
    They heard his resolution with surprise, but, after a short pause, offered
to conduct him to Cairo. He dug up a considerable treasure which he had hid
among the rocks, and accompanied them to the city, on which, as he approached
it, he gazed with rapture.
 

                                  Chapter XXII

                The happiness of a life led according to nature

Rasselas went often to an assembly of learned men, who met at stated times to
unbend their minds, and compare their opinions. Their manners were somewhat
coarse, but their conversation was instructive, and their disputations acute,
though sometimes too violent, and often continued till neither controvertist
remembered upon what question they began. Some faults were almost general among
them: every one was desirous to dictate to the rest, and every one was pleased
to hear the genius or knowledge of another depreciated.
    In this assembly Rasselas was relating his interview with the hermit, and
the wonder with which he heard him censure a course of life which he had so
deliberately chosen, and so laudably followed. The sentiments of the hearers
were various. Some were of opinion, that the folly of his choice had been justly
punished by condemnation to perpetual perseverance. One of the youngest among
them, with great vehemence, pronounced him an hypocrite. Some talked of the
right of society to the labour of individuals, and considered retirement as a
desertion of duty. Others readily allowed, that there was a time when the claims
of the publick were satisfied, and when a man might properly sequester himself,
to review his life, and purify his heart.
    One, who appeared more affected with the narrative than the rest, thought it
likely, that the hermit would, in a few years, go back to his retreat, and,
perhaps, if shame did not restrain, or death intercept him, return once more
from his retreat into the world: »For the hope of happiness, said he, is so
strongly impressed, that the longest experience is not able to efface it. Of the
present state, whatever it be, we feel, and are forced to confess, the misery,
yet, when the same state is again at a distance, imagination paints it as
desirable. But the time will surely come, when desire will be no longer our
torment, and no man shall be wretched but by his own fault.«
    »This, said a philosopher, who had heard him with tokens of great
impatience, is the present condition of a wise man. The time is already come,
when none are wretched but by their own fault. Nothing is more idle, than
