Any one would think that in this state of complicated good fortune I was past running any more hazards—and so, indeed, I had been, if other circumstances had concurred; but I was inured to a wandering life, had no family, nor many relations; nor, however rich, had I contracted fresh acquaintance; and though I had sold my estate in the Brazils, yet I could not keep that country out of my head, and had a great mind to be upon the wing again; especially I could not resist the strong inclination I had to see my island, and to know if the poor Spaniards were in being there.
Men zou denken, dat ik in een toestand, zoo gezegend in alle opzigten, buiten alle gevaren was, en dit zou ook zoo geweest zijn als ik niet tot een zwervend leven bestemd was geweest. Ik had vrouw noch kinderen, weinig bloedverwanten, en hoezeer rijk, weinig bekenden, en schoon ik mijne plantaadje verkocht had, lag Brazilië mij nog altijd in het hoofd.