Робінзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
OtherwhilesIfanciedtheywereallgoneofftoseaintheirboat,andbeinghurriedawaybythecurrentthatIhadbeen-formerlyin,werecarriedoutintothegreatocean,wheretherewasnothingbutmiseryandperishingandthat,perhaps,theymightbythistimethinkofstarving,andofbeinginaconditiontoeatoneanother.
Allthesewerebutconjecturesatbest,so,intheconditionIwasin,Icouldnonomorethanlookonuponthemiseryofthepoormen,andpitythem; whichhadstillthisgoodeffectonmyside,thatitgavememoreandmorecausetogivethankstoGod,whohadsohappilyandcomfortablyprovidedformeinmydesolatecondition; andthatoftwoships’companieswhowerenowcastawayuponthispartoftheworld,notonelifeshouldbesparedbutmine. Ilearnedhereagaintoobserve,thatitisveryrarethattheprovidenceofGodcastsusintoanyconditionoflifesolow,oranymiserysogreat,butwemayseesomethingorothertobethankfulfor,andmayseeotherinworsecircumstancesthanourown.
Suchcertainlywasthecaseofthesemen,ofwhomIcouldnotsomuchasseeroomtosupposeanyofthemweresaved. Nothingcouldmakeitrationalsomuchastowishorexpectthattheydidnotallperishthere,exceptthepossibilityonlyoftheirbeingtakenupbyanothershipincompany; andthiswasbutmerepossibilityindeed,forIsawnottheleastsignalorappearanceofanysuchthing.
Icannotexplain,byanypossibleenergyofwords,whatastrangelongingorhankeringofdesires.
