Робінзон Крузо
First Weeks on the Island
Thepilesorstakes,whichwereasheavyasIcouldwelllift,werealongtimeincuttingandpreparinginthewoods,andmorebyfarinbringinghome; sothatIspentsometimestwodaysincuttingandbringinghomeoneofthoseposts,andathirddayindrivingitintotheground; forwhichpurposeIgotaheavypieceofwoodatfirst,butatlastbethoughtmyselfofoneoftheironcrows,which,however,thoughIfoundit,yetitmadedrivingthosepostsorpilesverylaboriousandtediouswork.
ButwhatneedIhavebeenconcernedatthetediousnessofanythingIhadtodo,seeingIhadtimeenoughtodoitin? NorhadIanyotheremployment,ifthathadbeenover,atleastthatIcouldforesee,excepttherangingtheislandtoseekforfood,whichIdidmoreorlesseveryday.
Inowbegantoconsiderseriouslymycondition,andthecircumstanceIwasreducedto;andIdrewupthestateofmyaffairsinwriting; notsomuchtoleavethemtoanythatweretocomeafterme,forIwasliketohavebutfewheirs,astodelivermythoughtsfromdailyporinguponthem;andafflictingmymind. Andasmyreasonbegannowtomastermydespondency,IbegantocomfortmyselfaswellasIcould,andtosetthegoodagainsttheevil,thatImighthavesomethingtodistinguishmycasefromworse; andIstateditveryimpartially,likeadebtorandcreditor,thecomfortsIenjoyedagainstthemiseriesIsuffered,thus:
Evil:Iamcastuponahorribledesolateisland,voidofallhopeofrecovery.
Good:ButIamalive,andnotdrowned,asallmyship’scompanywas.
Evil:Iamsingledoutandseparated,asitwere,fromalltheworldtobemiserable.
