"I the Editortell you and command you to believe, that this Book, calledPamela, willdivert,entertain,instruct, andimprovetheYouth of both Sexes."It is the best System ofReligionandMoralityextant,delightfulandprofitableto theyounger Classof Readers, as well as those ofmaturer Yearsand Understanding."All thesocial Dutiesin high and low Life, are set forth in the most exemplary Lights.Viceis madeodious,Virtuetruelylovely; the Charactersjustlydrawn, andequallysupported; theManofFortune,Passion, orIntriguerightly instructed; practicalExamplesgiven to the Ladies in the most critical and affecting Cases, either ofVirgin,Bride, orWife: These represented in solivelya Manner, that the Passions of everysensibleReader must be affected; and his that are not,I pronouncehim aFool. Yet though the Passions are so much touched, there is not asingle Ideathroughout theWholethat shall shock theexactest Purity, nor shall a Lady be put to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it."Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Wordtrue; nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I confidentlyassert, that all thedesireable Endsareobtained in these Sheets; and if any one should dispute it, I will convince him by two incontestable Proofs. First, that I know frommy ownPassions, that I never perused these engaging Scenes without being uncommonlymoved:And, for that Reason, I insist upon it, that every Man who reads them must be the same: And next, that I, as anEditor, judge with more Impartiality than anAuthorcan do."
"I the Editortell you and command you to believe, that this Book, calledPamela, willdivert,entertain,instruct, andimprovetheYouth of both Sexes.
"It is the best System ofReligionandMoralityextant,delightfulandprofitableto theyounger Classof Readers, as well as those ofmaturer Yearsand Understanding.
"All thesocial Dutiesin high and low Life, are set forth in the most exemplary Lights.Viceis madeodious,Virtuetruelylovely; the Charactersjustlydrawn, andequallysupported; theManofFortune,Passion, orIntriguerightly instructed; practicalExamplesgiven to the Ladies in the most critical and affecting Cases, either ofVirgin,Bride, orWife: These represented in solivelya Manner, that the Passions of everysensibleReader must be affected; and his that are not,I pronouncehim aFool. Yet though the Passions are so much touched, there is not asingle Ideathroughout theWholethat shall shock theexactest Purity, nor shall a Lady be put to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it.
"Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Wordtrue; nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I confidentlyassert, that all thedesireable Endsareobtained in these Sheets; and if any one should dispute it, I will convince him by two incontestable Proofs. First, that I know frommy ownPassions, that I never perused these engaging Scenes without being uncommonlymoved:And, for that Reason, I insist upon it, that every Man who reads them must be the same: And next, that I, as anEditor, judge with more Impartiality than anAuthorcan do."
What Vanity is this! Did it ever appear more conspicuous in the Writings of any one? The worthy Gentleman who is appointed to preside over theBritishMuses, hath been frequently accused of being a perfect Master in this Art; nay, so far indeed does it extenuate the Crime, that he acknowledges the Foible. He has long been allowed to reign sole Monarch of the Realms ofEffronteryandVanity; but in you, Sir, let him dread a formidableRival.
The positively pronouncing a Thing quite perfect, and the only good one of its Kind upon your meeripse Dixi, is something so novel, and tacitly calling all Fools who shall dare to swerve from that Opinion, gives it such an Air of Consequence and assur'd Success, as may prevail on many, who search no farther than the Surface to believe it tobewhat it isrepresented; but to Persons who may be assensible, tho' perhaps not so bigotted to an Opinion, as the Editor, it must only afford Matter for Laughter and Ridicule.
