"
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 he began. Some faults were almost general among
them: 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.
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