Робінзон Крузо
A Cave Retreat
So,withoutanyfartherdelay,Iremovedoftenyoungshe-goatsandtwohe-goatstothispiece. Andwhentheywerethere,Icontinuedtoperfectthefence,tillIhadmadeitassecureastheother,which,however,Ididatmoreleisure,andittookmeupmoretimebyagreatdeal.
AllthislaborIwasattheexpenseof,purelyfrommyapprehensionsontheaccountoftheprintofaman’sfootwhichIhadseen;for,asyet,Ineversawanyhumancreaturecomeneartheisland. AndIhadnowlivedtwoyearsundertheseuneasinesses,which,indeed,mademylifemuchlesscomfortablethanitwasbefore,asmaywellbeimaginedbyanywhoknowwhatitistoliveintheconstantsnareofthefearofman. AndthisImustobserve,withgrief,too,thatthediscomposureofmymindhadtoogreatimpressionsalsouponthereligiouspartofmythoughts; forthedreadandterroroffallingintothehandsofsavagesandcannibalslaysouponmyspirits,thatIseldomfoundmyselfinaduetemperforapplicationtomyMaker,atleastnotwiththesedatecalmnessandresignationofsoulwhichIwaswonttodo. IratherprayedtoGodasundergreatafflictionandpressureofmind,surroundedwithdanger,andinexpectationeverynightofbeingmurderedanddevouredbeforemorning; andImusttestifyfrommyexperience,thatatemperofpeace,thankfulness,love,andaffection,ismuchmoretheproperframeforprayerthanthatofterroranddiscomposure; andthatunderthedreadofmischiefimpending,amanisnomorefitforacomfortingperformanceofthedutyofprayingtoGodthanheisforrepentanceonasicklied. Forthesediscomposuresaffectthemind,astheothersdothebody; andthediscomposureofthemindmustnecessarilybeasgreatadisabilityasthatofthebody,andmuchgreater,prayingtoGodbeingproperlyanactofthemind,notofthebody.
