was distributed to all the apartments of the palace. He erected a
pavilion in the garden, around which he kept the air always cool by
artificial showers. One of the groves, appropriated to the ladies,
was ventilated by fans, to which the rivulets that ran through it
gave a constant motion; and instruments of soft music were played
at proper distances, of which some played by the impulse of the
wind, and some by the power of the stream.

This artist was sometimes visited by Rasselas who was pleased with
every kind of knowledge, imagining that the time would come when
all his acquisitions should be of use to him in the open world. He
came one day to amuse himself in his usual manner, and found the
master busy in building a sailing chariot. He saw that the design
was practicable upon a level surface, and with expressions of great
esteem solicited its completion. The workman was pleased to find
himself so much regarded by the Prince, and resolved to gain yet
higher honours. "Sir," said he, "you have seen but a small part of
what the mechanic sciences can perform. I have been long of
opinion that, instead of the tardy conveyance of ships and
chariots, man might use the swifter migration of wings, that the
fields of air are open to knowledge, and that only ignorance and
idleness need crawl upon the ground."

This hint rekindled the Prince's desire of passing the mountains.
Having seen what the mechanist had already performed, he was
willing to fancy that he could do more, yet resolved to inquire
further before he suffered hope to afflict him by disappointment.
"I am afraid," said he to the artist, "that your imagination
prevails over your skill, and that you now tell me rather what you
wish than what you know. Every animal has his element assigned