I now began to consider seriously my condition, and the circumstances I was reduced to; and I drew up the state of my affairs in writing, not so much to leave them to any that were to come after me-for I was likely to have but few heirs-as to deliver my thoughts from daily poring over them, and afflicting my mind; and as my reason began now to master my despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish my case from worse; and I stated very impartially, like debtor and creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered, thus:
Evil
+ I am cast upon a horrible, desolate island, void of all hope of recovery.
Good
* But I am alive; and not drowned, as all my ship's company were.
Evil
+ I am singled out and separated, as it were, from all the world, to be miserable.
Good
* But I am singled out, too, from all the ship's crew, to be spared from death; and He that miraculously saved me from death can deliver me from this condition.
Evil
+ I am divided from mankind-a solitaire; one banished from human society.
Good
* But I am not starved, and perishing on a barren place, affording no sustenance.
Evil
+ I have no clothes to cover me.
Good
* But I am in a hot climate, where, if I had clothes, I could hardly wear them.
Evil
+ I am without any defence, or means to resist any violence of man or beast.
Good
* But I am cast on an island where I see no wild beasts to hurt me, as I saw on the coast of Africa; and what if I had been shipwrecked there?
Evil
+ I have no soul to speak to or relieve me.
Good
* But God wonderfully sent the ship in near enough to the shore, that I have got out as many necessary things as will either supply my wants or enable me to supply myself, even as long as I live.
Evil
+ I am cast upon a horrible, desolate island, void of all hope of recovery.
Good
* But I am alive; and not drowned, as all my ship's company were.
Evil
+ I am singled out and separated, as it were, from all the world, to be miserable.
Good
* But I am singled out, too, from all the ship's crew, to be spared from death; and He that miraculously saved me from death can deliver me from this condition.
Evil
+ I am divided from mankind-a solitaire; one banished from human society.
Good
* But I am not starved, and perishing on a barren place, affording no sustenance.
Evil
+ I have no clothes to cover me.
Good
* But I am in a hot climate, where, if I had clothes, I could hardly wear them.
Evil
+ I am without any defence, or means to resist any violence of man or beast.
Good
* But I am cast on an island where I see no wild beasts to hurt me, as I saw on the coast of Africa; and what if I had been shipwrecked there?
Evil
+ I have no soul to speak to or relieve me.
Good
* But God wonderfully sent the ship in near enough to the shore, that I have got out as many necessary things as will either supply my wants or enable me to supply myself, even as long as I live.
