Робинзон Крузо
A Dream Realised
forhadthatProvidence,whichsohappilyhadseatedmeattheBrazilsasaplanter,blessedmewithconfineddesires,andIcouldhavebeencontentedtohavegoneongradually,Imighthavebeen,bythistime,Imeaninthetimeofmybeinginthisisland,oneofthemostconsiderableplantersinthebrazils; nay,IampersuadedthatbytheimprovementsIhadmadeinthatlittletimeIlivedthere,andtheincreaseIshouldprobablyhavemadeifIhadstayed,Imighthavebeenworthahundredthousandmoidores. AndwhatbusinesshadItoleaveasettlefortune,awell-stockedplantation,improvingandincreasing,toturnsupercargotoGuineatofetchnegroes,whenpatienceandtimewouldsohaveincreasedourstockathome,thatwecouldhaveboughtthematourowndoorfromthosewhosebusinessitwastofetchthem; andthoughithadcostussomethingmore,yetthedifferenceofthatpricewasbynomeansworthsavingatsogreatahazard.
Butasthisisordinarilythefateofyournheads,soreflectionuponthefollyofitisasordinarilytheexerciseofmoreyears,orthedear-boughtexperienceoftime; andsoitwaswithmenow. Andyet,sodeephadthemistaketakenrootinmytemper,thatIcouldnotsatisfymyselfinmystation,butwascontinuallyporinguponthemeansandpossibilityofmyescapefromthisplace. AndthatImay,withthegreaterpleasuretothereader,bringontheremainingpartofmystory,itmaynotbeimpropertogivesomeaccountofmyfirstconceptionsonthesubjectofthisfoolishschemeformyescape,andhowanduponwhatfoundationIacted.
Iamnowtobesupposedretiredintomycastle,aftermylatevoyagetothewreck,myfrigatelaidupandsecuredunderwater,asusual,andmyconditionrestoredtowhatitwasbefore. Ihadmorewealth,indeed,thatIhadbefore,butwasnotatallthericher; forIhadnomoreuseforitthantheIndiansofPeruhadbeforetheSpaniardscamethere.