If it is not ludicrous, (tho' what can be too light a Counterpoise for such frothy Affectation!) I once met with a Story from an honest Country Man, which seems very applicable to the Case in Question. A Doctor, says the Farmer, once did us the Honour of a Visit at our Village, he appeared in all the Ornament of Dress necessary to excite Curiosity in simple unmeaning Clowns, he began his Harangue, by inveighing bitterly against the Errors and Tricks of his Brother Practitioners, their Advice was deficient, their Drugs unwholsome, and instead of healing, they did but taint the Body; he only prescribed what was proper, and his Arcanum was the grand Restorative of Health thenfirst published, with a salutary Design of confirming the whole Country's Health to the utter Ruin of all Physicians, Apothecaries,&c.Name what Disease you would, his little Pill was an immediate and sovereign Remedy. During the Doctor's Oration there appear'd behind him a surly Sort of a Fellow, dress'd in all the Accoutrements that could be collected together to make him look terrible, yet through all, you might discern a sly leering Grin: No sooner had the Doctor pronounced his Nostrum universal, butAndrew(for he, it seems, was the formidable Hero in Disguise) advancing forward with an Air military flourishes his broad Sword over his Head; andbeing mildly ask'd by the Doctor, what was the Occasion of that tremendous Visage, he boldly answered——to Kill any one that dare dispute it.
Thus you, Sir, asEditorstand boldly aSwissat your own Portal, to invite in your Friends with recommendatory Letters, and hard strain'd complemental Rhimes to yourself asAuthor, to usher your doughty Performance into the World.
I shall pass over them in a cursory Manner, as they only appear to beAidersandAbetters, and not principally concerned; they only tend to sound forth the Praise of the Book, and amount to little more than what the Vulgar call aPuff. The first of them insinuates aFrench Translation, and as I see one is since advertised to be published, it may not be amiss to congratulate the Gentleman, whoever he is, on his lucky Thought, and wish him as much Success on his beingTranslator, as you have met with in beingEditor; tho' upon Consideration I must confess that would be doing wrong, for as I think the Book to have a bad Tendency in general, (which I shall endeavour to prove presently) to transmit it into another Language is but spreading the Infection farther.
The next Epistle abounds with the same fulsome Flattery as the former, it is there—"full of Instruction and Morality,—a pure clear Fountain of Truth and Innocence;—a Magazine of Virtue and unblemish'd Thoughts:—ALL others tend only to corrupt our Principles and mislead our Judgments, butPamelamust be for the universal Benefit of Mankind, 'twill reclaim the Vicious, and mend the Age in general."
The Introduction to the Second Edition is only calculated to load us with still more Stuff of the same Kind as the former; You would do well, Sir, before you so confidently affirm the Gentleman who hath given his Opinion upon the Objections that have been offered to be a Person ofdistinguish'd TasteandAbilities, either to have let us knownwhohe was, or some of his former Works, which might have convinced us of thoseAbilities, for I think the long Harangue prefix'd toPamelawill never be deem'd a sufficient Proof thereof——The Gentleman himself acknowledges thatwhen it has dwelt all Day long upon the Ear, it takes Possession all night of the Fancy; That is, I suppose, it contributes to make hisDreamssomething pleasanter than usual; and I am sorry if I am mistaken, but it seems to me, that he wrote his Dissertation half awake and half asleep, just as hewas disturb'd from one of those agreeable Reveries——His Return from his Walk in the Snow and the Reflection there made, is far from holding good, if it shall appear that the Author ofPamela, instead of being Father toMillions of Minds, serves only to inspire them with Thoughts and Ideas, which must infallibly make the Mind subservient to the Body, and Reason not only fall a Victim to, but, quite debauch'd, assist the sensual Appetites.
The Objections pretended to be made by an anonymous Gentleman were in my Opinion only formed on Purpose for the Sake of the Answers; so passing over them:—ParsonWilliams'sDovewithout serpentine Mixture; the natural Story of the little Boy, for which Sort of AdmirersPamelaseems to be more immediately calculated, &c. I come to the Objection the Gentleman makes himself, which I cant think would be sufficientlyobviatedby anyAlterationin theFront of another Edition, while the same is retained in the very Body of the Story; his Objection take in his own Words.
