The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

by Samuel Johnson

THE

 

PRINCE

 

OF

 

ABISSINIA.

 

A

 

TALE.

 

IN TWO VOLUMES.

 

VOL. I.

 

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LONDON:

Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall;
and W. Johnston, in Ludgate-Street.

MDCCLIX.

Volume 1

CONTENTS

OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.

CHAP. I.
DESCRIPTION of a palace in a valley		page 1
CHAP. II.
The discontent of Rasselas in the happy valley		9
CHAP. III.
The wants of him that wants nothing		16
CHAP. IV.
The prince continues to grieve and muse		20
CHAP. V.
The prince meditates his escape		30
CHAP. VI.
A dissertation on the art of flying		33
CHAP. VII.
The prince finds a man of learning		43
CHAP. VIII.
The history of Imlac		46
CHAP. IX.
The history of Imlac continued		56
CHAP. X.
Imlac's history continued. A dissertation upon poetry		64
CHAP. XI.
Imlac's narrative continued. A hint on pilgrimage		71
CHAP. XII.
The story of Imlac continued		80
CHAP. XIII.
Rasselas discovers the means of escape		91
CHAP. XIV.
Rasselas and Imlac receive an unexpected visit		97
CHAP. XV.
The prince and princess leave the valley, and see many wonders		101
CHAP. XVI.
They enter Cairo, and find every man happy		106
CHAP. XVII.
The prince associates with young men of spirit and gaiety		115
CHAP. XVIII.
The prince finds a wife and happy man		119
CHAP. XIX.
A glimpse of pastoral life		126
CHAP. XX.
The dagger of prosperity		129
CHAP. XXI.
The happiness of solitude. The hermit's history		134
CHAP. XXII.
The happiness of a life led according to nature		141
CHAP. XXIII.
The prince and his sister divide between them the work of observation		148
CHAP. XXIV.
The prince examines the happiness of high stations		150
CHAP. XXV.
The princess persues her enquiry with more diligence than success		154

Volume 2

CONTENTS

OF THE

SECOND VOLUME.

CHAP. XXVI.
THE princess continues her remarks upon private life		page 1
CHAP. XXVII.
Disquisition upon greatness		8
CHAP. XXVIII.
Rasselas and Nekayah continue their conversation		14
CHAP. XXVIII.
The debate on marriage continued		21
CHAP. XXIX.
Imlac enters, and changes the conversation		31
CHAP. XXX.
They visit the pyramids		38
CHAP. XXXI.
They enter the pyramid		44
CHAP. XXXII.
The princess meets with an unexpected misfortune		47
CHAP. XXXIII.
They return to Cairo without Pekuah		50
CHAP. XXXIV.
The princess continues to lament Pekuah		58
CHAP. XXXV.
Pekuah is still remembered by the princess		67
CHAP. XXXVI.
The princess hears news of Pekuah		70
CHAP. XXXVII.
The adventures of the lady Pekuah		74
CHAP. XXXVIII.
The adventures of Pekuah continued		84
CHAP. XXXIX.
The history of a man of learning		98
CHAP. XL.
The astronomer discovers the cause of his uneasiness		104
CHAP. XLI.
The astronomer justifies his account of himself		107
CHAP. XLII.
The astronomer leaves Imlac his directions		112
CHAP. XLIII.
The dangerous prevalence of imagination		116
CHAP. XLIV.
They discourse with an old man		122
CHAP. XLV.
The princess and Pekuah visit the astronomer		130
CHAP. XLVI.
The prince enters, and brings a new topick.		144
CHAP. XLVII.
Imlac discourses on the nature of the soul		153
CHAP. XLVIII.
The conclusion, in which nothing is concluded.		163