ceptibly to take the straight road home, when, on a sudden, he seemed to awake as from an unpleasant dream, and became aware of the direction he had taken.
He immediately stopt to consider whether he should go on, or return. Shame and confusion overwhelmed him, when he reflected that he should live like a beggar in his native city, be branded with contempt, and should have to depend upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens, whom he once surpassed in wealth and ostentation. And how could he think of appearing before Mela in this miserable condition? she would die with shame, and he would be sure to lose her for ever. He did not allow his imagination to finish this melancholy picture; but turned about, and hurried away as if he had already reached the gates of Bremen, and saw the mob ready to greet him with scorn and mockery.
Instantly, he resolved he would try to reach one of the Dutch sea-ports, would enter on board a Spanish ship as a sailor, go to the new world, and not return to his own country, till