"There are Mothers or Grandmothers (saith he) in all Families of affluent Fortune who tho' they may have none ofLady Davers's Insolence, will be apt to feel one of herFears—That the Example of a Gentleman so amiableas Mr.B——may be follow'd by theJackiestheir Sons, with too blind and unreflecting a Readiness; nor does the Answer of that Gentleman to his Sister's Reproach come quite up to the Point they will rest on: For though indeed it is true, all the World would acquit the best Gentleman in it, if he married such a Waiting Maid asPamela, yet there is an ill discerning Partiality in Passion that will overthrow all the Force of that Argument:Because every beloved Maid would be a Pamela, in a Judgment obscured by her Influence."
Nor can I think he has stated his own Objection as strong as it might be, or even sufficiently answer'd it as it is, for where he recommends "the purpos'd Excitement of Persons inPamela'sCondition of Life, by an Emulation of her Sweetness, Humility, Modesty, Patience and Industry to attain some faint Hope of arriving in Time within View of her Happiness?——What a delightful Reformation, says he, should we see in all Families, where the Vanity of their Maids took no Turn toward Ambition to please, but by such innocent Pleasures asPamelia's."
This is first of all making an Objection, then denying it to be one; for what does he defend in the last Paragraph, but the very Thingthat is allowed to be the general bad Tendency of the Book,viz: That every Maid Servant from what low Stock soever she sprung, if she is pretty modest,&c.has an undoubted Right to attempt to entice her Master to Marriage:——Nay in what he allows is proposed to teach theGay Worldand theFortunate, he more particularly acknowledges it to be this.——"By Comparison with that infinite Remoteness of her Condition from the Reward which her Virtue procured her, one great Proof is derived, (which, says he expressly;is Part of the Moral of Pamela) that Advantages fromBirth, and Distinction ofFortunehave no Power at all, when consider'd against those ofBehaviourand Temper of Mind: Because where thelastare not added, all thefirstwill be boasted in Vain. Whereas she who possesses the last, findsno Wantof the first in her Influence."——If this is proper Instructions for young Ladies I am deceived, for by the same Rule that it may hold good withServant Maidsin regard to their obtaining theirYoung Masters(which he would call as above——the Reward their Virtue procured them.). It must equally make the Ladies conclude that if they can find any thing mere deserving in theirFootmenthan theYoung Gentlemen, who by a suitable Rank and Fortune are designed to be their Suitors, they are under no Obligation to chuse the latter, butare meritoriouslythrowing down all Distinction ofFamilyand taking up with the former.
Thus much, Sir, I have thought proper to observe in regard to your Assistants; now give me Leave to say, that I think yourPamelaso far from being a proper Entertainment for the Youth of both Sexes, especially the young Ladies, that it is indisputable no young Girl however innocent she may be; at the Age when Nature softens and moulds the tender yielding Heart to Love can possibly read several Passages in it, which I shall point out, without conceiving Ideas she otherwise might never have dream'd of; and instead of recommending it to my Daughters I would keep it from their Sight, as too pernicious for them to converse with.
But before I enter into any particular Parts, I will take a short Summary of the whole Tale as you would willingly have it represented, with my Objections thereto, and wherein I think you fall short of what you have promised in your Title Page, and is directly the Reverse of the Encomiums bestow'd in your Preface.
