Clarissa or the History of a Young Lady, Volume 8

8/14/2019 Clarissa or the History of a Young Lady, Volume 8

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Clarissa, Or The History Of A YoungLay,!olu"e #, by $a"uel %icharson

This eBook is for the use of anyone any&here at no cost an &ithal"ost no restrictions &hatsoe'er( You "ay co)y it, gi'e it a&ay or

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Title+ Clarissa, Or The History Of A Young Lay, !olu"e #

Author+ $a"uel %icharson

%elease ate+ A)ril -., -//0 1EBook 23-3#/4

Language+ English

Character set encoing+ A$C55

666 $TA%T O7 TH5$ P%O8ECT G9TE:BE%G EBOO; CLA%5$$A, !OL( # 666

Prouce by 8ulie C( $)arks(

CLA%5$$A HA%LO


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A letter "ore taunting an re)roachful than that of her other uncle(To&hat o&ing(

LETTE% 5!( Clarissa( 5n ans&er(**


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LETTE% ?5( Belfor to Clarissa(**AcDuaints her &ith the obligation he is uner to go to Belton, anlestshe shoul be sur)rise &ith Lo'elace>s resolution as signifie inthe

ne@t letter to 'isit her(

LETTE% ?55( Lo'elace to Belfor(**%esol'es to thro& hi"self at the lay>s feet( Lor =( of o)inionthatshe ought to a"it of one inter'ie&(

LETTE% ?555( 7ro" the sa"e(**Arri'e in Lonon, he fins the lay gone abroa( $us)ects Belfor(Hisunaccountable freaks at $"ith>s( His "oti'es for beha'ing soluicrouslythere( The 'ile $ally =artin entertains hi" &ith her "i"icry of the

i'ine lay(

LETTE% ?5!( 7ro" the sa"e(**His frightful rea"( Ho& affecte by it( $lee)ing or &aking, hisClarissa al&ays )resent &ith hi"( Hears she is returne to herlogings(5s hastening to her(

LETTE% ?!( 7ro" the sa"e(**isa))ointe again( 5s affecte by =rs( Lo'ick>s e@)ostulations( 5ssho&n a "eitation on being hunte after by the ene"y of her soul, asitis entitle( His light co""ents u)on it( Lea'es &or that he

resol'esto see her( =akes se'eral other efforts for that )ur)ose(

LETTE% ?!5( Belfor to Lo'elace(**%e)roaches hi" that he has not ke)t his honour &ith hi"( 5n'eighsagainst, an se'erely censures hi" for his light beha'iour at$"ith>s(Belton>s terrors an es)onency( =o&bray>s i")enetrable beha'iour(

LETTE% ?!55( 7ro" the sa"e(**=o&bray>s i")atience to run fro" a ying Belton to a too*li'elyLo'elace(=o&bray abuses =r( Belton>s ser'ant in the language of a rake of theco""on class( %eflection on the bre'ity of life(

LETTE% ?!555( Lo'elace to Belfor(**%ecei'es a letter fro" Clarissa, &ritten by &ay of allegory to inucehi"to forbear hunting after her( Co)y of it( He takes it in a literalsense( E@ults u)on it(


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it( %eflections u)on the conuct of )lay*&riters &ith regarser'ants( He cannot account for the turn his Clarissa has taken inhisfa'our( Hints at one ho)eful cause of it( :o& "atri"ony see"s to beinhis )o&er, he has so"e retrograe "otions(

LETTE% ??5( Belfor to Lo'elace(**Continuation of his narrati'e of Belton>s last illness ani")atience(The )oor "an abuses the gentle"en of the faculty( Belfor censuresso"eof the" for their greeiness after fees( Belton ies( $eriousreflections on the occasion(

LETTE% ??55( Lo'elace to Belfor(**Ho)es Belton is ha))y an &hy( He is setting out for Berks(

LETTE% ??555( Belfor to Lo'elace(**

Attens the lay( $he is e@tre"ely ill, an recei'es the sacra"ent(Co")lains of the harasses his frien ha gi'en her( T&o ifferent)ersons fro" her relations, he su))oses inDuire after her( Heraffecting aress to the octor, a)othecary, an hi"self( is)osesofso"e "ore of her a))arel for a 'ery affecting )ur)ose(

LETTE% ??5!( r( Le&en to Clarissa(**s affecting ans&er(

LETTE% ??!555( ??5?( =rs( :orton to Clarissa(**Her uncle>s cruel letter to &hat o&ing( Colonel =oren resol'e on a'isit to Lo'elace(**=rs( Her'ey, in a )ri'ate con'ersation &ith her,accounts for, yet bla"es, the cruelty of her fa"ily( =iss ollyHer'ey&ishes to atten her(

LETTE% ???( Clarissa( 5n ans&er(**Thinks she has been treate &ith great rigour by her relations(E@)resses "ore &ar"th than usual on this subject( Yet soon checksherself( Grie'es that Colonel =oren resol'es on a 'isit toLo'elace(Touches u)on her sister>s taunting letter( %eDuests =rs( :orton>s)rayers for )atience an resignation(

LETTE% ???5( =iss Ho&e to Clarissa(**A))ro'es no& of her a))oint"ent of Belfor for an e@ecutor( A"ireshergreatness of "in in es)ising Lo'elace( E'ery boy she is &ithtaken&ith Hick"an yet she cannot hel) &antoning &ith the )o&er hisobseDuious


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lo'e gi'es her o'er hi"(

LETTE% ???55( ???555( Clarissa to =iss Ho&e(**5nstructi'e lessons an obser'ations on her treat"ent of Hick"an(**AcDuaints her &ith all that has ha))ene since her last( 7ears thatall

her allegorical letter is not strictly right( 5s force by illnesstobreak off( %esu"es( s affairs( The laye@tre"elyill( Thought to be near her en( Has a lo&*s)irite ay( %eco'ershers)irits an thinks herself abo'e this &orl( $he bes)eaks hercoffin(Confesses that her letter to Lo'elace &as allegorical only( Thelight in&hich Belfor behols her(

LETTE% ???!555( Belfor to Lo'elace(**An affecting con'ersation that )asse bet&een the lay an r( H($hetalks of eath, he says, an )re)ares for it, as if it &ere anoccurrenceas fa"iliar to her as ressing an unressing( s letter, &hich "isre)resents fro" creulity anofficiousness,rather than ill*&ill the lay>s conuct(

LETTE% ?L55( Belfor to Lo'elace(**E@)atiates on the baseness of eluing young creatures, &hoseconfiencehas been obtaine by oaths, 'o&s, )ro"ises( E'il of censoriousness(Peo)le ee"e goo too "uch aicte to it( esires to kno& &hat he"eans "y his riicule &ith regar to his char"ing cousin(

LETTE% ?L555( 7ro" the sa"e(**


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A )ro)er test of the )urity of &riting( The lay again "akes e@cusesforher allegorical letter( Her cal" beha'iour, an generous an usefulreflections, on his co""unicating to her Bran>s "isre)resentationsofher conuct(

LETTE% ?L5!( Colonel =oren to Clarissa(**Offers his assistance an ser'ice to "ake the best of &hat hasha))ene(A'ises her to "arry Lo'elace, as the only "eans to bring about ageneralreconciliation( Has no oubt of his resolution to o her justice(esires to kno& if she has(

LETTE% ?L!( Clarissa( 5n ans&er(

LETTE% ?L!5( Lo'elace to Belfor(**His reasonings an ra'ings on fining the lay>s letter to hi" only

anallegorical one( 5n the "ist of these, the natural gayety of hisheartruns hi" into riicule on Belfor( His luicrous i"age ra&n fro" a"onu"ent in


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the re"e"brance of his 'ile )lots(

LETTE% L5( Belfor to Lo'elace(**The lay ali'e, serene, an cal"( The "ore serene for ha'ingfinishe,signe, an seale her last &ill eferre till no& for reasons of

filialuty(

LETTE% L55( =iss Ho&e to Clarissa(**Pathetically la"ents the illness of her o&n "other, an of her earfrien( :o& all her )ertness to the for"er, she says, fly in herface($he lays o&n her )en an resu"es it, to tell her, &ith great joy,thather "other is better( $he has ha a 'isit for" her cousin =oren(s sight begins to fail her( $he blesses Go for theserenityshe enjoys( 5t is &hat, she says, she ha )raye for(


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a))arel( Co"forts the &o"en an hi" on their concern for her(Anotherletter brought her fro" Colonel =oren( The substance of it(Belfor&rites to hasten u) the Colonel( r( H( has also &ritten to herfather

an Bran to =r( 8ohn Harlo&e a letter recanting his officious one(

LETTE% L!555( r( H( to 8a"es Harlo&e, $enior, EsD(

LETTE% L5?( Co)y of =r( Belfor>s letter to Colonel =oren,to hasten hi" u)(

LETTE% L?( Lo'elace to Belfor(**He feels the tor"ents of the a"ne, in the re"orse that &rings hisheart, on looking back on his )ast actions by this lay( Gi'es hi"&hathe calls a faint )icture of his horrible uneasiness, riing u) ano&n,

e@)ecting the return of his ser'ant as soon as he ha is)atche hi"(s telling her that she "ay yetli'e t&o or three ays( eath fro" grief the slo&est of eaths( Hersole"n forgi'eness of Lo'elace, an )rayer for hi"( O&ns that onceshecoul ha'e lo'e hi"( Her generous concern for his future ha))iness(Belfor>s goo resolutions(

LETTE% L?!( =r( Bran to =r( 8ohn


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re)roaches( Curses his contri'ing genius, an his isbelief thattherecoul be such 'irtue in &o"an( The &orl ne'er sa& such an husbanas he&ill "ake, if she reco'er, an &ill be his(

LETTE% L?!555( Belfor to Lo'elace(**The lay>s )ious fra"e( The a))roaches of eath ho& su))ortable toheran &hy( $he has no reason, she says, to grie'e for any thing butthesorro& she has gi'en to her friens(

LETTE% L?5?( Lo'elace to Belfor(**:e'er )raye in his life, )ut all the years of it together, as he hasone for this fortnight( Has re)ente of all his baseness+ An &illnothing o Conjures hi" to sen hi" goo ne&s in his ne@t, as he&oulnot be ans&erable for conseDuences(

LETTE% L??( Belfor to Lo'elace(**$ole"n lea'e taken of her by the octor an a)othecary &ho tell hershe&ill harly see the ne@t night( The )leasure &ith &hich she recei'estheinti"ation( Ho& unlike )oor Belton>s beha'iour her>s A letter fro"=iss Ho&e( Co)y of it( $he cannot see to rea it( Her e@altee@)ressions on hearing it rea( Tries to &rite an ans&er to it butcannot( ictates to =rs( Lo'ick(


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subject, as 5 ho)e an cannot bear to a))rehen the contrary thatyou&ill still li'e "any, "any years(

=r( Hick"an, inee, s)eaks 'ery hanso"ely of =r( Belfor( But he,)oor

"an has not "uch )enetration(**5f he ha, he &oul harly think so&ellof "e as he oes(

