9
meaner creature! then should I be below the cruel persecutions of fate. But man who was created in the noblest form, endued with reason and understanding, animated with an immortal soul, must be aimed at as the only mark worthy its malignant darts! but why do I thus rave at those evils we are the authors of? Had man continued in his original state of innocence, the very name of fate or fortune would not have been known. Well, since this is the product of sin, I accept this black lot as justly coming to my share: and humbly submitting to Heaven’s decree, I thankfully take this dream as a timely warning; and in imitation of those creatures represented in it, I will provide what shelter I can against bad weather comes.
Accordingly, first he begins to think of making himself an house to preserve him from the injuries of the weather; but having nothing to make it of, nor any instrument but a knife, which could be of little service to him, he resolves to go to that part of the rocks where he was shipwrecked, to see if he could discover any thing among the wreck that might be serviceable to him; and therefore takes the branch of a tree along with him, and coming to the place, he strips himself and goes into the water (the water being low, discovering the tops of several sharp-pointed rocks,) and gropes along with his staff for sure footing, wading as high as his chin, diving to the bottom frequently, and feeling about with his hands. This he continued doing for almost two hours; but to no purpose, not daring to go out of his depth: for he well knew, that he could do little good there, because he could discover no part of the ship, not so much as the mast or any of