The Foundation ofPamela's Story isTruthandNatureas you have laid it down at first, pursuant to this you would have represented to us, in the Characters you have drawn, a Young Girlborn of honest but mean Parents, who by some Means or other had procured for their only surviving Child a Place in a Lady of Fashion's Family, where her Education and growing Beauty just at her blooming Age, by the Death of her old Lady, left her a warm Temptation to a succeeding Heir, who had joined all the Prejudices of modern polite Education to the insulting Affluence of Fortune; he accordingly among his deceased Mother's Treasure finds this beauteous Virgin, and thinking that his Fortune might or juvenile Gaiety attract her an easy devoted Prey to his amorous Inclinations, he tries all Arts to seduce her thereto, but finding them all ineffectual, he at last flies even to Threats and Anger to force her to gratify a then raging brutal Passion which became too fierce to be endured, and too predominant to be stifled or overcome, and in order to bring her to Compliance, he is guilty of the basest Treachery and Perfidiousness; for instead of letting her return in Safety to her Father and Mother as he had promised her, and which more speciously to make her believe, he complements her with his own Chariot to carry her, but at the same Time gives private Orders to his Servants to convey her far from the Place she desires to go to, there to be immur'd like a Prisoner, and all this in Hopes of forcing her into Compliance. There commited to the safe Custody of aSwiss, and one that is nothing better than anold Bawd;there a thousand Difficulties surround her, the poor artless Maid still unacquainted with Love, and all it's little Artifices, here lights of a Minister, who professing a Value and Esteem For her, undertakes at the Hazard and Expence of his own Welfare and Subsistence to engage in her Cause and procure her Liberty; but meeting with a severe Disappointment even to his then seeming utter Ruin, the Design proves abortive, and the poor Girl is still left to further and terrible Trials of her Chastity; 'till at last overcomeing all, she captivates her Tyrant, binds him insoft Fetters of Love, when he only means to enslave her inChains of Lust. Thus by a quick Transition from a Servant Maid, she becomes the lawful Mistress of the Dwelling she so lately waited in; and is supposed to give as excellent Example as aWife, as she gave ofChastityas a Maid. Andthus is Virtue Rewarded.
The most sanguine of your Admirers could not, I fancy, more inpartially state the Case, as it has been represented by them in your Behalf. Now let us examine what is the Opinion of as many on the other Side. Their first great Charge, is, that in the narrative Part of her Letters, you have interspersed too many Scenes that directly tend to inflame the Minds of Youth: Next, thatPamelainstead of being artless and innocent sets out at first with as much Knowledge of the Arts of theTown, as if she had been born and bred inCoventGarden, all her Life Time; that your fine Gentleman does not come up to the Character you would fain have him be thought to assume, that his Sister LadyDavers, is little better than a downrightBillingsgate, and her poor Lord is the only one who meets with Pity. That Mrs.Jewkesmight takeColbrandwith her and set up in a House somewhere in the Purlieus ofSt. Giles, while honest MotherJervismight marryJonathan, and perhaps be promoted to a little Inn of SquireB's in the Country, even that Mrs.Pamelastopp'd at in her Journey to theLincolnshireEstate. Thus, Sir, do many enter into Conversation with the Character of Men of Taste and Pleasantry, find Fault in Opposition to the exuberant Praises bestow'd onPamelaby others.
I however was much more pleas'd for my own Part with the Opinion of a stay'd sober Gentleman, who was then call'd upon to declare his Sentiments, tho' I don't send it to you as an Extract from aCurious Letter, neither was it submitted to him, as a Gentleman of themostdistinguish'd Taste and Abilities. But to the best of my Remembrance he express'd himself something like the following Manner.
I don't approve, said he, of theExtravagancieswhich People have run into on both sides ofthe Question in regard toPamela, neither of those who have cried it up as a Masterpiece in its Kind and the most perfect Thing that ever was published; nor of those who depreciate it as the most insignificant Trifle they ever met with, and hardly worth Notice, on the contrary, I think it is very artfully work'd up, and the Passions so strongly touch'd that it is impossible for Youth to read it without Sympathy, and even wishing themselves in such a Situation, which must be attended with very bad Consequences.Pamelaunder the Notion of being a Virtuous Modest Girl will be introduced into all Families, and when she gets there, what Scenes does she represent? Why a fine young Gentleman endeavouring to debauch a beautiful Girl of Sixteen. The Advances are regular, and the amorous Conflicts so agreeably and warmly depicted, that the young Gentleman Reader will at the best be tempted to rehearse some of the same Scenes with somePamelaor other in the Family, and the Modest Young Lady can never read the Description of Naked Breasts being run over with the Hand, and Kisses given with such Eagerness that they cling to the Lips; but her own soft Breasts must heave at the Idea and secretly sigh for the same Pressure; what then can she do when she comes to the closer Struggles of the Bed, where the tender Virgin lies panting and exposed, if not to the last Conquest, (which I think the Author hath barely avoided)at least to all the Liberties which ungoverned Hands of a determined Lover must be supposed to take? If she is contented with only wishing for the same Trial to shew the Steadiness of her Virtue it is sufficient; but if Nature should be too powerful, as Nature at Sixteen is a very formidable Enemy tho' Shame and the Censure of the World may restrain her from openly gratifying the criminal Thought, yet she privately may seek Remedies which may drive her to the most unnatural Excesses.
