growing friendship. My anxiety was not long, for, as I recovered
some degree of cheerfulness, he returned to me, and I could not
forbear to despise my former uneasiness.

"He still delayed to send for my ransom, and would perhaps never
have determined had not your agent found his way to him. The gold,
which he would not fetch, he could not reject when it was offered.
He hastened to prepare for our journey hither, like a man delivered
from the pain of an intestine conflict. I took leave of my
companions in the house, who dismissed me with cold indifference."

Nekayah having heard her favourite's relation, rose and embraced
her, and Rasselas gave her a hundred ounces of gold, which she
presented to the Arab for the fifty that were promised.



CHAPTER XL--THE HISTORY OF A MAN OF LEARNING.



They returned to Cairo, and were so well pleased 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 pass the rest of his days
in literary solitude.

"Before you make your final choice," answered Imlac, "you ought to
examine its hazards, and converse with some of those who are grown
old in the company of themselves. I have just left the observatory