5 ha'e a )articular o))ortunity of sening this by a frien of "yauntHar"an>s &ho is reay to set out for Lonon, an this occasions "yhurry, an is to return out of han( 5 e@)ect therefore, by hi" alarge)acket fro" you an ho)e an long for ne&s of your a"ene health+&hichHea'en grant to the )rayers of

Your e'er*affectionateA::A HO


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As =r( Belfor has transcribe for "e, in confience, fro" hisfrien>sletters, the )assages &hich acco")any this, 5 "ust insist that yousufferno soul but yourself to )eruse the" an that you return the" by the'ery

first o))ortunity that so no use "ay be "ae of the" that "ay ohurteither to the original &riter or to the co""unicator( You>ll obser'e5a" boun by )ro"ise to this care( 5f through "y "eans any "ischiefshoul arise, bet&een this hu"ane an that inhu"an libertine, 5shoulthink "yself utterly ine@cusable(

5 subjoin a list of the )a)ers or letters 5 shall enclose( You "ustreturn the" all &hen )eruse(6

6 3( A letter fro" =iss =ontague, ate ( ( ( ( Aug( 3( -( A co)y of "y ans&er ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Aug( ( ( =r( Belfor>s Letter to "e, &hich &ill sho& you &hat "y reDuest &as to hi", an his co")liance &ith it an the esire e@* tracts fro" his frien>s letters ( ( ( ( Aug( , 0( 0( A co)y of "y ans&er, &ith thanks an re* Duesting hi" to unertake the e@ecutor* shi) ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Aug( 0( J( =r( Belfor>s acce)tance of the trust ( ( Aug( 0( K( =iss =ontague>s letter, &ith a generous offer fro" Lor =( an the Laies of that fa"ily ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Aug( .(

.( =r( Lo'elace>s to "e ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Aug( .( #( Co)y of "ine to =iss =ontague, in ans&er to her>s of the ay before ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Aug( #( I( Co)y of "y ans&er to =r( Lo'elace ( ( ( ( Aug( 33(

You &ill see by these se'eral Letters, &ritten an recei'e in solittlea s)ace of ti"e to say nothing of &hat 5 ha'e recei'e an &ritten&hich5 cannot sho& you, ho& little o))ortunity or leisure 5 can ha'e for&riting "y o&n story(

5 a" 'ery "uch tire an fatigue**&ith**5 on>t kno& &hat**&ith&riting,5 think**but "ost &ith "yself, an &ith a situation 5 cannot hel)as)iring to get out of, an abo'e

O "y ear, the &orl &e li'e in is a sa, a 'ery sa &orl**** )rotecting &ings, &e kno& nothing at all of it(Book*learne an a scribbler, an looking at )eo)le as 5 sa& the" as'isiters or 'isiting, 5 thought 5 kne& a great eal of it( Pitiableignorance**Alas 5 kne& nothing at all


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CL( HA%LO


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boy but you belie'e &hat the rake &as+ but you &oul belie'enothingba of hi"**Ecclus( @lii( I, 3/, c(

:o& &ill you &ish you ha not &ritten )ertly( Your sister>sse'erities

**:e'er, girl, say that is se'ere that is eser'e( You kno& the"eaningof &ors( :o boy better(


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HO:O9%E $5%,

5 a" 'ery sorry for "y )ert letter to "y uncle Harlo&e( Yet 5 inot

inten it to be )ert( Peo)le ne& to "isfortune "ay be too easily"o'eto i")atience(

The fall of a regular )erson, no oubt, is reaful an ine@cusable(is like the sin of a)ostacy( A little ti"e, a "uch less ti"ethanis i"agine, &ill affor a "ore satisfactory ans&er to "y &holefa"ily,an e'en to "y brother an sister, than 5 can gi'e in &ors(>

:e'ertheless, be )lease to let it be re"e"bere, that 5 i not)etitionfor a restoration to fa'our( 5 coul not ho)e for that( :or yet tobe)ut in )ossession of any )art of "y o&n estate( :or e'en for "eansofnecessary subsistence fro" the )rouce of that estate**but only for ablessing for a last blessing

An this 5 &ill farther a, because it is true, that 5 ha'e no&ilful


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cri"e to charge against "yself+ no free li'ing at be an at boar,asyou )hrase it

s honour**An "ay you, "y ear uncle, an your no less no&thane'er ear brother, "y secon )a)a, as he use to bi "e call hi", beblesse an ha))y in the", an in each other**An, in orer to this,"ayyou all s)eeily banish fro" your re"e"brance, for e'er,

The unha))yCLA%5$$A HA%LO


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5 &ish, &ith all "y heart, that you coul, consistently &ith your o&nnotions of honour, yiel to the )ressing reDuests of all =r(Lo'elace>sfa"ily in his behalf( This, 5 think, &oul sto) e'ery "outh an, inti"e, reconcile e'ery boy to you( 7or your o&n friens &ill not

belie'ethat he is in earnest to "arry you an the hatre bet&een thefa"iliesis such, that they &ill not conescen to infor" the"sel'es betternor&oul belie'e hi", if he &ere e'er so sole"nly to a'o& that he is(

5 shoul be 'ery gla to ha'e in reainess, u)on occasion, so"e brief)articulars of your sa story uner your o&n han( But let "e tellyou,at the sa"e ti"e, that no "isre)resentations, nor e'en your o&nconfession, shall lessen "y o)inion either of your )iety, or of your)ruence in essential )oints because 5 kno& it &as al&ays your

hu"ble&ay to "ake light faults hea'y against yourself+ an &ell "ight you,"yearest young lay, aggra'ate your o&n failings, &ho ha'e e'er ha sofe& an those fe& so slight, that your ingenuousness has turne "ostofthe" into e@cellencies(

:e'ertheless, let "e a'ise you, "y ear =iss Clary, toiscountenanceany 'isits, &hich, &ith the censorious, "ay affect your character(Asthat has not hitherto suffere by your &ilful efault, 5 ho)e you

&illnot, in a es)oning negligence satisfying yourself &ith aconsciousnessof your o&n innocence )er"it it to suffer( ifficult situations,youkno&, "y ear young lay, are the tests not only of )ruence but of'irtue(

5 think, 5 "ust o&n to you, that, since =r( Bran>s letter has beenrecei'e, 5 ha'e a rene&e )rohibition to atten you( Ho&e'er, ifyou&ill gi'e "e lea'e, that shall not etain "e fro" you( :or &oul 5stayfor that lea'e, if 5 &ere not in ho)es that, in this criticalsituation,5 "ay be able to o you ser'ice here(

5 ha'e often ha "essages an inDuiries after your health fro" thetruly*re'eren r( Le&en, &ho has al&ays e@)resse, an stille@)resses,infinite concern for you( He entirely isa))ro'es of the "easures ofthefa"ily &ith regar to you( He is too "uch inis)ose to go abroa(But,&ere he in goo health, he &oul not, as 5 unerstan, 'isit atHarlo&e*)lace, ha'ing so"e ti"e since been unhanso"ely treate byyourbrother, on his offering to "eiate for you &ith your fa"ily(


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666

5 a" just no& infor"e that your cousin =oren is arri'e in Englan(He

is at Canterbury, it see"s, looking after so"e concerns he has thereanis soon e@)ecte in these )arts(


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better justifie than the re)orters**7or &ho kno&s &hat they "ay ha'ehear

You gi'e "e a kin caution, &hich see"s to i")ly "ore than youe@)ress,&hen you a'ise "e against countenancing 'isiters that "ay iscreit

"e(You ha'e s)oken Duite out( $urely, 5 ha'e ha afflictions eno& tostrengthen "y "in, an to enable it to bear the &orst that can no&ha))en( But 5 &ill not )uFFle "yself by conjectural e'ils as 5"ight)erha)s o, if 5 ha not eno& that &ere certain( 5 shall hear all,&henit is thought )ro)er that 5 shoul( =ean ti"e, let "e say, for yoursatisfaction, that 5 kno& not that 5 ha'e any thing cri"inal orisre)utable to ans&er for either in &or or ee, since the fatal3/thof A)ril last(

You esire an account of &hat )asses bet&een "e an "y friens analso)articulars or brief heas of "y sa story, in orer to ser'e "e asoccasion shall offer( =y ear goo =rs( :orton, you shall ha'e a&hole)acket of )a)ers, &hich 5 ha'e sent to "y =iss Ho&e, &hen she returnsthe" an you shall ha'e like&ise another )acket, an that &ith thisletter, &hich 5 cannot at )resent think of sening to that earfrienfor the sake of "y o&n relations &ho", &ithout seeing that )acket,sheis but too reay to censure hea'ily( 7ro" these you &ill be able tocollect a great eal of "y story( But for &hat is )re'ious to these

)a)ers, an &hich "ore )articularly relates to &hat 5 ha'e sufferefro"=r( Lo'elace, you "ust ha'e )atience for at )resent 5 ha'e neitherheanor heart for such subjects( The )a)ers 5 sen you &ith this &ill bethose "entione in the "argin(6 You "ust restore the" to "e as soonas)eruse an u)on your honour "ake no use of the", or of anyintelligenceyou ha'e fro" "e, but by "y )re'ious consent(

6 3( A co)y of "ine to "y sister, begging off "y father>s "aleiction ( ( ( ( ( ( ate 8uly -3( -( =y sister>s ans&er ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ate 8uly -.( ( Co)y of "y secon letter to "y sister( ( ate 8uly -I( 0( =y sister>s ans&er ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ate Aug( ( J( Co)y of "y Letter to "y "other ( ( ( ( ( ate Aug( J( K( =y uncle Harlo&e>s letter ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ate Aug( .( .( Co)y of "y ans&er to it ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ate the 3oth( #( Letter fro" "y uncle Antony ( ( ( ( ( ( ate the 3-th( I( An lastly, the co)y of "y ans&er to it( ate the 3th(

These co""unications you "ust not, "y goo =rs( :orton, look u)on asa))eals against "y relations( On the contrary, 5 a" heartily sorrythatthey ha'e incurre the is)leasure of so e@cellent a i'ine as r(Le&en(


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But you esire to ha'e e'ery thing before you+ an 5 think you oughtfor&ho kno&s, as you say, but you "ay be a))lie to at last toa"inisterco"fort fro" their conceing hearts, to one that &ants it an &hoso"eti"es, juging by &hat she kno&s of her o&n heart, thinks herself

entitle to it

5 kno& that 5 ha'e a "ost inulgent an s&eet*te")ere "other but,ha'ing to eal &ith 'iolent s)irits, she has too often forfeite that)eace of "in &hich she so "uch )refers, by her o'er concern to)reser'eit(

5 a" sure she &oul not ha'e turne "e o'er for an ans&er to a letter&ritten &ith so contrite an fer'ent a s)irit, as &as "ine to her, toa"asculine s)irit, ha she been left to herself(

But, "y ear =rs( :orton, "ight not, think you, the re'ere lay ha'efa'oure "e &ith one )ri'ate line****5f not, "ight not you ha'e&rittenby her orer, or conni'ance, one softening, one "otherly line, &henshesa& her )oor girl, &ho" once she early lo'e, borne so har u)on

