The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia

The astronomer, sensing Imlac’s doubt, continued explaining his claim of controlling the weather. He acknowledged the difficulty of believing such a claim and viewed it as both a reward and a burden, causing more misery than happiness. He recounted how his observations of the sky led him to fantasize about manipulating the weather for humanity’s benefit. This fantasy became an obsession, and a coincidental rain during a hot day convinced him of his power. Nevertheless, he continued to grapple with the possibility of coincidence. He explained that he had therefore confided in Imlac due to Imlac’s capacity to understand the distinction between plausible and fantastical. The astronomer admitted he had no external proof and said that his personal conviction alone was insufficient. He revealed his concern over appointing a successor, believing Imlac was the most suitable person to inherit this tremendous responsibility.

The astronomer emphasized the complexity of altering the Earth’s and Sun’s positions, highlighting that each change benefited one region at the expense of another. He cautioned against using this power for personal gain or regional favoritism. The astronomer entrusted Imlac with this power, believing in his integrity and wisdom.