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The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

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The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia (1759)
Samuel Johnson

This work, often abbreviated to Rasselas, is a 1759 novella, originally published anonymously in two volumes, of which this is a transcription. In it, Rasselas leaves his home in company with his sister, Nekayah, and a philosopher, Imlac, to seek adventure. His observation of other kinds of people eventually leads to the conclusion that there is no easy path to happiness.

In the second volume, most of the chapters are misnumbered. The first three (chapters 26-28) are correct, but Chapter 29 is incorrectly numbered 28, and chapter numbers from there on are one out. This error occurs in both the table of contents and the chapter headings.

82835The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia1759Samuel Johnson

THE

PRINCE

OF

ABISSINIA.

A

TALE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.



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


This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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