O no, she "ight not**because her heart, to be sure, is in their"easures an if she think the" right, )erha)s they "ust be right**atleast, kno&ing only &hat they kno&, they "ust**an yet they "ightkno&all, if they &oul**an )ossibly, in their o&n goo ti"e, they think

to"ake )ro)er inDuiry(**=y a))lication &as "ae to the" but lately(**Yetho& ee)ly &ill it afflict the", if their ti"e shoul be out of ti"e


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kno&lege of a strange ste) &hich 5 ha'e taken, strange you &illthinkit an, at the sa"e ti"e, gi'e you "y reasons for taking it(6

6 $he "eans that of "aking =r( Belfor her e@ecutor(

5t "ust be e@)ecte, that situations unco""only ifficult &ill "akenecessary so"e e@traorinary ste)s, &hich, but for those situations,&oul be harly e@cusable( 5t &ill be 'ery ha))y inee, anso"e&hat&onerful, if all the "easures 5 ha'e been ri'en to take shoul beright( A )ure intention, 'oi of all unutiful resent"ent, is &hat"ustbe "y consolation, &hate'er others "ay think of those "easures, &hentheyco"e to kno& the"+ &hich, ho&e'er, &ill harly be till it is out of"y

)o&er to justify the", or to ans&er for "yself(

5 a" gla to hear of "y cousin =oren>s safe arri'al( 5 shoul &ishtosee hi" "ethinks+ but 5 a" afrai that he &ill sail &ith the strea"asit "ust be e@)ecte, that he &ill hear &hat they ha'e to say first(**But&hat 5 "ost fear is, that he &ill take u)on hi"self to a'enge "e(%atherthan he shoul o so, 5 &oul ha'e hi" look u)on "e as a creatureutterlyun&orthy of his concern at least of his 'inicti'e concern(

Ho& soothing to the &oune heart of your Clarissa, ho& bal"y are theassurances of your continue lo'e an fa'our**lo'e "e, "y ear "a""a:orton, continue to lo'e "e, to the en**5 no& think that 5 "ay,&ithout)resu")tion, )ro"ise to eser'e your lo'e to the en( An, &hen 5 a"gone, cherish "y "e"ory in your &orthy heart for in so oing you&illcherish the "e"ory of one &ho lo'es an honours you "ore than she cane@)ress(

But &hen 5 a" no "ore, 5 charge you, as soon as you can, the s"arting)angs of grief that &ill atten a recent loss an let all be earlyturne into that s&eetly "elancholy regar to =E=O%Y, &hich, engagingusto forget all faults, an to re"e"ber nothing but &hat &as thoughta"iable, gi'es "ore )leasure than )ain to sur'i'ors**es)ecially iftheycan co"fort the"sel'es &ith the hu"ble ho)e, that the i'ine "ercyhastaken the ear e)arte to itself(

An &hat is the s)ace of ti"e to look back&ar u)on, bet&een an earlye)arture an the longest sur'i'ance**an &hat the consolationatteningthe s&eet ho)e of "eeting again, ne'er "ore to be se)arate, ne'er"oreto be )aine, grie'e, or as)erse**but "utually blessing, an beingblesse, to all eternity


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5n the conte")lation of this ha))y state, in &hich 5 ho)e, in Go>sgooti"e, to rejoice &ith you, "y belo'e =rs( :orton, an also &ith "yearrelations, all reconcile to, an blessing the chil against &ho"

theyare no& so "uch incense, 5 conclue "yself

Your e'er utiful an affectionateCLA%5$$A HA%LOt kno& &hat a e'il ails "e but 5 ne'er &as so "uch inis)osein"y life( At first, 5 thought so"e of "y blesse relations here hagot aose a"inistere to "e, in orer to get the &hole house tothe"sel'es(But, as 5 a" the ho)es of the fa"ily, 5 belie'e they &oul not be so&icke(

5 "ust lay o&n "y )en( 5 cannot &rite &ith any s)irit at all( t been near "eyet(

666

:either eat, rink, nor slee)**a )iteous case, 8ack 5f 5 shoulielike a fool no&, )eo)le &oul say =iss Harlo&e ha broken "y heart(**Thatshe 'e@es "e to the heart, is certain(

Confoune sDuea"ish 5 &oul fain &rite it off( But "ust lay o&n"y


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)en again( 5t &on>t o( Poor Lo'elace****t &rite(

666

But thou see"est nettle, 8ack 5s it because 5 &as stung 5t isnotfor t&o friens, any "ore than for "an an &ife, to be out of)atienceat one ti"e(**


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thou reaest it again(6 At the )assage &here it is sai, That &hen a"anis chastene for sin, his beauty consu"es a&ay, 5 ste)t to the glass+A)oor figure, by 8u)iter, crie 5**An they all )raise an a"ire"e

lifte u) their hans an their eyes an the octor sai, he al&aysthought it i")ossible, that a "an of "y sense coul be so &il as the&orl sai 5 &as( =y Lor chuckle for joy congratulate "e an,thank"y ear =iss Harlo&e, 5 got high re)utation a"ong goo, ba, aninifferent( 5n short, 5 ha'e establishe "yself for e'er &ith allhere(**But, O Belfor, e'en this &ill not o**5 "ust lea'e off again(

6 $ee !ol( !55( Letter L???5(

666

A 'isit fro" the =ontague sisters, le in by the hobbling Peer, tocongratulate "y a"en"ent an refor"ation both in one( lt fin hi" out, an sen "e his ears in the ne@t

letter(

=y belo'e "istakes "e, if she thinks 5 )ro)ose her &riting to "e asanalternati'e that shoul is)ense &ith "y attenance u)on her( Thatitshall not o, nor i 5 inten it shoul, unless she )lease "ebetter inthe contents of her letter than she has one( Bi her rea again( 5ga'e no such ho)es( 5 &oul ha'e been &ith her in s)ite of you both,byto*"orro&, at farthest, ha 5 not been lai by the heels thus, like ahel)less "iscreant(

But 5 gro& better an better e'ery hour, 5 say+ the octor says not+but5 a" sure 5 kno& best+ an 5 &ill soon be in Lonon, e)en on>t(Butsay nothing of this to "y ear, cruel, an i")lacable =iss Harlo&e(

A**ieu**u, 8a**aack**


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=%( BEL7O%, TO %OBE%T LO!ELACE, E$M(=O:AY, A9G( 3J(

5 a" e@tre"ely concerne for thy illness( 5 shoul be 'ery sorry tolose

thee( Yet, if thou iest so soon, 5 coul &ish, fro" "y soul, it habeen before the beginning of last A)ril+ an this as &ell for thysake,as for the sake of the "ost e@cellent &o"an in the &orl+ for thenthou&oulst not ha'e ha the "ost crying sin of thy life to ans&er for(

5 &as tol on $aturay that thou &ert 'ery "uch out of orer anthis"ae "e forbear &riting till 5 hear farther( Harry, on his returnfro"thee, confir"e the ba &ay thou art in( But 5 ho)e Lor =( in hisun"erite tenerness for thee, thinks the &orst of thee(


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thy last**5 ha'e a goo "in, for the sake of it, to forgi'e thytillno& absolutely un)aronable e@tracts(

But ost think 5 &ill lose such an angel, such a forgi'ing angel, asthis**By "y soul, 5 &ill not**To )ray for "ercy for such an

ungrateful"iscreant**ho& she &ouns "e, ho& she cuts "e to the soul, by here@alte generosity**But $HE "ust ha'e "ercy u)on "e first**then&illshe teach "e a reliance for the sake of &hich her )rayer for "e &illbeans&ere(

But hasten, hasten to "e )articulars of her health, of here")loy"ents,of her con'ersation(

5 a" sick only of lo'e Oh that 5 coul ha'e calle her "ine**it

&oulthen ha'e been &orth &hile to be sick**to ha'e sent for her o&n to"efro" to&n an to ha'e ha her, &ith healing in her o'e*like &ings,flying to "y co"fort her uty an her choice to )ray for "e, an tobi"e li'e for her sake**O 8ack &hat an angel ha'e 5**

But 5 ha'e not lost her**5 &ill not lose her 5 a" al"ost &ellshoulbe Duite &ell but for these )rescribing rascals, &ho, to o creit totheir skill, &ill "ake the isease of i")ortance(**An 5 &ill "akeher

"ine**an be sick again, to entitle "yself to her utifultenerness,an )ious as &ell as )ersonal concern

Go for e'er bless her**Hasten, hasten )articulars of her**5 a"sickof lo'e**such generous gooness**By all that>s great an goo, 5&illnot lose her**so tell her**$he says, that she coul not )ity "e, ifshethought of being "ine This, accoring to =iss Ho&e>s transcri)tionstoCharlotte(**But bi her hate "e, an ha'e "e+ an "y beha'iour to hershall soon turn that hate to lo'e for, boy an "in, 5 &ill be&hollyher>s(

LETTE% ?

=%( BEL7O%, TO %OBE%T LO!ELACE, E$M(TH9%$AY, A9G( 3.(

5 a" sincerely rejoice to hear that thou art alreay so "ucha"ene, asthy ser'ant tells "e thou art( Thy letter looks as if thy "orals&ere


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"ening &ith thy health( This &as a letter 5 coul sho&, as 5 i,tothe lay(

$he is 'ery ill+ curse letters recei'e fro" her i")lacablefa"ily so

5 coul not ha'e "uch con'ersation &ith her, in thy fa'our, u)onit(**But&hat )asse &ill "ake thee "ore an "ore aore her(

$he &as 'ery attenti'e to "e, as 5 rea it an, &hen 5 ha one,Poor"an sai she &hat a letter is this He ha ti"ely instances that"yte")er &as not ungenerous, if generosity coul ha'e oblige hi" Buthisre"orse, an that for his o&n sake, is all the )unish"ent 5 &ishhi"(**Yet 5 "ust be "ore reser'e, if you &rite to hi" e'ery thing 5 say

5 e@tolle her unboune gooness**ho& coul 5 hel) it, though to herface

:o gooness in it she sai**it &as a fra"e of "in she haenea'oureafter for her o&n sake( $he suffere too "uch in &ant of "ercy, notto&ish it to a )enitent heart( He see"s to be )enitent, sai she anitis not for "e to juge beyon a))earances(**5f he be not, he ecei'eshi"self "ore than any boy else(

$he &as so ill that this &as all that )asse on the occasion(

s objections, That 'irtue ought not to suffer in atragey,is not &ell consiere+ =oni"ia in the Or)hean, Bel'iera in !enicePreser'e, Athenais in Theoosius, Corelia in $hakes)eare>s ;ingLear,ese"ona in Othello, Ha"let, to na"e no "ore, are instances that atragey coul harly be justly calle a tragey, if 'irtue i notte")orarily suffer, an 'ice for a &hile triu")h( But he reco'ers


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hi"self in the sa"e )aragra)h an leas us to look u) to the 79T9%Eforthe re&ar of 'irtue, an for the )unish"ent of guilt+ an obser'esnota"iss, &hen he says, He kno&s not but that the 'irtue of such a &o"anas