This then, said he, in short is my Opinion ofPamela; that theStoryis prettily related, thePassionsfinely wrought up, and theCatastrophebeautifully concluded, but in the Course of the Narrative, and almost interspersed throughout the Whole, there are suchScenesofLove, and suchlewd Ideas, as must fill the Youth that read them withSentimentsandDesiresworse thanRochestercan, and for this Reason, they will start at a gross Expression, which if nicely and artfully convey'd they'll dwell on with Rapture. Therefore I think it whollyunfitforYouth, and declare freely I would by no Means trust myDaughterswith reading it.
This Gentleman's Opinion induced me to read over yourPamela, and I really find it too true: There is a perfect System of Intrigue, andthey begin so gently by Degrees, and are led on so methodically to the last Grand Attack, and this with amorous Attacks in View, even thro' the gravest Sentences of Morality that it is impossible to read it without endeavouring to gratify the Passion he hath raised; let us viewPamelathen, divested of the Drapery in which she is enclos'd, tho' not hid, and then her Charms will appear thus: The wise Father will never think it proper for his Son's Closet, and the careful Mother banish that with other Novels and Romances from her Daughter's Cabinet.
PAMELAbegins from the Death of her Lady, and tho' she gives the Narrative in her own Person, yet let us take it as a Tale only, without any Consideration had to it's being epistolary, and the loose Images will be the more connected, and glare the stronger; which Mr. Editor, that I may not misrepresent, I will quote in your own Words, and make Remarks on them as they occur.
The young Gentleman coming to take Possession of his Treasure, finds this young Virgin among it, the good old Gentlewoman, on her Death-bed, recommends her to his Care with one Design, and he receives her with quite another. Here's a fine Field open'd for a luscious Tale, the Game is started, and the Author likea staunch Sportsman never once loses Sight;——Mr.B.begins very tenderly: After a little Toying, Kissing,&c.he makes Miss a Present of several fine Things, and here, says the Author, I'll just give my Readers a soft Touch to see how they will entertain amorous Reflections;p.12. "I was inwardly ashamed to take the Stockens; for Mrs.Jerviswas not there; If she had, it would have been nothing. I believe I received them very awkwardly; for he smiled at my Awkwardness, and said,Don't blush, Pamela:Dost think I don't know pretty Maids wear Shoes and Stockens?" Yes, to be sure, and Garters and Stomachers and Smocks,——but ola! little Miss would have cried, that's a Pah Word, and my Mamma wont let me read such naughty Books!
