Робінзон Крузо
Tames Goats
Ihadnowhadenoughoframblingtoseaforsometime,andhadenoughtodoformanydaystositstillandreflectuponthedangerIhadbeenin. Iwouldhavebeenverygladtohavehadmyboatagainonmysideoftheisland;butIknewnothowitwaspracticabletogetitabout. Astotheeastsideoftheisland,whichIhadgoneround,Iknewwellenoughtherewasnoventuringthatway; myveryheartwouldshrinkandmyverybloodrunchill,buttothinkofit. Andastotheothersideoftheisland,Ididnotknowhowitmightbethere; butsupposingthecurrentranwiththesameforceagainsttheshoreattheeastasitpassedbyitontheother,Imightrunthesamerisksofbeingdrivendownthestream,andcarriedbytheisland,asIhadbeenbeforeofbeingcarriedawayfromit. So,withthesethoughts,Icontentedmyselftobewithoutanyboat,thoughithadbeentheproductofsomanymonths’labortomakeit,andofsomanymoretogetitintothesea.
InthisgovernmentofmytemperIremainednearayear,livedaverysedate,retiredlife,asyoumaywellsuppose; andmythoughtsbeingverymuchcomposedastomycondition,andfullycomfortedinresigningmyselftothedispositionsofProvidence,IthoughtIlivedreallyveryhappilyinallthings,exceptthatofsociety.
Iimprovedmyselfinthistimeinallthemechanicexerciseswhichmynecessitiesputmeuponapplyingmyselfto,andIbelievecould,uponoccasion,makeaverygoodcarpenter,especiallyconsideringhowfewtoolsIhad. Besidesthis,Iarrivedatanunexpectedperfectioninmyearthenware,andcontrivedwellenoughtomakethemwithawheel,whichIfoundinfinitelyeasierandbetter,becauseImadethingsroundandshapablewhichbeforewerefilthythingsindeedtolookon.
