lofty mountains, yet from these precipices, though

so high as to produce great tenuity of air, it is very easy to
fall; therefore I suspect that from any height where life can be

supported, there may be danger of too quick descent."
"Nothing," replied the artist, "will ever be attempted if all

possible objections must be first overcome. If you will favour my
project, I will try the first flight at my own hazard. I have

considered the structure of all volant animals, and find the
folding continuity of the bat's wings most easily accommodated to

the human form. Upon this model I shall begin my task to-morrow,
and in a year expect to tower into the air beyond the malice and

pursuit of man. But I will work only on this condition, that the
art shall not be divulged, and that you shall not require me to

make wings for any but ourselves."
"Why," said Rasselas, "should you envy others so great an

advantage? All skill ought to be exerted for universal good; every
man has owed much to others, and ought to repay the kindness that

he has received."
"If men were all virtuous," returned the artist, "I should with

great alacrity teach them to fly. But what would be the security
of the good if the bad could at pleasure invade them from the sky?

Against an army sailing through the clouds neither walls,
mountains, nor seas could afford security. A flight of northern

savages might hover in the wind and light with irresistible
violence upon the capital of a fruitful reason. Even this valley,

the retreat of princes, the abode of happiness, might be violated
by the sudden descent of some of the naked nations that swarm on

the coast of the southern sea!"
The Prince promised secrecy, and waited for the performance, not

whollyhopeless of success. He visited the work from time to time,
observed its progress, and remarked many ingenious contrivances to

facilitate motion and unite levity with strength. The artist was
every day more certain that he should leave vultures and eagles

behind him, and the contagion of his confidence seized upon the
Prince. In a year the wings were finished; and on a morning

appointed the maker appeared, furnished for flight, on a little
promontory; he waved his pinions awhile to gather air, then leaped

from his stand, and in an instant dropped into the lake. His
wings, which were of no use in the air, sustained him in the water;

and the Prince drew him to land half dead with terror and vexation.
CHAPTER VII - THE PRINCE FINDS A MAN OF LEARNING.

THE Prince was not much afflicted by this disaster, having suffered
himself to hope for a happier event only because he had no other

means of escape in view. He still persisted in his design to leave
the Happy Valley by the first opportunity.

His imagination was now at a stand; he had no prospect of entering
into the world, and, notwithstanding all his endeavours to support

himself, discontent by degrees preyed upon him, and he began again
to lose his thoughts in sadness when the rainy season, which in

these countries is periodical, made it inconvenient to wander in
the woods.

The rain continued longer and with more violence than had ever been
known; the clouds broke on the surrounding mountains, and the

torrents streamed into the plain on every side, till the cavern was
too narrow to discharge the water. The lake overflowed its banks,

and all the level of the valley was covered with the inundation.
The eminence on which the palace was built, and some other spots of

rising ground, were all that the eye could now discover. The herds
and flocks left the pasture, and both the wild beasts and the tame

retreated to the mountains.
This inundation confined all the princes to domestic amusements,

and the attention of Rasselas was particularly seized by a poem
(which Imlac rehearsed) upon the various conditions of humanity.

He commanded the poet to attend him in his apartment, and recite
his verses a second time; then entering into familiar talk, he

thought himself happy in having found a man who knew the world so
well, and could so skilfully paint the scenes of life. He asked a

thousand questions about things to which, though common to all
other mortals, his confinement from childhood had kept him a

stranger. The poet pitied his ignorance, and loved his curiosity,
and entertained him from day to day with novelty and instruction so

that the Prince regretted the necessity of sleep, and longed till
the morning should renew his pleasure.

As they were sitting together, the Prince commanded Imlac to relate
his history, and to tell by what accident he was forced, or by what

motive induced, to close his life in the Happy Valley. As he was
going to begin his narrative, Rasselas was called to a concert, and

obliged to restrain his curiosity till the evening.
CHAPTER VIII - THE HISTORY OF IMLAC.

THE close of the day is, in the regions of the torrid zone, the
only season of diversion and entertainment, and it was therefore

midnight before the music ceased and the princesses retired.
Rasselas then called for his companion, and required him to begin

the story of his life.
"Sir," said Imlac, "my history will not be long: the life that is

devoted to knowledge passes silently away, and is very little
diversified by events. To talk in public, to think in solitude, to

read and to hear, to inquire and answer inquiries, is the business
of a scholar. He wanders about the world without pomp or terror,

and is neither known nor valued but by men like himself.
"I was born in the kingdom of Goiama, at no great distance from the

fountain of the Nile. My father was a wealthy merchant, who traded
between the inland countries of Africa and the ports of the Red

Sea. He was honest, frugal, and diligent, but of mean sentiments
and narrow comprehension; he desired only to be rich, and to

conceal his riches, lest he should be spoiled by the governors of
the province."

"Surely," said the Prince, "my father must be negligent of his
charge if any man in his dominions dares take that which belongs to

another. Does he not know that kings are accountable for injustice
permitted as well as done? If I were Emperor, not the meanest of

my subjects should he oppressed with impunity. My blood boils when
I am told that a merchant durst not enjoy his honest gains for fear

of losing them by the rapacity of power. Name the governor who
robbed the people that I may declare his crimes to the Emperor!"

"Sir," said Imlac, "your ardour is the natural effect of virtue
animated by youth. The time will come when you will acquit your

father, and perhaps hear with less impatience of the governor.
Oppression is, in the Abyssinian dominions, neither frequent nor

tolerated; but no form of government has been yet discovered by
which cruelty can be wholly prevented. Subordination supposes

power on one part and subjection on the other; and if power be in
the hands of men it will sometimes be abused. The vigilance of the

supreme magistrate may do much, but much will still remain undone.
He can never know all the crimes that are committed, and can seldom

punish all that he knows."
"This," said the Prince, "I do not understand; but I had rather

hear thee than dispute. Continue thy narration."
"My father," proceeded Imlac, "originally intended that I should

have no other education than such as might qualify me for commerce;
and discovering in me great strength of memory and quickness of