Well! the young Gentleman grows a little bolder, his Sister indeed the good LadyDavers! She thinks the poor Girl is designed to be ruin'd: And she does no more to prevent it then shake her Head and cry,Ah Brother!Now Miss is at Work in the Summer House, and let us see the Interview, I assure you the Scene rises a little, and theinnocent Girlappears mighty skillful; p. 17, 18. "I saw some Reason tosuspect; for he wouldlook upon me, whenever he saw me,in such a manner as shew'd not well; and at last he came to me, as I was in the Summer-house in thelittle Garden, at work with my Needle, and Mrs.Jerviswas just gone from me; and I would have gone out; but he said, No, don't go,Pamela; I have something to say to you; and you always fly me, when I come near you, as if you were afraid of me. I was much out of Countenance, you may well think; but said at last, It does not become your poor Servant to stay in your Presence, Sir, without your Business requir'd it; and I hope I shall always know my Place. Well, says he, my Business does require it sometimes, and I have a Mind you should stay to hear what I have to say to you. I stood all-confounded, and began to tremble, and the more when he took me by the Hand; for now no Soul was near us. My SisterDavers, said he (and seem'd, I thought, to be as much at a Loss for Words as I) would have had you live withher; but she would not do for you what I am resolved to do, if you continue faithful and obliging. What say'st thou, my Girl? said he, with some Eagerness; had'st thou not better stay with me, than go to my SisterDavers?He look'd so, as fill'd me with Affrightment;I don't know how; wildly, I thought. I said, when I could speak, Your Honour will forgive me; but as you have no Lady for me to wait upon, and my good Lady has been now dead this Twelvemonth, I had rather, ifit would not displease you, wait upon LadyDavers,because—I was proceeding, and he said a little hastilyBecauseyou are a little Fool, and know not what's good for yourself. I tell you, I will make a Gentlewoman of you, if you'll be obliging, and don't stand in your own Light, and so saying,he put his Arm about me and kiss'd me! Now you will say, all his Wickedness appear'd plainly. Istruggled, and trembled, and was so benumb'd with Terror,that I sunk down, not in a Fit, and yet not myself; and I found myself in his Arms, quite void of Strength; and he kissed me two or three times, with frightful Eagerness.——At last I burst from him, and was getting out of the Summer House; but he held me back, and shut the Door." He then bids her have done blubbering, and offers her some Money. After this Miss is afraid to lie alone, and wants a Confidante. Well good Mrs.Jervisto be sure is glad of the Offer, and some Time passes 'till the 'Squire comes to Town again. And here the Author (fearing least his Male Readers should have no Entertainment, the former being more adapted to improve the Female,) contrives to give us an Idea ofPamela's hidden Beauties, and very decently to spread her upon the Floor, for all who will peep thro' the Door to surfeit on the Sight; but first takes care to put them in Life by a Flurry lest they should appear too dead andlanguid:p.30. "At last he came in again, but, alas! with Mischief in his heart! and raising me up, he, said, Rise,Pamela, rise; you are your own Enemy. Your perverse Folly will be your Ruin; I tell you this, that I am very much displeased with the Freedoms you have taken with my Name to my House-keeper, as also to your Father and Mother; and you may as well haverealCause to take these Freedoms with me, as to make my Name suffer forimaginaryones. And saying so, he offeredto take me on his Knee, with some Force. O how I was terrify'd! I said, like as I had read in a Book a Night or two before, Angels, and Saints, and all the Host of Heaven, defend me! And may I never survive one Moment, that fatal one in which I shall forfeit my Innocence. Pretty Fool! said he, how will you forfeit your Innocence, if you are oblig'd to yield to a Force you cannot withstand? Be easy, said he; for let the worse happen that can,you'llhave the Merit, and I the Blame; and it will be a Subject for Letters to your Father and Mother, and a Tale in the Bargain for Mrs.Jervis. He by Force kissed my Neck and Lips; Who even blamedLucretia, but theRavisheronly? And I am content to take all the Blame upon me; as I have all ready born too great a Share for what I have deservd. MayI, said I,Lucretialike, justify myself with my Death, if I am used barbarously? O my good Girl! said he, tauntingly, you are well read, I see; and we shall make out between us, before we have done, a pretty Story in Romance, I warrant ye. He then put his Hand in my Bosom, and the Indignation gave me double Strength, and I got loose from him by a sudden Spring, and ran out of the Room and the next Chamber being open, I made shift to get into it, and threw-to the Door; and the Key being of the Inside, it locked; but he followed me so close, he got hold of my Gown, and tore a Piece off, which hung without the Door. I just remember I got into the Room; for I knew nothing further of the Matter till afterwards; for I fell into a Fit with my Fright and Terror,and there I lay, till he, as I suppose, looking through the Key-hole,spy'd me lying all along upon the Floor, stretch'd out at my Length; and then he call'd Mrs.Jervisto me, who, by his Assistance, bursting open the Door, he went away, I seeming to be coming to myself; and bid her say nothing of the Matter, if she was wise. Poor Mrs.Jervisthought it was worse."
