CHA P. XXXIX. The history of a man of learning. ΤΗ HEY returned to Cairo, and were fo well pleafed at finding themselves together, that none of them went much abroad. The prince began to love learning, and one day declared to Imlac, that he intended to devote himself to science, and pafs the rest of his days in literary folitude. "Before you make your final choice, anfwered Imlac, you ought to examine its hazards, and converfe with some of those who are grown old in the company of themselves. I have juft left the 99 the obfervatory of one of the most learned aftronomers in the world, who has fpent forty years in unwearied attention to the motions and appearances of the celeftial bodies, and has drawn out his' foul in endless calculations. He admits a few friends once a month to hear his deductions and enjoy his difcoveries. I was introduced as a man of knowledge worthy of his notice. Men of various ideas and fluent converfation are commonly welcome to those whofe thoughts have been long fixed upon a fingle point, and who find the images of other things ftealing away. I delighted him with my remarks, he smiled at the narrative of my travels, and was glad to forget the conftellations, and defcend for a moment into the lower world. "On the next day of vacation I renewed my visit, and was fo 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 bufy, and always glad to be relieved. As each knew much which the other was defirous of learning, we exchanged our notions with great delight. I perceived that I had every day more of his confidence, and always found new caufe of admiration in the profundity of his mind. His comprehenfion is vaft, his memory capacious and retentive, his difcourfe is methodical, and his expreffion clear. "His integrity and benevolence are equal to his learning. His deepest re searches fearches and most favourite studies are willingly interrupted for any opportunity of doing good by his counfel or his riches. To his clofeft retreat, at his most busy moments, all are admitted that want his affiftance: "For though I exclude idleness and pleasure, I will never, fays he, bar my doors against charity. To man is permitted the contemplation of the fkies, but the practice of virtue is commanded." "Surely, faid the princefs, this man is happy." "I vifited him, faid Imlac, with more and more frequency, and was every time more enamoured of his converfation he was fublime without haughtinefs, courteous without formality, and communicative without oftentation. I was at firft, great princefs of your opinion, thought him the happiest of mankind, and often congratulated him on the bleffing that he enjoyed. He feemed to hear nothing with indifference but the praises of his condition, to which he always returned a general anfwer, and diverted the converfation to fome other topick. "Amidst this willingness to be pleafed, and labour to pleafe, I had quickly reafon to imagine that fome painful fentiment preffed upon his mind. He often looked up earnestly towards the fun, and let his voice fall in the midft of his difcourfe. He would fometimes, when we were alone, gaze upon me in filence with the air of a man who longed |