and I never found a man before to whom I could impart my troubles,
though I had been certain of relief. I rejoice to find my own
sentiments confirmed by yours, who are not easily deceived, and can
have no motive or purpose to deceive. I hope that time and variety
will dissipate the gloom that has so long surrounded me, and the
latter part of my days will be spent in peace."

"Your learning and virtue," said Imlac, "may justly give you
hopes."

Rasselas then entered, with the Princess and Pekuah, and inquired
whether they had contrived any new diversion for the next day.
"Such," said Nekayah, "is the state of life, that none are happy
but by the anticipation of change; the change itself is nothing;
when we have made it the next wish is to change again. The world
is not yet exhausted: let me see something to-morrow which I never
saw before."

"Variety," said Rasselas, "is so necessary to content, that even
the Happy Valley disgusted me by the recurrence of its luxuries;
yet I could not forbear to reproach myself with impatience when I
saw the monks of St. Anthony support, without complaint, a life,
not of uniform delight, but uniform hardship."

"Those men," answered Imlac, "are less wretched in their silent
convent than the Abyssinian princes in their prison of pleasure.
Whatever is done by the monks is incited by an adequate and
reasonable motive. Their labour supplies them with necessaries; it
therefore cannot be omitted, and is certainly rewarded. Their
devotion prepares them for another state, and reminds them of its