Clarissa is re&are in "issing such a "an as Lo'elace(

5 ha'e freDuently thought, in "y attenance on this lay, that ifBelton>s a"ire author, :ic( %o&e, ha ha such a character beforehi",he &oul ha'e ra&n another sort of )enitent than he has one, orgi'enhis )lay, &hich he calls The 7air Penitent, a fitter title( =issHarlo&eis a )enitent inee 5 think, if 5 a" not guilty of a contraictioninter"s a )enitent &ithout a fault her )arents> conuct to&ars her

fro"the first consiere(

The &hole story of the other is a )ack of **** stuff( Lothario,>tistrue, see"s such another &icke ungenerous 'arlet as thou kno&est&ho+the author kne& ho& to ra& a rake but not to )aint a )enitent(Calistais a esiring luscious &ench, an her )enitence is nothing else butrage,insolence, an scorn( Her )assions are all stor" an tu"ult nothingof

the finer )assions of the se@, &hich, if naturally ra&n, &illistinguish the"sel'es fro" the "asculine )assions, by a softnessthat&ill e'en shine through rage an es)air( Her character is "ae u)ofeceit an isguise( $he has no 'irtue is all )rie an her e'ilisas "uch &ithin her, as &ithout her(

Ho& then can the fall of such a one create a )ro)er istress, &henallthe circu"stances of it are consiere 7or oes she not braFen outhercri"e, e'en after etection ;no&ing her o&n guilt, she calls forAlta"ont>s 'engeance on his best frien, as if he ha trauce heryiels to "arry Alta"ont, though cri"inal &ith another an actuallybesthat &hining )u))y, &hen she ha gi'en u) herself, boy an soul, toLothario &ho, ne'ertheless, refuse to "arry her(

Her )enitence, &hen begun, she justly styles the )hrensy of her soulan, as 5 sai, after ha'ing, as long as she coul, "ost auaciouslybraFene out her cri"e, an one all the "ischief she coul o,occasioning the eath of Lothario, of her father, an others, shestabsherself(

An can this be the act of )enitence


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But, inee, our )oets harly kno& ho& to create a istress &ithouthorror, "urer, an suicie an "ust shock your soul, to bring tearsfro" your eyes(

Alta"ont inee, &ho is an a"orous blockhea, a creulous cuckol,an,

though )ainte as a bra'e fello&, an a solier, a "ere To"(Essence,an a Duarreler &ith his best frien, ies like a fool, as &e arele tosu))ose at the conclusion of the )lay, &ithout either s&or or )o)*gun,of "ere grief an nonsense for one of the 'ilest of her se@+ but the7airPenitent, as she is calle, )erishes by her o&n han an, ha'ing notitle by her )ast cri"es to lauable )ity, forfeits all clai" to true)enitence, an, in all )robability, to future "ercy(

But here is =iss CLA%5$$A HA%LO


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her ruin &ishes his re)entance, an that she "ay be the last 'icti"tohis barbarous )erfiy+ an is solicitous for nothing so "uch in thislife, as to )re'ent 'inicti'e "ischief to an fro" the "an &ho useherso basely(

This is )enitence This is )iety An hence istress naturallyarises,that "ust &orthily effect e'ery heart(


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5f your soul &ere in "y soul>s stea, 5 also coul s)eak as ye o+ 5coul hea) u) &ors against you**

But 5 &oul strengthen you &ith "y "outh, an the "o'ing of "y li)sshoul assuage your grief(


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"ayest rela)se, an be confine to thy be(

LETTE% ?5

=%( BEL7O%, TO =5$$ CLA%5$$A HA%LOs before hi"(

5 a", =aa", &ith the )rofounest 'eneration,

Your "ost faithful an "ost obeient ser'ant,8( BEL7O%(

LETTE% ?55=%( LO!ELACE, TO 8OH: BEL7O%, E$M(15: A:$


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But 5 kno& &hat 5 shall get by this**only that notable obser'ationre)eate, That thy outsie is the &orst of thee, an "ine the best of"e(An so let it be( :othing thou &ritest of this sort can 5 takea"iss(

But 5 shall call thee seriously to account, &hen 5 see thee, for thee@tracts thou hast gi'en the lay fro" "y letters, not&ithstaning&hat 5sai in "y last es)ecially if she continue to refuse "e( An hunreti"es ha'e 5 "yself kno&n a &o"an eny, yet co")ly at last+ but, bythesee@tracts, thou hast, 5 oubt, "ae her bar u) the oor of her heart,asshe use to o her cha"ber*oor, against "e(**This therefore is aisloyalty that frienshi) cannot bear, nor honour allo& "e toforgi'e(

LETTE% ?555

=%( LO!ELACE, TO 8OH: BEL7O%, E$M(LO:O:, A9G( -3, =O:AY(

5 belie'e 5 a" boun to curse thee, 8ack( :e'ertheless 5 &on>tantici)ate, but )rocee to &rite thee a longer letter than thou hasthafro" "e for so"e ti"e )ast( $o here goes(

That thou "ightest ha'e as little notice as )ossible of the ti"e 5

&asresol'e to be in to&n, 5 set out in "y Lor>s chariot*an*si@yesteray,as soon as 5 ha is)atche "y letter to thee, an arri'e in to&nlastnight+ for 5 kne& 5 coul ha'e no e)enence on thy frienshi) &here=issHarlo&e>s hu"our &as concerne(

5 ha no other )lace so reay, an so &as force to go to "y ollogings, &here also "y &arrobe is an there 5 )oure out "illionsofcurses u)on the &hole cre&, an refuse to see either $ally or Pollyanthis not only for suffering the lay to esca)e, but for the 'illanousarrest, an for their etestable insolence to her at the officer>shouse(

5 resse "yself in a ne'er*&orn suit, &hich 5 ha intene for oneof "y&eing*suits an like "yself so &ell, that 5 began to think, &iththee, that "y outsie &as the best of "e+

5 took a chair to $"ith>s, "y heart bouning in al"ost auible thu")sto"y throat, &ith the assure e@)ectations of seeing "y belo'e( 5clas)e"y fingers, as 5 &as ance along+ 5 charge "y eyes to languish an


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s)arkle by turns+ 5 talke to "y knees, telling the" ho& they "ustbenan, in the language of a char"ing escriber, acte "y )art in fancy,as&ell as s)oke it to "yself(

Tenerly kneeling, thus &ill 5 co")lain+ Thus court her )ity an thus )lea "y )ain+ Thus sigh for fancy> fro&ns, if fro&ns shoul rise An thus "eet fa'our in her soft>ning eyes(

5n this "anner entertaine 5 "yself till 5 arri'e at $"ith>s antherethe fello&s set o&n their gay buren( Off &ent their hats clock**into thecountry**by the octor>s a'ice(


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$till 5 &oul not belie'e either 8ohn or his &ife( 5 a" sure, sai5,she cannot be abroa( 5 hear she &as 'ery ill**she is not able togoout in a coach( o you kno& =r( Belfor, frien

Yes, $ir 5 ha'e the honour to kno& >$Duire Belfor( He is gone intothecountry to 'isit a sick frien( He &ent on $aturay, $ir(

This ha also been tol fro" thy logings to


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But neither ans&er nor fluttering salute "y ear an, the )eo)lebeing'ery Duiet, 5 le on to the ne@t a)art"ent an, the key being on theoutsie, 5 o)ene it, an looke all aroun it, an into the closet(

The "ans sai he ne'er sa& so unci'il a gentle"an in his life(

Hark thee, frien, sai 5 let "e a'ise thee to be a little ecentor5 shall teach thee a lesson thou ne'er learnest in all thy life(

$ir, sai he, >tis not like a gentle"an, to affront a "an in his o&nhouse(

Then )rythee, "an, re)lie 5, on>t cro& u)on thine o&n unghil(

5 ste)t back to the locke oor+ =y ear =iss Harlo&e, 5 beg of youtoo)en the oor, or 5>ll break it o)en**)ushing har against it, that

itcracke again(

The "an looke )ale+ an, tre"bling &ith his fright, "ae a )laguylongface an calle to one of his boice*"akers abo'e, 8ose)h, co"e o&nDuickly(

8ose)h ca"e o&n+ a lion>s*face grinning fello& thick, an short,anbushy*heae, like an ol oak*)ollar( Then i "aster 8ohn )ut on asturier look( But 5 only hu""e a tune, tra'erse all the othera)art"ents, soune the )assages &ith "y knuckles, to fin &hether

there&ere )ri'ate oors, an &alke u) the ne@t )air of stairs, singingallthe &ay 8ohn an 8ose)h, an =rs( $"ith, follo&ing "e u), tre"bling(

5 looke roun "e there, an &ent into t&o o)en*oor be*cha"berssearche the closets, an the )assages, an )ee)e through the key*holeof another+ no =iss Harlo&e, by 8u)iter


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Here, 8ack, 5 lai out for a co")li"ent, an "isse it(

>Tis easy to guess, $ir for there cannot be t&o such gentle"en asyou(

s another roo" locke u), ta))ing attheoor**s at ho"e crie 5(

That>s =rs( Lo'ick>s a)art"ent( $he is gone out, an has the key&ithher(

tis not "anners to &his)er( 8ose)h,&hatsai 8ohn to thee

8OH: $ir, isainfully re)eate the goo &o"an(

5 beg )aron, =rs( $"ith+ but you see the force of e@a")le( Ha yousho&e your honest "an "ore res)ect, 5 shoul( Let "e gi'e you a)ieceof a'ice**&o"en &ho treat their husbans irre'erently, teachstrangersto use the" &ith conte")t( There, honest "aster 8ohn &hy ost not)ull


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off thy hat to "e**Oh so thou &oulst, if thou hast it on+ butthoune'er &earest thy hat in thy &ife>s )resence, 5 belie'e ost thou

:one of your fleers an your jeers, $ir, crie 8ohn( 5 &ish e'ery"arrie )air li'e as ha))ily as &e o(

5 &ish so too, honest frien( But 5>ll be hange if thou hast anychilren(

roo"s,anthe &orking*roo"s, are u) those stairs, an another )air annoboy>sthere that you &ant(

$hall 5 go u), an see if =iss Harlo&e be there, =rs( $"ith

You "ay, $ir, if you )lease(

Then 5 &on>t for, if she &as, you &oul not be so obliging(

5 a" asha"e to gi'e you all this attenance+ you are the )olitesttraers 5 e'er kne&( Honest 8ose)h, sla))ing hi" u)on the shoulersona suen, &hich "ae hi" ju"), ist e'er grin for a &ager, "an**fortherascal see"e not is)lease &ith "e an, cracking his flat facefro"ear to ear, &ith a istene "outh, sho&e his teeth, as broa an asblack as his thu"b*nails(**But on>t 5 hiner thee


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There then is a ay>s &ages for thee( But thou neeest not atten "efarther(

Co"e, =rs( $"ith, co"e 8ohn, =aster $"ith 5 shoul say, let>s &alko&n, an gi'e "e an account &here the lay is gone, an &hen she

&illreturn(

$o o&n stairs le 5( 8ohn an 8ose)h thought 5 ha ischarge thelatter, an "y a"e, follo&ing "e, to sho& their co")laisance to astranger(

5 re*entere one of the first*floor roo"s( 5 ha'e a great "in to beyour loger+ for 5 ne'er sa& such obliging folks in "y life( &alk o&n, sai the goo &o"an( %eally, $ir, youtake**

