with triflers like themselves, and many fancied that they were in
love when in truth they were only idle. Their affection was not
fixed on sense or virtue, and therefore seldom ended but in
vexation. Their grief, however, like their joy, was transient;
everything floated in their mind unconnected with the past or
future, so that one desire easily gave way to another, as a second
stone, cast into the water, effaces and confounds the circles of
the first.

With these girls she played as with inoffensive animals, and found
them proud of her countenance and weary of her company.

But her purpose was to examine more deeply, and her affability
easily persuaded the hearts that were swelling with sorrow to
discharge their secrets in her ear, and those whom hope flattered
or prosperity delighted often courted her to partake their
pleasure.

The Princess and her brother commonly met in the evening in a
private summerhouse on the banks of the Nile, and related to each
other the occurrences of the day. As they were sitting together
the Princess cast her eyes upon the river that flowed before her.
"Answer," said she, "great father of waters, thou that rollest thy
goods through eighty nations, to the invocations of the daughter of
thy native king. Tell me if thou waterest through all thy course a
single habitation from which thou dost not hear the murmurs of
complaint."

"You are then," said Rasselas, "not more successful in private
houses than I have been in Courts." "I have, since the last