 when you had seen Persia.«
    »From Persia, said the poet, I travelled through Syria, and for three years
resided in Palestine, where I conversed with great numbers of the northern and
western nations of Europe; the nations which are now in possession of all power
and all knowledge; whose armies are irresistible, and whose fleets command the
remotest parts of the globe. When I compared these men with the natives of our
own kingdom, and those that surround us, they appeared almost another order of
beings. In their countries it is difficult to wish for any thing that may not be
obtained: a thousand arts, of which we never heard, are continually labouring
for their convenience and pleasure; and whatever their own climate has denied
them is supplied by their commerce.«
    »By what means, said the prince, are the Europeans thus powerful? or why,
since they can so easily visit Asia and Africa for trade or conquest, cannot the
Asiaticks and Africans invade their coasts, plant colonies in their ports, and
give laws to their natural princes? The same wind that carries them back would
bring us thither.«
    »They are more powerful, Sir, than we, answered Imlac, because 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 center 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,
