paul and virginia. i45 



The Old Man. 

 ** My Ton, you who fupport your parents by the 

 ** labour of your hands, have no occafion for a de- 

 '' finition of it. Virtue is an effort made upon 

 " ourfelves, for the good of others, in the view of 

 " pleafing God only.'* 



Paul. 



** Oh, how virtuous then is Virginia ! Virtue 

 " was her aim, when fhe wi(hed to become rich, 

 ** in order that fhe might exercife beneficence; 

 ** virtue made her leave this ifland, and virtue will 

 '* reftore her to us.'* The idea of her fpeedy re- 

 turn, kindling the young man's imagination, all 

 his difquietude vanifhed in an inftant. Virginia 

 had not written, becaufe fhe was on the point of 

 returning in perfon : fo little time was neceflary to 

 return from Europe, with a fair wind. He enu- 

 merated inftances of vefTels, which had made this 

 voyage, of more than four thoufand five hundred 

 leagues, in lefs than three months. The vefî'el in 

 which (he had embarked would not take more 

 than two. The builders of the prefect day were fo 

 fkilful, and the mariners fo alert. He talked of the 

 arrangements which he would make for her recep- 

 tion ; of the new habitation which he intended to 

 build ; and of the pleafures and the agreeable fur- 

 prize which he would contrive for her every day, 

 when fhe became his wife; his wife The idea 



VOL. v. l ravilhed 



