Робинзон Крузо
Surveys His Position
IgavehumbleandheartythanksthatGodhadbeenpleasedtodiscovertomeeventhatitwaspossibleImightbemorehappyinthissolitarycondition,thanIshouldhavebeeninalibertyofsociety,andinallthepleasuresoftheworld; thatHecouldfullymakeuptomethedeficiencesofmysolitarystate,andthewantofhumansociety,byHispresence, andthecommunicationofHisgracetomysoul,supporting,comforting,andencouragingmetodependuponHisprovidencehere,andhopeforHiseternalpresencehereafter.
ItwasnowthatIbegansensiblytofeelhowmuchmorehappythislifeInowledwas,withallitsmiserablecircumstances,thanthewicked,cursed,abominablelifeIledallthepastpartofmydays. AndnowIchangedbothmysorrowsandmyjoys; myverydesiresaltered,myaffectionschangedtheirgusts,andmydelightswereperfectIynewfromwhattheywereatmyfirstcoming,orindeedforthetwoyearspast.
Before,asIwalkedabout,eitheronmyhunting,orforviewingthecountry,theanguishofmysoulatmyconditionwouldbreakoutuponmeonasudden,andmyveryheartwoulddiewithinme,tothinkofthewoods, themountains,thedesertsIwasin,andhowIwasaprisoner,lockedupwiththeeternalbarsandboltsoftheocean,inanuninhibitedwilderness,withoutredemption. Inthemidstofthegreatestcomposuresofmymind,thiswouldbreakoutuponmelikeastorm,andmakemewringmyhandsandweeplikeachild. Sometimesitwouldtakemeinthemiddleofmywork,andIwouldimmediatelysitdownandsigh,andlookuponthegroundforanhourortwotogether; andthiswasstillworsetome,forifIcouldburstoutintotears,orventmyselfbywords,itwouldgooff,andthegrief,havingexhausteditself,wouldabate.