Great liberties 5 ho)e you &oul not say, =rs( $"ith

5nee, $ir, 5 &as going to say so"ething like it(


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5 looke about "e, an abo'e "e an tol the" 5 &as 'ery )rou of "yseat asking, if 8ohn &ere e'er )er"itte to fill this su)erb niche

Perha)s he &as, he sai, 'ery surlily(

That is it that "akes thee looks so like a statue, "an(

8ohn looke )laguy glu" u)on "e( But his "an 8ose)h an "y "an ll be your custo"er( t struggle thus The)enknife,


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ha'e only this, $ir(

The best in the &orl to launch a gu"( ****n the fello&, &hy oststruggle thus

=aster an =istress $"ith being afrai, 5 su))ose, that 5 ha a

esignu)on 8ose)h>s throat, because he &as their cha")ion, an this,inee,"ae "e take the "ore notice of hi", co"ing to&ars "e &ithcountenancestragic*co"ical, 5 let hi" go(

5 only &ante, sai 5, to take out t&o or three of this rascal>sbroateeth, to )ut the" into "y ser'ant>s ja&s**an 5 &oul ha'e )ai hi"his)rice for the"(**5 &oul by "y soul, 8ose)h(

8ose)h shook his ears an &ith both hans stroke o&n, s"ooth as it&oul lie, his bushy hair an looke at "e as if he kne& not &hetherheshoul laugh or be angry+ but, after a stu)i stare or t&o, stalkeoffto the other en of the sho), noing his hea at "e as he &ent,stillstroking o&n his hair an took his stan by his "aster, facingaboutan "uttering, that 5 &as )laguy strong in the ar"s, an he thought&oulha'e throttle hi"( Then foling his ar"s, an shaking his bristlehea, ae, >t&as &ell 5 &as a gentle"an, or he &oul not ha'e taken

such an affront(

5 e"ane &here their ra))ee &as the goo &o"an )ointe to the)lacean 5 took u) a scollo)*shell of it, refusing to let her &eight it,anfille "y bo@( An no&, =rs( $"ith, sai 5, &here are your glo'es

$he sho&e "e an 5 chose four )air of the", an set 8ose)h, &holookeas if he &ante to be taken notice of again, to o)en the fingers(

A fe"ale custo"er, &ho ha been ga)ing at the oor, ca"e in for so"e$cots sniff an 5 &oul ser'e her( The &ench &as )laguy ho"ely an5tol her so or else, 5 sai, 5 &oul ha'e treate her( $he, inanger,1no &o"an is ho"ely in her o&n o)inion,4 thre& o&n her )enny an 5)utit in "y )ocket(

8ust then, turning "y eye to the oor, 5 sa& a )retty, genteel lay,&itha foot"an after her, )ee)ing in &ith a s the "atter, goo folkstothe starers an 5 ran to her fro" behin the co")ter, an, as she&as"aking off, took her han, an re& her into the sho) begging thatshe


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&oul be "y custo"er for that 5 ha but just begun trae(

t &e, gooy $"ith

$o in 5 gently re& her to the co")ter, running behin it "yself,&ith anair of great ilingence an obligingness( 5 ha'e e@cellent glo'esan&ash*balls, =aa"+ ra))ee, $cots, Portugal, an all sorts of snuff(

t you

5 took o&n a )arcel of glo'es, &hich =rs( $"ith )ointe to, an ca"eroun to the fello& to fit the" on "yself(

:o "atter for o)ening the", sai 5+ thy fingers, frien, are as stiffasru"*sticks( Push**Thou>rt an a&k&ar og 5 &oner such a )rettylay&ill be follo&e by such a clu"sy 'arlet(

The fello& ha no strength for laughing+ an 8ose)h &as "ightily)lease,in ho)es, 5 su))ose, 5 &oul borro& a fe& of Anre&>s teeth, to kee)hi"

in countenance+ an, father an "other $"ith, like all the &orl, asthejest &as turne fro" the"sel'es, see"e i'erte &ith the hu"our(

The fello& sai the glo'es &ere too little(

Thrust, an be **** to thee, sai 5+ &hy, fello&, thou hast not thestrength of a cat(

$ir, $ir, sai he, laughing, 5 shall hurt your Honour>s sie(

****n thee, thrust 5 say(

He i an burst out the sies of the glo'e(

s thy )runing*knife By "y soul, frien, 5 ha agoo "in to )are thy curse )a&s( But co"e, here>s a larger )air+trythe", &hen thou gettest ho"e an let thy s&eetheart, if thou hastone,"en the other, so take both(

The lay laughe at the hu"our as i "y fello&, an =rs( $"ith, an8ose)h+ e'en 8ohn laughe, though he see"e by the force )ut u)on hiscountenance to be but half )lease &ith "e neither(

=aa", sai 5, an ste))e behin the co")ter, bo&ing o'er it, no& 5ho)e


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you &ill buy so"ething for yourself( :oboy shall use you better,norsell you chea)er(

Co"e, sai she, gi'e "e si@*)enny &orth of Portugal snuff(

They sho&e "e &here it &as, an 5 ser'e her an sai, &hen she&oulha'e )ai "e, 5 took nothing at "y o)ening(

5f 5 treate her foot"an, she tol "e, 5 shoul not treat her(


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air, an, the chair being co"e, &hi)t into it the )eo)le about theoorsee"ing to be in goo hu"our &ith "e one crying, a )leasantgentle"an, 5&arrant hi" an a&ay 5 &as carrie to s, accoring toirection(

As soon as 5 ca"e thither, 5 orere


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all, at "y ne@t 'isit, be "uch "ore easy an )leasant to "e thanAnre&>sglo'es &ere to hi" an &e shall be as thoroughly acDuainte, as if&eha kno&n one another a t&el'e"onth(

s(

$he &on>t co"e o&n, re)lie she( $he &ill not be at the &or ofco""anyet( $he is but just in the tra""els an "ust be &aite u)on, 5>llassure you an courte "uch besies(

Ay sai 5, that looks &ell( Lea "e to her this instant(

5 follo&e her u)+ an &ho shoul she be, but that little toa $ally

O curse you, sai 5, for a e'il 5s it you is your>s the ne& face

O "y ear, ear =r( Lo'elace crie she, 5 a" gla any thing &illbringyou to "e**an so the little beast thre& herself about "y neck, anthere clung like a cat( Co"e, sai she, &hat &ill you gi'e "e, an5>llbe as 'irtuous for a Duarter of an hour, an "i"ic your Clarissa tothelife

5 &as Belfore all o'er( 5 coul not bear such an insult u)on theearcreature, for 5 ha'e a soft an generous nature in the "ain,&hate'erthou thinkest an curse her "ost e'outly, for taking "y belo'e>sna"e in her "outh in such a &ay( But the little e'il &as not to bebalke but fell a crying, sobbing, )raying, begging, e@clai"ing,fainting, that 5 ne'er sa& "y lo'ely girl so &ell a)e( 5nee 5 &asal"ost taken in for 5 coul ha'e fancie 5 ha her before "e once"ore(

O this se@ this artful se@ there>s no "ining the"( At first,inee,their grief an their concern "ay be real+ but, gi'e &ay to the


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hurricane, an it &ill soon ie a&ay in soft "ur"urs, thrilling u)onyourears like the notes of a &ell*tune 'iol( An, by $ally, one seesthatart &ill generally so &ell su))ly the )lace of nature, that you shallnot

easily kno& the ifference( =iss Clarisa Harlo&e, inee, is theonly&o"an in the &orl 5 belie'e that can say, in the &ors of herfa'ourite8ob, for 5 can Duote a te@t as &ell as she, But it is not so &ith"e(

They &ere 'ery inDuisiti'e about "y fair*one( They tol "e that youselo" ca"e near the" that, &hen you i, you )ut on )laguy gra'eairs&oul harly stay fi'e "inutes an i nothing but )raise =issHarlo&e,an la"ent her har fate( 5n short, that you es)ise the" &as full

ofsentences an they oubte not, in a little &hile, &oul be a lost"an,an "arry(

A )retty character for thee, is it not thou art in a blesse &ayyethast nothing to o but to go on in it+ an then &hat &ork hast thouto gothrough 5f thou turnest back, these sorceresses &ill be like thecFar>scossacks, 1at Pulto&a, 5 think it &as,4 &ho &ere )lante &ith reay)ri"e an cocke )ieces behin the regulars, in orer to shoot the"

ea, if they i not )ush on an conDuer an then &ilt thou be "ostla"entably es)ise by e'ery harlot thou hast "ae**an, O 8ack, ho&for"iable, in that case, &ill be the nu"ber of thy ene"ies

5 inten to regulate "y "otions by s intelligence for see thisear creature 5 "ust an &ill( Yet 5 ha'e )ro"ise Lor =( to beo&n int&o or three ays at farthest for he is gro&n )laguy fon of "esince 5&as ill(

5 a" in ho)es that the &or 5 left, that 5 a" to go out of to&n to*"orro&"orning, &ill soon bring the lay back again(

=ean ti"e, 5 thought 5 &oul &rite to i'ert thee, &hile thou art ofsuchi")ortance about the ying an as thy ser'ant, it see"s, co"esback&aran for&ar e'ery ay, )erha)s 5 "ay sen thee another letter to*"orro&,&ith the )articulars of the inter'ie& bet&een the ear creature an"eafter &hich "y soul thirsteth(

LETTE% ?5!


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=%( LO!ELACE, TO 8OH: BEL7O%, E$M(T9E$AY, A9G( --(

5 "ust &rite on, to i'ert "yself+ for 5 can get no rest norefreshing

rest( 5 a&ake just no& in a curse fright( Ho& a "an "ay beaffecteby rea"s

>=ethought 5 ha an inter'ie& &ith "y belo'e( 5 foun her allgooness,conescension, an forgi'eness( $he suffere herself to be o'erco"ein"y fa'our by the joint intercessions of Lor =(, Lay $arah, LayBetty,an "y t&o cousins =ontague, &ho &aite u)on her in ee) "ourningthelaies in long trains s&ee)ing after the" Lor =( in a long black

"antletrailing after hi"( They tol her they ca"e in these robs to e@)resstheir sorro& for "y sins against her, an to i")lore her to forgi'e"e(

>5 "yself, 5 thought, &as u)on "y knees, &ith a s&or in "y han,offering either to )ut it u) in the scabbar, or to thrust it into "yheart, as she shoul co""an the one or the other(

>At that "o"ent her cousin =oren, 5 thought, all of a suen,flashe inthrough a &ino&, &ith his ra&n s&or**ie, Lo'elace sai he thisinstant ie, an be ****, if in earnest thou re)airest not by

"arriage"y cousin>s &rongs

>5 &as rising to resent this insult, 5 thought, &hen Lor =( ranbet&eenus &ith his great black "antle, an thre& it o'er "y face+ aninstantly"y char"er, &ith that s&eet 'oice &hich has so often )laye u)on "yra'ishe ears, &ra))e her ar"s aroun "e, "uffle as 5 &as in "yLor>s"antle+ O s)are, s)are "y Lo'elace an s)are, O Lo'elace, "y belo'ecousin =oren Let "e not ha'e "y istresses aug"ente by the fallofeither or both of those &ho are so ear to "e

