that your mind possesses the idea of a pyramid, than that the
pyramid itself is standing. What space does the idea of a pyramid
occupy more than the idea of a grain of corn? or how can either
idea suffer laceration? As is the effect, such is the cause; as
thought, such is the power that thinks, a power impassive and
indiscerptible."

"But the Being," said Nekayah, "whom I fear to name, the Being
which made the soul, can destroy it."

"He surely can destroy it," answered Imlac, "since, however
imperishable, it receives from a superior nature its power of
duration. That it will not perish by any inherent cause of decay
or principle of corruption, may be shown by philosophy; but
philosophy can tell no more. That it will not be annihilated by
Him that made it, we must humbly learn from higher authority."

The whole assembly stood awhile silent and collected. "Let us
return," said Rasselas, "from this scene of mortality. How gloomy
would be these mansions of the dead to him who did not know that he
should never die; that what now acts shall continue its agency, and
what now thinks shall think on for ever. Those that lie here
stretched before us, the wise and the powerful of ancient times,
warn us to remember the shortness of our present state; they were
perhaps snatched away while they were busy, like us, in the CHOICE
OF LIFE."

"To me," said the Princess, "the choice of life is become less
important; I hope hereafter to think only on the choice of
eternity."