22
Such philosophic reflections, the memory of my lover, and the hope the fairy might be deceived, without her discovering the deceit, made me support my solitude with great patience for some hours: but my admiration of my vast prison soon cooled; disgust succeeded enthusiasm; the majestic immensity of eternal verdure, which had so much surprised me, became insipid, monotonous, and tiresome, and I had nothing to divert my attention hut an unfortunate passion.
Even the remembrance of this passion was insensibly effaced; my lifeless fancy lost all strength of colouririg; my thoughts became vague; my reveries languid; all illusions left me; love fled my solitude, and I found myself alone in the vast world.
When reason dissipates dangerous errors, victory brings ease, and we are happy, no doubt; but though it is glorious and flattering to vanquish our passions, it is shocking to feel them quitting us. and annihilating themselves, because the fire of imagination becomes extinct, and the heart withers. Yet how avoid