>At this, char"e &ith her s&eet "eiation, 5 thought 5 &oul ha'eclas)e her in "y ar"s+ &hen i""eiately the "ost angelic for" 5 hae'erbehel, all cla in trans)arent &hite, escene in a clou, &hich,o)ening, isco'ere a fir"a"ent abo'e it, cro&e &ith golen cherubsanglittering sera)hs, all aressing her &ith


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stuck thick &ith stars of e"bosse sil'er &hich 5 ha caught hol ofinho)es of etaining her but &as all that &as left "e of "y belo'eClarissa( An then, horri to relate the floor sinking uner "e,asthe fir"a"ent ha o)ene for her, 5 ro)t into a hole "ore frightful

thanthat of Elen an, tu"bling o'er an o'er o&n it, &ithout 'ie& of abotto", 5 a&ake in a )anic an &as as effectually isorere forhalfan hour, as if "y rea" ha been a reality(>

ll see that(**


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canst any &ay fin out &ithout losing sight of the oor, lest sheshoulbe belo& stairs if she be in the neighbourhoo, if not &ithin(

s gooness to hi"

You are an e@cellent &o"an, =rs( Lo'ick+ 5 kno& that, by "y cousin8ohnBelfor>s account of you+ an =iss Clarissa Harlo&e is an angel(

=iss Harlo&e is inee an angel, re)lie she an soon &ill beco")anyfor angels(

:o jesting &ith such a &o"an as this, 8ack(

Tell "e of a truth, goo =rs( Lo'ick, &here 5 "ay see this ear lay(9)on "y soul, 5 &ill neither fright for offen her( 5 &ill only begofher to hear "e s)eak for one half*Duarter of an hour an, if she&illha'e it so, 5 &ill ne'er trouble her "ore(


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$ir, sai the &io&, it &oul be eath for her to see you( $he &asatho"e last night 5>ll tell you truth+ but fitter to be in be allay($he ca"e ho"e, she sai, to ie an, if she coul not a'oi your'isit,

she &as unable to fly fro" you an belie'e she shoul ie in your)resence(

An yet go out again this "orning early Ho& can that be, &io&

i")lacableness, =rs( $"ith, that cuts her to the heart(Herfa"ily is the "ost i")lacable fa"ily on earth an the ear creature,in


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refusing to see "e, an to be reconcile to "e, sho&s her relation tothe" a little too )lainly(

O $ir, sai the &io&, not one syllable of &hat you say belongs tothislay( 5 ne'er sa& so s&eet a te")er she is al&ays accusing herself,

ane@cusing her relations( An, as to you, $ir, she forgi'es you+ she&ishes you &ell an ha))ier than you &ill let her ie in )eace >tisallshe &ishes for( You on>t look like a har*hearte gentle"an**Ho&canyou thus hunt an )ersecute a )oor lay, &ho" none of her relations&illlook u)on 5t "akes "y heart blee for her(

An then she &e)t again( =rs( $"ith &e)t also( =y seat gre& uneasyto"e( 5 shifte to another se'eral ti"es an &hat =rs( Lo'ick farther

sai, an sho&e "e, "ae "e still "ore uneasy(

Ba as the )oor lay &as last night, sai she, she transcribe intoherbook a "eitation on your )ersecuting her thus( 5 ha'e a co)y of it(5f5 thought it &oul ha'e any effect, 5 &oul rea it to you(

Let "e rea it "yself, =rs( Lo'ick(

$he ga'e it to "e( 5t has an Harlo&e*s)irite title+ an, fro" aforgi'ing s)irit, intolerable( 5 esire to take it &ith "e( $heconsente, on conition that 5 sho&e it to >$Duire Belfor( $o

here,=r( >$Duire Belfor, thou "ayest rea it, if thou &ilt(

O: BE5:G H9:TE A7TE% BY THE E:E=Y O7 =Y $O9L(

=O:AY, A9G( -3(

eli'er "e, O Lor, fro" the e'il "an(

Preser'e "e fro" the 'iolent "an(

)oison is unerhisli)s(

;ee) "e, O Lor, fro" the hans of the &icke( Preser'e "e fro" the'iolent "an, &ho hath )ur)ose to o'erthro& "y goings(

He hath hi a snare for "e( He hath s)rea a net by the &ay*sie(Hehath set gins for "e in the &ay &herein 5 &alke(

;ee) "e fro" the snares &hich he hath lai for "e, an the gins ofthis&orker of iniDuity(


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The ene"y hath )ersecute "y soul( He hath s"itten "y life o&n tothegroun( He hath "ae "e &ell in arkness, as those that ha'e beenlongea(

Therefore is "y s)irit o'er&hel"e &ithin "e( =y heart &ithin "e isesolate(

Hie not thy face fro" "e in the ay &hen 5 a" in trouble(

7or "y ays are consu"e like s"oke+ an "y bones are burnt as thehearth(

=y heart is s"itten an &ithere like grass+ so that 5 forget to eat"ybrea(

By reason of the 'oice of "y groaning, "y bones clea'e to "y skin(

5 a" like a )elican of the &ilerness( 5 a" like an o&l of theesart(

5 &atch an a" as a s)arro& alone u)on the house*to)(

5 ha'e eaten ashes like brea an "ingle "y rink &ith &ee)ing+

Because of thine inignation, an thy &rath+ for thou hast lifte "eu),an cast "e o&n(

=y ays are like a shao& that eclineth, an 5 a" &ithere like

grass(

Grant not, O Lor, the esires of the &icke+ further not hise'ices,lest he e@alt hi"self(


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$he says, she has eaten ashes like brea**A sa "istake to be sure**An"ingle her rink &ith &ee)ing**$&eet "aulin soul shoul 5 say ofanyboy confessing this, but =iss Harlo&e(

$he conclues &ith )raying, that the esires of the &icke "eaning)oor"e, 5 oubt "ay not be grante that "y e'ices "ay not befurthere,lest 5 e@alt "yself( 5 shoul unoubtely e@alt "yself, an &ithreason,coul 5 ha'e the honour an the blessing of such a &ife( An if "yesires ha'e so honourable an en, 5 kno& not &hy 5 shoul be calle&icke, an &hy 5 shoul not be allo&e to ho)e, that "y honeste'ices"ay be furthere, that 5 =AY e@alt "yself(

But here, =rs( Lo'ick, let "e ask, as so"ething is unoubtely "eant

bythe lonely s)arro& on the house*to), is not the ear creature at this'ery instant tell "e truly conceale in =rs( $"ith>s cockloft**s talk, but by this collection of $cri)ture*

te@tsra&n u) in array against "e( $e'eral other &hi"sical an lightthings 5sai 1all 5 ha for it4 &ith the sa"e 'ie&( But the &io& &oul notlet"e co"e off so( $he stuck to "e an ga'e "e, as 5 tol thee, a gooeal of uneasiness, by her sensible an serious e@)ostulations( =rs($"ith )ut in no&*an*then an the t&o 8ack*)uing fello&s, 8ohn an8ose)h, not being )resent, 5 ha no )ro'ocation to turn thecon'ersationinto a farce an, at last, they both joine &ar"ly to enea'our to)re'ail u)on "e to gi'e u) all thoughts of seeing the lay( But 5coulnot hear of that( On the contrary, 5 besought =rs( $"ith to let "eha'eone of her roo"s but till 5 coul see her an &ere it but for one,t&o,or three ays, 5 &oul )ay a year>s rent for it an Duit it the"o"entthe inter'ie& &as o'er( But they esire to be e@cuse an &eresurethe lay &oul not co"e to the house till 5 &as gone, &ere it for a"onth(

This )lease "e for 5 foun they i not think her so 'ery ill asthey&oul ha'e "e belie'e her to be but 5 took no notice of the sli),because 5 &oul not guar the" against "ore of the like(


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5n short, 5 tol the", 5 "ust an &oul see her+ but that it shoulbe&ith all the res)ect an 'eneration that heart coul )ay toe@cellencelike her>s+ an that 5 &oul go roun to all the churches in Lononan

s, in ho)es 5 "ight ha'e sur)rise her there+ but nosuch ha))iness for thy frien( 5 stai in the back*sho) an hour ananhalf, by "y &atch an again uner&ent a goo eal of )reach"ent fro"the&o"en( 8ohn &as "ainly ci'il to "e no& &on o'er a little by "yserioustalk, an the honour 5 )rofesse for the lay( They all three &ishe"atters coul be "ae u) bet&een us+ but still insiste that shecoulne'er get o'er her illness an that her heart &as broken( A cue, 5su))ose, they ha fro" you(


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&ith(

6 $ee Letter ??!5( of this 'olu"e(

They joine "ost heartily in the sa"e ho)e+ an, gi'ing the letter tothe" again, 5 ci'illy took lea'e, an &ent a&ay(

But 5 &ill be there again )resently for 5 fancy "y courteousbeha'iourto these &o"en &ill, on their re)ort of it, )rocure "e the fa'our 5soearnestly co'et( An so 5 &ill lea'e "y letter unseale, to telltheethe e'ent of "y ne@t 'isit at $"ith>s(

666

Thy ser'ant just calling, 5 sent thee this+ an &ill soon follo& itbyanother( =ean ti"e, 5 long to hear ho& )oor Belton is+ to &ho" "ybest&ishes(

LETTE% ?!5

=%( BEL7O%, TO %OBE%T LO!ELACE, E$M(

T9E$AY, A9G( --(

5 ha'e been uner such concern for the )oor "an, &hose e@it 5 al"osthourly e@)ect, an at the shocking scenes his illness an his agoniese@hibit, that 5 ha'e been only able to "ake "e"orana of the"elancholy)assages, fro" &hich to ra& u) a "ore )erfect account, for theinstruction of us all, &hen the &riting a))etite shall return(

666

5t is returne 5nignation has re'i'e it, on recei)t of thyletters of$unay an yesteray by &hich 5 ha'e reason to re)roach thee in 'eryserious ter"s, that thou hast not ke)t thy honour &ith "e+ an if thybreach of it be attene &ith such effects as 5 fear it &ill be, 5shalllet thee kno& "ore of "y "in on this hea(

5f thou &oulst be thought in earnest in thy &ishes to "o'e the )oorlayin thy fa'our, thy luicrous beha'iour at $"ith>s, &hen it co"es tobere)resente to her, &ill ha'e a 'ery consistent a))earance &ill itnot**5 &ill, inee, confir" in her o)inion, that the gra'e is "oreto


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be &ishe*for, by one of her serious an )ious turn, than a husbaninca)able either of reflection or re"orse just reco'ere, as thouart,fro" a angerous, at least a shar) turn(

5 a" e@tre"ely concerne for the )oor un)rotecte lay( $he &as so

e@cessi'ely lo& an &eak on $aturay, that 5 coul not be a"itte tohers)eech+ an to be ri'en out of her logings, &hen it &as fitter forherto be in be, is such a )iece of cruelty, as he only coul be guiltyof&ho coul act as thou hast one by such an angel(

Canst thou thyself say, on reflection, that it has not the look of a&icke an harene s)orti'eness, in thee, for the sake of a &antonhu"our only, since it can ans&er no en that thou )ro)osest tothyself,but the irect contrary, to hunt fro" )lace to )lace a )oor lay,

