they are wiser; knowledge will always predominate over ignorance,
as man governs the other animals. But why their knowledge is more
than ours I know not what reason can be given but the unsearchable
will of the Supreme Being."

"When," said the Prince with a sigh, "shall I be able to visit
Palestine, and mingle with this mighty confluence of nations? Till
that happy moment shall arrive, let me fill up the time with such
representations as thou canst give me. I am not ignorant of the
motive that assembles such numbers in that place, and cannot but
consider it as the centre of wisdom and piety, to which the best
and wisest men of every land must be continually resorting."

"There are some nations," said Imlac, "that send few visitants to
Palestine; for many numerous and learned sects in Europe concur to
censure pilgrimage as superstitious, or deride it as ridiculous."

"You know," said the Prince, "how little my life has made me
acquainted with diversity of opinions; it will be too long to hear
the arguments on both sides; you, that have considered them, tell
me the result."

"Pilgrimage," said Imlac, "like many other acts of piety, may be
reasonable or superstitious, according to the principles upon which
it is performed. Long journeys in search of truth are not
commanded. Truth, such as is necessary to the regulation of life,
is always found where it is honestly sought. Change of place is no
natural cause of the increase of piety, for it inevitably produces
dissipation of mind. Yet, since men go every day to view the
fields where great actions have been performed, and return with