They passed slowly through the wood, delighted with such unexpected accommodations, and entertained each other with conjecturing, what, or who, he could be, that, in those rude and unfrequented regions, had leisure and art for such harmless luxury.

As they advanced, they heard the sound of musick, and saw youths and virgins dancing in the grove; and, going still further, beheld a stately palace, built upon a hill, surrounded with woods.  The laws of eastern hospitality allowed them to enter, and the master welcomed them, like a man liberal and wealthy.

He was skilful enough in appearances, soon to discern that they were no common guests, and spread his table with magnificence.  The eloquence of Imlac caught his attention, and the lofty courtesy of the princess excited his respect.  When they offered to depart, he entreated their stay, and was the next day still more unwilling to dismiss them than before.  They were easily persuaded to stop, and civility grew up, in time, to freedom and confidence.

The prince now saw all the domesticks cheerful, and all the face of nature smiling round the place, and could not forbear to hope that he should find here what he was seeking; but when he was congratulating the master upon his possessions, he answered, with a sigh:  “My condition has, indeed, the appearance of happiness, but appearances are delusive.  My prosperity puts my life in danger; the bassa of Egypt is my enemy, incensed only by my wealth and popularity.  I have been, hitherto, protected against him by the princes of the country; but, as the favour of the great is uncertain, I know not, how soon my defenders may be persuaded to share the plunder with the bassa.  I have sent my treasures into a distant country, and, upon the first alarm, am prepared to follow them.  Then will my enemies riot in my mansion, and enjoy the gardens which I have planted.”

They all joined in lamenting his danger, and deprecating his exile; and the princess was so much disturbed with the tumult of grief and indignation, that she retired to her apartment.  They continued with their kind inviter a few days longer, and then went forward to find the hermit.

CHAP.  XXI.

THE HAPPINESS OF SOLITUDE.  THE HERMIT’S HISTORY.

They came, on the third day, by the direction of the peasants, to the hermit’s cell:  it was a cavern, in the side of a mountain, over-shadowed with palm-trees; at such a distance from the cataract, that nothing more was heard than a gentle uniform murmur, such as composed the mind to pensive meditation, especially when it was assisted by the wind whistling among the branches.  The first rude essay of nature had been so much improved by human labour, that the cave contained several apartments, appropriated to different uses, and often afforded lodging to travellers, whom darkness or tempests happened to overtake.

The hermit sat on a bench at the door, to enjoy the coolness of the evening.  On one side lay a book, with pens and papers, on the other, mechanical instruments of various kinds.  As they approached him unregarded, the princess observed, that he had not the countenance of a man that had found, or could teach the way to happiness.