&ho,like a har"less eer, that has alreay a barbe shaft in her breast,seeks only a refuge fro" thee in the shaes of eath(

But 5 &ill lea'e this "atter u)on thy o&n conscience, to )aint theesucha scene fro" "y "e"orana, as thou )erha)s &ilt be "o'e by "oreeffectually than by any other+ because it is such a one as thouthyself"ust one ay be a )rinci)al actor in, an, as 5 thought, hast 'erylately in a))rehension+ an is the last scene of one of thy "oreinti"atefriens, &ho has been for the four )ast ays labouring in the agonies

ofeath( 7or, Lo'elace, let this truth, this unoubte truth, beengra'eon thy "e"ory, in all thy gaieties, That the life &e are so fon ofisharly life a "ere breathing s)ace only an that, at the en of itslongest ate,

Thou "ust ie, as &ell as Belton(

Thou kno&est, by Tour'ille, &hat &e ha one as to the )oor "an>s&orllyaffairs an that &e ha got his unha))y sister to co"e an li'e &ithhi"little i &e think hi" so 'ery near to his en+ an so 5 &ill)roceeto tell thee, that &hen 5 arri'e at his house on $aturay night, 5founhi" e@cessi'ely ill+ but just raise, an in his elbo&*chair, hel u)byhis nurse an =o&bray the roughest an "ost untouche creature thate'erentere a sick "an>s cha"ber &hile the "ai*ser'ants &ere trying to"ake that be easier for hi" &hich he &as to return to his "in tenti"es uneasier than that coul be, an the true cause that the o&n&asno softer to hi"(

He ha so "uch longe to see "e, as 5 &as tol by his sister, &ho" 5


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sent for o&n to inDuire ho& he &as, that they all rejoice &hen 5entere+ Here, sai =o&bray, here, To""y, is honest 8ack Belfor

t es)ise "e, 5 beseech thee(

5 e'er honoure a "an that coul &ee) for the istresses of others

ane'er shall, sai 5 an such a one cannot be insensible of his o&n(

Ho&e'er, 5 coul not hel) being 'isibly "o'e at the )oor fello&>se"otion(

:o&, sai the brutal =o&bray, o 5 think thee insufferable, 8ack(Our)oor frien is alreay a )eg too lo& an here thou art letting hi"o&nlo&er an lo&er still( This soothing of hi" in his ejecte "o"ents,anjoining thy &o"anish tears &ith his, is not the &ay 5 a" sure it isnot(5f our Lo'elace &ere here, he> tell thee so(

Thou art an i")enetrable creature, re)lie 5 unfit to be )resent atascene, the terrors of &hich thou &ilt not be able to feel till thoufeelest the" in thyself an then, if thou hast ti"e for feeling, "ylife for thine, thou beha'est as )itifully as those thou thinkest"ost)itiful(

Then turning to the )oor sick "an, Tears, "y ear Belton, are nosigns ofan un"anly, but, contrarily of a hu"ane nature they ease theo'er*charge heart, &hich &oul burst but for that kinly an naturalrelief(


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Gi'e sorro& &ors says $haks)eare **The grief that oes not s)eak, er*fraught heart, an bis it break(

5 kno&, "y ear Belton, thou usest to take )leasure in re)etitions

fro"the )oets but thou "ust be tasteless of their beauties no&+ yet benotiscountenance by this uncouth an unreflecting =o&bray, for, as8u'enalsays, Tears are the )rerogati'e of "anhoo(

>Tis at least seasonably sai, "y ear Belfor( 5t is kin to kee)"e incountenance for this &o"anish &eakness, as =o&bray has beenu)braiinglycalling it, e'er since he has been &ith "e+ an in so oing,&hate'er 5

"ight ha'e thought in such high health as he enjoys, has con'ince"e,that bottle*friens feel nothing but &hat "o'es in that littlecircle(


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elight to talk of the li'ing Lo'elace an le'ities, than of theyingBelton an his re)entance(

5 just sa& hi" again on $aturay night before 5 &ent to be &hich 5i

early for 5 &as surfeite &ith =o&bray>s frothy insensibility, ancoulnot bear hi"(

5t is such a horri thing to think of, that a "an &ho ha li'e insuchstrict ter"s of**&hat shall 5 call it &ith another the )roof oesnotco"e out so, as to say, frienshi) &ho ha )retene so "uch lo'eforhi" coul not bear to be out of his co")any &oul rie an hunre"ileson en to enjoy it an &oul fight for hi", be the cause right or

&rong+yet no&, coul be so little "o'e to see hi" in such "isery of boyan"in, as to be able to rebuke hi", an rather riicule than )ity hi",because he &as "ore affecte by &hat he felt, than he ha seen a"alefactor, harene )erha)s by liDuor, an not softene by )re'ioussickness, on his going to e@ecution(

This )ut "e strongly in "in of &hat the i'ine =iss HA%LOThat has not 'irtue for its base(>

$unay "orning, 5 &as calle u) at si@ o>clock, at the )oor "an>searnestreDuest, an foun hi" in a terrible agony( O 8ack 8ack sai he,looking &illy, as if he ha seen a s)ectre**Co"e nearer "e**ear,earBelfor, sa'e "e Then clas)ing "y ar" &ith both his hans, anrearingu) his hea to&ars "e, his eyes strangely rolling, $a'e "e earBelfor, sa'e "e re)eate he(

5 )ut "y other ar" about hi"**$a'e you fro" &hat, "y ear Beltonsai 5sa'e you fro" &hat :othing shall hurt you(


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&oul 5 gi'e for one year of "y )ast life**only one year**an toha'ethe sa"e sense of things that 5 no& ha'e

5 trie to co"fort hi" as &ell as 5 coul+ but free*li'ers to free*li'ers

are sorry eath*be co"forters( An he broke in u)on "e+ O "y earBelfor, sai he, 5 a" tol, an 5 ha'e hear you riicule for it,that the e@cellent =iss Harlo&e has &rought a con'ersion in you( =ayitbe so You are a "an of sense+ O "ay it be so :o& is your ti"e:o&,that you are in full 'igour of "in an boy**But your )oor Belton,alas your )oor Belton ke)t his 'ices, till they left hi"**an seethe"iserable effects in ebility of "in an es)onency s justice cannot let his "ercy o)erate for "y

co"fort+ for, Oh 5 ha'e been 'ery, 'ery &icke an ha'e es)isetheoffers of his grace, till he has &ithra&n it fro" "e for e'er(

5 use all the argu"ents 5 coul think of to gi'e hi" consolation+an&hat 5 sai ha such an effect u)on hi", as to Duiet his "in for thegreatest )art of the ay an in a luci hour his "e"ory ser'e hi"tore)eat these lines of ryen, gras)ing "y han, an looking &istfullyu)on "e+

O that 5 less coul fear to lose this being,

tis gras)e, the faster "elts a&ay

5n the afternoon of $unay, he &as inDuisiti'e after you, an your)resent beha'iour to =iss Harlo&e( 5 tol hi" ho& you ha been, anho&light you "ae of it( =o&bray &as )lease &ith your i")enetrableharness of heart, an sai, Bob( Lo'elace &as a goo ege*tool, ansteel to the back+ an such coarse but hearty )raises he ga'e you, asanabanone "an "ight gi'e, an only an abanone "an coul &ish toeser'e(

But hast thou hear &hat the )oor ying Belton sai on thisoccasion,)erha)s it &oul ha'e "ae thee serious an hour or t&o, at least(

>


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or to "o'e &ithout hel) not one ray of ho)e arting in u)on hisbenighte soul his conscience staning in the )lace of a thousan&itnesses his )ains e@cruciating &eary of the )oor re"nant of lifeherags, yet reaing, that, in a fe& short hours, his ba &ill bechange

to &orse, nay, to &orst of all an that &orst of all, to last beyonti"e an to all eternity O 8ack &hat &ill he then think of the )oortransitory gratifications of sense, &hich no& engage all hisattentionTell hi", ear Belfor, tell hi", ho& ha))y he is if he kno& his o&nying ha))iness ho& ha))y, co")are to his )oor ying frien, thathehas reco'ere fro" his illness, an has still an o))ortunity lenthi",for &hich 5 &oul gi'e a thousan &orls, ha 5 the" to gi'e>

5 a))ro'e e@ceeingly of his reflections, as suite to his )resentcircu"stances an inferre consolations to hi" fro" a "in so

)ro)erlytouche(

He )roceee in the like )enitent strain( 5 ha'e li'e a 'ery &ickelife so ha'e &e all(


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the efficacy of that gracious attribute, &hen that no less shiningone ofjustice forbis "e to ho)e ho& can 5**5, &ho ha'e es)ise all&arnings, an taken no a'antage of the benefit 5 "ight ha'e rea)efro"the lingering consu")ti'e illness 5 ha'e laboure uner, but left all

tothe last stake ho)ing for reco'ery against ho)e, an ri'ing offre)entance, till that grace is enie "e for, oh "y ear Belfor 5canno& neither re)ent, nor )ray, as 5 ought "y heart is harene, an 5cano nothing but es)air**

=ore he &oul ha'e sai but, o'er&hel"e &ith grief an infir"ity,hebo&e his hea u)on his )angful boso", enea'ouring to hie fro" thesight of the harene =o&bray, &ho just then entere the roo", thosetears &hich he coul not restrain(

Preface by a )hleg"atic he" sa, 'ery sa, truly crie =o&bray&hosat hi"self o&n on one sie of the be, as 5 sat on the other+ hiseyeshalf close, an his li)s )outing out to his turne*u) nose, his chincurle 1to use one of thy escri)tions4 lea'ing one at a loss tokno&&hether stu)i ro&siness or intense conte")lation ha got "ost holofhi"(

An e@cellent, ho&e'er uneasy lesson, =o&bray sai 5(**By "y faith it

is5t "ay one ay, &ho kno&s ho& soon be our o&n case

5 thought of thy ya&ning*fit, as escribe in thy letter of Aug( 3(7oru) starte =o&bray, &rithing an shaking hi"self as in an ague*fithishans stretche o'er his hea**&ith thy hoy hoy hoy ya&ning( Anthenreco'ering hi"self, &ith another stretch an a shake, s o>clockcrie he )ulling out his &atch**an stalking by long ti)*toe striesthrough the roo", o&n stairs he &ent an "eeting the "ai in the)assage, 5 hear hi" say**Betty, bring "e a bu")er of claret thy)oor"aster, an this **** Belfor, are enough to thro& a Hercules intothe'a)ours(

=o&bray, after this, assu"ing hi"self in our frien>s library, &hichis,as thou kno&est, chiefly classical an ra"atical, foun out a)assage inLee>s Oei)us, &hich he &oul nees ha'e to be e@tre"ely a)t an inheca"e full fraught &ith the notion of the courage it &oul gi'e theying"an, an rea it to hi"( >Tis )oetical an )retty( This is it+

at noon


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But s"all, a))ear "ost long an terrible+ $o &hen &e think fate ho'ers o>er our heas, Our a))rehensions shoot beyon all bouns+ O&ls, ra'ens, crickets, see" the &atch of eath :ature>s &orst 'er"in scare her golike sons+ Echoes, the 'ery lea'ings of a 'oice,

