the calm Retirement of a rural Life. Nor was the latter productive of any more Comfort than the former Stations. In fhort, being disappointed, and finding Happiness in no one Condition, he fought the Hermit a fecond Time, to complain of his Fate, and claim the Promise he had received before the Beginning of his Adventures. ABUDAH feeing his Difciple return again after the stated Time, ftill discontented, took him by the Hand, and smiling upon him with an Air of gentle Reproof, "ACHMET, faid he, "ceafe to blame the Fates for the Un"eafinefs which arifes alone from thy "own Breaft; behold, fince thou haft "performed the Task I enjoined in order "to make thee more capable of follow"ing my future Inftructions, I will un"fold to thee the grand Mystery of Wis"dom, by which the leads her Votaries "to Happiness. See (faid he, pointing "to a River in which feveral young "Swans were eagerly fwimming after "their own Shadows in the Stream) "thofe filly Birds imitate Mankind; they " are are in Purfuit of that which their own Motion puts to flight; behold "others that have tired themselves with "their unneceffary Labour, and fitting ftill, are in Poffeffion of what their utmost "Endeavours could never have accomplished. Thus, my Son, Happiness is "the Shadow of Contentment, and rests, or moves for ever with it's Original. FINIS. |