PAUL AND VIRGINIA. 2^ 



of rain. At a diftance, I thought flie had been 

 alone ; and having advanced, in order to aflifl her, 

 I perceived that (lie held Paul by the arm, who 

 was aUnoft enveloped in the fame covering ; both 

 of them, delighted at finding themfelves (heltered 

 together under an umbrella of their own invention. 

 Thefe two charming heads, wrapt up in the fwel- 

 ling petticoat, reminded me of the children of 

 Leda, enclofed in the fame (hell. 



All their ftudy was to pleafe, and to affift each 

 other; in every other refpeft, they were as igno- 

 rant as Creoles, and neither knew how to read or 

 write. They did not difturb themfelves about 

 what had happened in former times, and at a dif- 

 tance from them ; their curiofity did not extend 

 beyond that mountain. They believed that the 

 World ended at the extremity of their illand, and 

 they could not form an idea of any thing beautiful 

 where they were not. Their mutual affeftion, and 

 that of their mothers, engaged every feeling of 

 their hearts : never had ufelefs fcience caufed their 

 tears to flow : never had the leflbns of a gloom>y 

 morality oppreffed them with languor. They 

 knew not that it was unlawful to fleal, every thing 

 with them being in common ; nor to be intempe- 

 rate, having always at command, plenty of Ample 

 food ; nor to utter falfehood, having no truths that 

 it was neceflary to conceal. They had never been 



c 4 terrified 