Gro& babbling ghosts, an call us to our gra'es( Each "ole*hill thought s&ells to a huge Oly")us s &eight(

He e@)ecte )raises for fining this out( But Belton turning hisheafro" hi", Ah, ick sai he, these are not the reflections of aying"an**tis all he canbihis )oor frien rely u)on

s last scene on the other, affect "e not, 5 "ust beabanone to)erition as 5 fear thou &ilt be, if thou benefittest not thyselffro"both(

A"ong the consolatory things 5 urge, &hen 5 &as calle u) the lastti"eon $unay night, 5 tol hi", that he "ust not absolutely gi'e hi"selfu)to es)air+ that "any of the a))rehensions he &as uner, &ere such asthebest "en "ust ha'e, on the reaful uncertainty of &hat &as tosuccee tothis life( >Tis &ell obser'e, sai 5, by a )oetical i'ine, &ho &asane@cellent christian,6 That


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eath coul not a "ore sa retinue fin, $ickness an )ain before, an arkness all behin(

6 The %e' =r( :orris, of Bre"erton(

About eight o>clock yesteray =onay "orning, 5 foun hi" a littlecal"er( He aske "e &ho &as the author of the t&o lines 5 hare)eateto hi" an "ae "e s)eak the" o'er again( A sa retinue, ineesaithe )oor "an( An then e@)ressing his ho)elessness of life, an histerrors at the thoughts of ying an ra&ing fro" thence terribleconclusions &ith regar to his future state There is, sai 5, such anatural a'ersion to eath in hu"an nature, that you are not toi"agine,that you, "y ear Belton, are singular in the fear of it, an in the

a))rehensions that fill the thoughtful "in u)on its a))roach butyouought, as "uch as )ossible, to se)arate those natural fears &hich all"en"ust ha'e on so sole"n an occasion, fro" those )articular ones &hichyourjustly*a))rehene unfitness fills you &ith( =r( Po"fret, in hisPros)ect of eath, &hich 5 i))e into last night fro" a collectioninyour closet, &hich 5 )ut into "y )ocket, says, 1an 5 turne to the)lace4

=erely to ie, no "an of reason fears

7or certainly &e "ust, As &e are born, return to ust >Tis the last )oint of "any ling*ring years But &hither then &e go,


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Then follo&s, &hat 5 re)eate,

eath coul not a "ore sa retinue fin, $ickness an )ain before, an arkness all behin(

Alas "y ear Belfor 1inferre the unha))y ee)*thinker4 &hat )oor

creatures oes this con'ince "e &e "ortals are at best**But &hatthen"ust be the case of such a )rofligate as 5, &ho by a )ast &icke lifeha'e ae greater force to these natural terrors 5f eath be sore)ugnant a thing to hu"an nature, that goo "en &ill be startle atit,&hat "ust it be to one &ho has li'e a life of sense an a))etitenore'er reflecte u)on the en &hich 5 no& a" &ithin 'ie& of


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But the )resence of a frien, a sy")athising frien**Oh ho&co"fortable

But, about four in the "orning, he frighte "e "uch+ he &ake &iththreeterrible groans an enea'oure to s)eak, but coul not )resently**

an&hen he i,**8ack, 8ack, 8ack, fi'e or si@ ti"es re)eate he asDuick asthought, no&, no&, no&, sa'e "e, sa'e "e, sa'e "e**5 a" going**goinginee

5 thre& "y ar"s about hi", an raise hi" u)on his )illo&, as he &assinking as if to hie hi"self in the be*clothes**An staring&illy,


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for the t&o )ast ays an nights, though he ha slee)ing*raughtsgi'enhi" before( But it is "ore an "ore e'ient e'ery hour that natureisal"ost &orn out in hi"(

666

=o&bray, Duite tire &ith this house of "ourning, intens to set outinthe "orning to fin you( He &as not a little rejoice to hear you&erein to&n 5 belie'e to ha'e a )retence to lea'e us(

666

He has just taken lea'e of his )oor frien, intening to go a&ayearly+an e'erlasting lea'e, 5 "ay 'enture to say for 5 think he &illharlyli'e till to*"orro& night(

5 belie'e the )oor "an &oul not ha'e been sorry ha he left hi" &hen5arri'e for >tis a shocking creature, an enjoys too strong healthtokno& ho& to )ity the sick( Then to borro& an obser'ation fro" theehe

has, by nature, strong boily organs, &hich those of his soul are notlikely to &het out an he, as &ell as the &icke frien he is goingto,"ay last a great &hile fro" the strength of their constitutions,thoughso greatly ifferent in their talents, if neither the s&or nor thehalter inter)ose(

5 "ust re)eat, That 5 cannot but be 'ery uneasy for the )oor lay&ho"you so cruelly )ersecute an that 5 o not think that you ha'e ke)tyourhonour &ith "e( 5 &as a))rehensi'e, inee, that you &oul atte")ttosee her, as soon as you got &ell enough to co"e u) an 5 tol her as"uch, "aking use of it as an argu"ent to )re)are her for your 'isit,anto inuce her to stan it( But she coul not, it is )lain, bear theshock of it+ an inee she tol "e that she &oul not see you,thoughbut for one half*hour, for the &orl(

Coul she ha'e )re'aile u)on herself, 5 kno& that the sight of her&oulha'e been as affecting to you, as your 'isit coul ha'e been to her&henyou ha seen to &hat a lo'ely skeleton for she is really lo'elystill,


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nor can she, &ith such a for" an features, be other&ise you ha'e,in afe& &eeks, reuce one of the "ost char"ing &o"en in the &orl anthatin the full bloo" of her youth an beauty(

=o&bray unertakes to carry this, that he "ay be "ore &elco"e to you,hesays( ll gi'e you aco)yof it u)on e"an for 5 inten to kee) it by "e, as a guar againsttheinfection of your co")any, &hich "ight other&ise, )erha)s, so"e ti"ehence, be a)t to &eaken the i")ressions 5 al&ays esire to ha'e ofthea&ful scene before "e( Go con'ert us both

LETTE% ?!55

=%( BEL7O%, TO %OBE%T LO!ELACE, E$M(CLOC;(

5 belie'e no "an has t&o such ser'ants as 5 ha'e( Because 5 treatthe"&ith kinness, an o not lor it o'er "y inferiors, an **n ancursethe" by looks an &ors like =o&bray or beat their teeth out like

Lo'elace but cry, Pr>ythee, Harry, o this, an, Pr>ythee, 8onathan,othat the fello&s )ursue their o&n e'ices, an regar nothing 5 say,but&hat falls in &ith these(

Here, this 'ile Harry, &ho "ight ha'e brought your letter ofyesteray ingoo ti"e, ca"e not in &ith it till )ast ele'en at night runk, 5su))ose an concluing that 5 &as in be, as he )retens becausehe&as tol 5 sat u) the )receing night brought it not to "e anha'ingo'ersle)t hi"self, just as 5 ha seale u) "y letter, in co"es the'illain &ith the forgotten one, shaking his ears, an looking as ifhehi"self i not belie'e the e@cuses he &as going to "ake( 5Duestionehi" about it, an hear his )itiful )leas an though 5 ne'er thinkitbeco"es a gentle"an to treat )eo)le insolently &ho by their stationsarehu"ble beneath his feet, yet coul 5 not forbear to Lo'elace an=o&brayhi" "ost corially(

An this etaining =o&bray &ho &as reay to set out to you before&hile5 &rite a fe& lines u)on it, the fierce fello&, &ho is i")atient to


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e@change the co")any of a ying Belton for that of a too*li'elyLo'elace,affi@e a su))le"ent of curses u)on the staring fello&, that &aslargerthan "y book**nor i 5 offer to take off the bear fro" such a"ongrel,

since, on this occasion, he eser'e not of "e the )rotection &hiche'ery"aster o&es to a goo ser'ant(

He has not one cursing hi" yet for stalking about the court*yar&ithhis boots on, the )oor fello& ressing his horse, an unable to getfro"hi", he is at hi" &ithout "ercy an 5 &ill heighten his i")atience,since being just uner the &ino& &here 5 a" &riting, he &ill notlet "eatten to "y )en, by telling you ho& he fills "y ears as &ell as thefello&>s, &ith his**Hay, $ir An G** **n ye, $ir An &ere ye "y

ser'ant, ye og ye An "ust 5 stay here till the "i*ay sunscorches"e to a )arch"ent, for such a "angy og>s runken neglect**Ye lie,$irrah**Ye lie, 5 tell you**15 hear the fello&>s 'oice in an hu"blee@cusatory tone, though not articulately4 Ye lie, ye og**5> a goo"in to thrust "y &hi) o&n your runken throat+ **n "e, if 5 &oulnotflay the skin fro" the back of such a rascal, if thou &ert "ine, anha'eog>s*skin glo'es "ae of it, for thy brother scounrels to &ear inre"e"brance of thy abuses of such a "aster(

The )oor horse suffers for this, 5 oubt not for,


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ha'e not seen her+ an, that it &oul be kin, if you> co"e, an,forthe last ti"e you &ill e'er see your )oor frien, share "y concernforhi" an, in hi", see &hat, in a little ti"e, &ill be your fate an"ine,

an that of =o&bray, Tour'ille, an the rest of us**7or &hat are ten,fifteen, t&enty, or thirty years, to look back to in the longest of&hich )erios for&ar &e shall all )erha)s be "ingle &ith the ustfro"&hich &e s)rung

LETTE% ?!555

=%( LO!ELACE, TO 8OH: BEL7O%, E$M(CLOC; A9G( --(

$5%,

5 ha'e goo ne&s to tell you( 5 a" setting out &ith all iligencefor "yfather>s house, 5 a" bi to ho)e that he &ill recei'e his )oor)enitent&ith a gooness )eculiar to hi"self for 5 a" o'erjoye &ith theassurance of a thorough reconciliation, through the inter)osition ofaear, blesse frien, &ho" 5 al&ays lo'e an honoure( 5 a" sotaken u)&ith "y )re)aration for this joyful an long*&ishe*for journey, that5


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cannot s)are one "o"ent for any other business, ha'ing se'eral"atters ofthe last i")ortance to settle first( $o, )ray, $ir, on>t isturb orinterru)t "e**5 beseech you on>t( You "ay )ossibly in ti"e see "eat "yfather>s at least if it be not your o&n fault(

5 &ill &rite a letter, &hich shall be sent you &hen 5 a" got thitheranrecei'e+ till &hen, 5 a", c(

CLA%5$$A HA%LOs($he al&ays, as she says, lo'e an honoure hi" An he lo'e herabo'eall his relations(


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5 shall no& be con'ince that there is so"ething in rea"s( Theo)eningclou is the reconciliation in 'ie&( The bright for", lifting u) "ychar"er through it to a fir"a"ent stuck roun &ith golen cherubi"sansera)hi"s, inicates the char"ing little boys an girls, that &ill be

thefruits of this ha))y reconciliation( The &elco"es, thrice re)eate,arethose of her

Documents

Clarissa or the History of a Young Lady, Volume 8