Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 5. Сэмюэл Ричардсон

despicable worthlessness.

      O Lovelace! what then was the triumph, even in my eye, and what is it still upon reflection, of true jest, laughing impertinence, and an obscenity so shameful, even to the guilty, that they cannot hint at it but under a double meaning!

      Then, as thou hast somewhere observed,15 all her correctives avowed by her eye. Not poorly, like the generality of her sex, affecting ignorance of meanings too obvious to be concealed; but so resenting, as to show each impudent laugher the offence given to, and taken by a purity, that had mistaken its way, when it fell into such company.

      Such is the woman, such is the angel, whom thou hast betrayed into thy power, and wouldst deceive and ruin.—-Sweet creature! did she but know how she is surrounded, (as I then thought, as well as now think,) and what is intended, how much sooner would death be her choice, than so dreadful a situation!—'And how effectually would her story, were it generally known, warn all the sex against throwing themselves into the power of ours, let our vows, oaths, and protestations, be what they will!'

      1

      See Vol. IV. Letter XXIX.

      2

      Ibid. Letter XLII.

      3

      See Vol. IV. Letter XXXIV.

      4

      See Vol. I. Letter XII.

      5

      See Vol. IV. Letter XIX, & seq.

      6

      See Vol. IV. Letters XXIII and XXIX.

      7

      See Vol. IV. Letter L.

      8

      See Vol. IV. Letter XIX. See also Mr. Lovelace's own confession of the delight he takes in a woman's tears, in different parts of his letters.

1

See Vol. IV. Letter XXIX.

2

Ibid. Letter XLII.

3

See Vol. IV. Letter XXXIV.

4

See Vol. I. Letter XII.

5

See Vol. IV. Letter XIX, & seq.

6

See Vol. IV. Letters XXIII and XXIX.

7

See Vol. IV. Letter L.

8

See Vol. IV. Letter XIX. See also Mr. Lovelace's own confession of the delight he takes in a woman's tears, in different parts of his letters.

9

That the Lady judges rightly of him in this place, see Vol. I. Letter XXXIV. where, giving the motive for his generosity to his Rosebud, he says—'As I make it my rule, whenever I have committed a very capital enormity, to do some good by way of atonement; and as I believe I am a pretty deal indebted on that score; I intend to join an hundred pounds to Johnny's aunt's hundred pounds, to make one innocent couple happy.'— Besides which motive, he had a further view in answer in that instance of his generosity; as may be seen in Vol. II. Letters XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. See also the note, Vol. II. pp. 170, 171.

10

See Vol. IV. Letter V.

11

As this letter of the Lady to Miss Howe contains no new matter, but what may be collected from one of those of Mr. Lovelace, it is omitted.

12

See Vol. I. Letter XXXI.

13

In Pamela, Vol. III. Letter XXXII. these reasons are given, and are worthy of every parent's consideration, as is the whole Letter, which contains the debate between Mr. B. and his Pamela, on the important subject of mothers being nurses to their own children.

14

See Vol. IV. Letter VII.

15

See Vol. IV. Letter XLVIII.

15

See Vol. IV. Letter XLVIII.