Робінзон Крузо
Wrecked on a desert island
Butasabusedprosperityisoftentimesmadetheverymeansofourgreatestadversity,sowasitwithme. Iwentonthenextyearwithgreatsuccessinmyplantation. Iraisedfiftygreatrollsoftobaccoonmyownground,morethanIhaddisposedoffornecessariesamongmyneighbors; andthesefiftyrolls,beingeachofahundredweight,werewellcured,andlaidbyagainstthereturnofthefleetfromLisbon. Andnow,increasinginbusinessandinwealth,myheadbegantobefullofprojectsandundertakingsbeyondmyreach,suchasare,indeed,oftentheruinofthebestheadsinbusiness.
HadIcontinuedinthestationIwasnowin,Ihadroomforallthehappythingstohaveyetbefallenmeforwhichmyfathersoearnestlyrecommendedaquiet,retiredlife,andofwhichhehadsosensiblydescribedthemiddlestationoflifetobefullof. Butotherthingsattendedme,andIwasstilltobethewillfulagentofallmyownmiseries; andparticularlytoincreasemyfaultanddoublethereflectionsuponmyself,whichinmyfuturesorrowsIshouldhaveleisuretomake. Allthesemiscarriageswereprocuredbymyapparentobstinateadheringtomyfoolishinclinationofwanderingabroad,andpursuingthatinclinationincontradictiontotheclearestviewsofdoingmyselfgoodinafairandplainpursuitofthoseprospects,andthosemeasuresoflife,whichNatureandProvidenceconcurredtopresentmewith,andtomakemyduty.
AsIhadoncedonethusinmybreakingawayfrommyparents,soIcouldnotbecontentnow, butImustgoandleavethehappyviewIhadofbeingarichandthrivingmaninmynewplantation,onlytopursuearashandimmoderatedesireofrisingfasterthanthenatureofthethingadmitted; andthusIcastmyselfdownagainintothedeepestgulfofhumanmiserythatevermanfellinto,orperhapscouldbeconsistentwithlifeandastateofhealthintheworld.
