Робинзон Крузо
A Boat
InthemiddleofthisworkIfinishedmyfourthyearinthisplace,andkeptmyanniversarywiththesamedevotion,andwithasmuchcomfortaseverbefore; for,byaconstantstudyandseriousapplicationoftheWordofGod,andbytheassistanceofHisgrace,IgainedadifferentknowledgefromwhatIhadbefore. Ientertaineddifferentnotionsofthings. Ilookednowupontheworldasathingremote,whichIhadnothingtodowith,noexpectationfrom,and,indeed,nodesiresabout. Inaword,Ihadnothingindeedtodowithit,norwaseverliketohave; soIthoughtitlooked,aswemayperhapslookuponithereafter,viz.,asaplaceIhadlivedin,butwascomeoutofit; andwellmightIsay,asfatherAbrahamtoDives, "Betweenmeandtheeisagreatgulffixed."
Inthefirstplace,Iwasremovedfromallthewickednessoftheworldhere. Ihadneitherthelustoftheflesh,thelustoftheeye,ortheprideoflife. Ihadnothingtocovet,forIhadallthatIwasnowcapableofenjoying. Iwaslordofthewholemanor;or,ifIpleased,ImightcallmyselfkingoremperoroverthewholecountrywhichIhadpossessionof. Therewerenorivals:Ihadnocompetitor,nonetodisputesovereigntyorcommandwithme. Imighthaveraisedship-loadingsofcorn,butIhadnouseforit; soIletaslittlegrowasIthoughtenoughformyoccasion. Ihadtortoiseorturtlesenough,butnowandthenonewasasmuchasIcouldputtoanyuse. Ihadtimberenoughtohavebuiltafleetofships. Ihadgrapesenoughtohavemadewine,ortohavecuredintoraisins,tohaveloadedthatfleetwhentheyhadbeenbuilt.
ButallIcouldmakeuseofwasallthatwasvaluable. Ihadenoughtoeatandtosupplymywants,andwhatwasalltheresttome? IfIkilledmorefleshthanIcouldeat,thedogmusteatit,orthevermin.IfIsowedmorecornthanIcouldeat,itmustbespoiled. ThetreesthatIcutdownwerelyingtorotontheground; Icouldmakenomoreuseofthemthanforfuel,andthatIhadnooccasionforbuttodressmyfood.
