Робінзон Крузо
A Dream Realised
no,norsomuchashowitwaspossibleformetoreachthecoast,andnotbeattemptedbysomeorotherofthem,withoutanypossibilityofdeliveringmyself; andifIshouldnotfallintotheirhands,whatIshoulddoforprovision,orwhitherIshouldbendmycourse. Noneofthesethoughts,Isay,somuchascameinmyway; butmymindwaswhollybentuponthenotionofmypassingoverinmyboattothemainland. Ilookedbackuponmypresentconditionasthemostmiserablethatcouldpossiblybe;thatIwasnotabletothrowmyselfintoanything,butdeath,thatcouldbecalledworse; thatifIreachedtheshoreofthemain,Imightperhapsmeetwithrelief,orImightcoastalong,asIdidontheshoreofAfrica,tillIcametosomeinhabitedcountry,andwhereImightfindsomeChristianshipthatmighttakemein; andiftheworsecametotheworst,Icouldbutdie,whichwouldputanendtoallthesemiseriesatonce. Praynote,allthiswasthefruitofadisturbedmind,animpatienttemper,made,asitwere,desperatebythelongcontinuanceofmytroubles,andthedisappointmentsIhadmetintheworkIhadbeenonboardof,andwhereIhadbeensoneartheobtainingwhatIsoearnestlylongedfor,viz., somebodytospeakto,andtolearnsomeknowledgefromtheplacewhereIwas,andoftheprobablemeansofmydeliverance. Isay,Iwasagitatedwhollybythesethoughts. Allmycalmofmind,inmyresignationtoProvidence,andwaitingtheissueofthedispositionsofHeaven,seemedtobesuspended; andIhad,asitwere,nopowertoturnmythoughtstoanythingbuttotheprojectofavoyagetothemain,whichcameuponmewithsuchforce,andsuchanimpetuosityofdesire,thatitwasnottoberesisted.
