Pagina 436 di 483

The triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my

labours. One inscription that he left was in these words:

"Prepare! Your toils only begin; wrap yourself in furs and

provide food, for we shall soon enter upon a journey where your

sufferings will satisfy my everlasting hatred."

My courage and perseverance were invigorated by these scoffing

words; I resolved not to fail in my purpose, and calling on

Heaven to support me, I continued with unabated fervour to

traverse immense deserts, until the ocean appeared at a distance

and formed the utmost boundary of the horizon. Oh! How unlike it

was to the blue seasons of the south! Covered with ice, it was

only to be distinguished from land by its superior wildness and

ruggedness. The Greeks wept for joy when they beheld the

Mediterranean from the hills of Asia, and hailed with rapture the

boundary of their toils. I did not weep, but I knelt down and

with a full heart thanked my guiding spirit for conducting me in

safety to the place where I hoped, notwithstanding my adversary's

gibe, to meet and grapple with him.