Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

entertainment, and it was therefore midnight before the music ceased and the princesses ret

diversified by events. To talk in public, to think in solitude, to read and to hear, to inquire and answer inquiries, is the b

between the inland countries of Africa and the ports of the Red Sea. He was honest, frugal, and diligent, but of mean sentiments and na

ountable for injustice permitted as well as done? If I were Emperor, not the meanest of my subjects should be oppressed with impunity. My blood boils when I am told that a mer

ominions, 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 th

derstand; but I had rather hear thee

h as might qualify me for commerce; and discovering in me great strength of memory and quickness

th when it was already greater than he durst discover or enjoy? I am un

et diversity is not inconsistency. My father might expect a time of greater security. However, some des

n in some measure conceive. I

, whose grossness of conception raised my pity. I was twenty years old before his tenderness would expose me to the fatigue of travel; in which time I had been instructed, by successive masters, in all the literature of my native country. As every hour taught me som

began with less than a fifth part, and you see how diligence and parsimony have increased it. This is your own, to waste or improve. If you squander it by negligence or caprice, you must wait for my death before you will be

ye on the expanse of waters, my heart bounded like that of a prisoner escaped. I felt an inextinguishable curiosity kindle in my m

ht not to violate, but by a penalty, which I was at liberty to incur; and therefore determined to gratify

passage to some other country. I had no motives of choice to regulate my voyage. It was sufficient for me that, wherever I wandered, I should se