Was not the Squire very modest to withdraw? for she lay in such a pretty Posture that Mrs.Jervis thought it was worse, and Mrs.Jerviswas a Woman of Discernment; but howeverPameladid no more than what Ladies of Fashion do to their Footmen every Morning, shew herself in Dishabille or so.
The Young Lady by thus discovering a few latent Charms, as the snowy Complexion of her Limbs, and the beautiful Symmetry and Proportion which a Girl of about fifteen or sixteen must be supposed to shew by tumbling backwards, after being put in a Flurry by her Lover, and agitated to a great Degree takes her smelling Bottle, has her Laces cut, and all the pretty little necessary Things that the most luscious and warm Description can paint, or the fondest Imagination conceive. How artfully has the Author introduced an Image that no Youth can read without Emotion! The Idea of peeping thro' a Key-hole to see a fine Woman extended on a Floor in a Posture that must naturally excite Passions of Desire, may indeed be read by one in hisgrand Climactericwithout ever wishing to see one in the same Situation, but the Editor ofPameladirects himself to theYouthof both Sexes, therefore all the Instruction they can possibly receive from this Passage is, first to the young Men that the more they endeavour to find out the hidden Beauties of their Mistresses, the more they must approve them; and for that Purpose all they have to do, is, tomove them by some amorous Dalliance to give them atransient Viewof thePleasurethey are afterwards to reap from thebeloved Object. And Secondly, to the young Ladies that whatever Beauties they discover to their Lovers, provided they grant not the last Favour, they only ensure their Admirers the more; and by a Glimpse of Happiness captivate their Suitor the better. So that a young Lover in order to encourage hisgrowing Virtueis not to blame to see his Mistress in her Shift, nor the young Lady to permit it, if she can discreetly do it so as not to let him think she is sensible of it, 'tis as much as to say, ye Rakes! Raise the Inclination of the Girls 'till they can scarce refuse complying, then let them fly from ye to their Chambers, and there reveal in private to your longing Sight the Beauties which upon no Account they would openly entertain ye with.
The lovely, the innocentPamela, after her Master had seen her likea new born Venus rising from the Waves, as one of the Poets expresses it, seems to know nothing of the Matter, and yet with all the Inconsistence imaginable expresses herself as cunningly and knowing upon the Subject as the best bred Town Lass of them all could have done: The Squire offers her Money, which she refuses; and in her Conversation with Mrs.Jervis, upon that Head, she expresses herselfthus:p.41. "After such Offers, and such Threatnings, and his comparing himself to a wicked Ravisher, in the very Time of his last Offer; and making a Jest of me, that we should make a pretty Story in Romance; can I stay, and be safe? Has he not demean'd him self twice? And it behoves me to beware of the third Time, for fear he should lay his Snares surer; for mayhap he did not expect a poor Servant would resist her Master so much. And must it not be look'd upon as a sort of Warrant for such Actions, if I stay after this? For I think, when one of our Sex finds she is attempted, it is an Encouragement to a Person to proceed, if one puts one's self in the Way of it, when one can help it; and it shews one can forgive what in short ought,notto be forgiven: Which is no small Countenance to foul Actions, I'll assure you."
Yet notwithstanding all this, herVirtueis only founded onShame, and she seems to imply that could she be secure from the Censure of the World she would not hesitate to commit the Sin,p.44. "Well, but, Mrs.Jervis, said I, let me ask you, if he can stoop to like such a poor Girl as I, as perhaps he may (for I have read of Things almost as strange, from great Men to poor Damsels) What can it befor?—Hemay condescend, mayhap, to think I may be good enough for his Harlot; and those Things don't disgrace Men, that ruin poor Women, as the World goes. And so, if I was wicked enough, he would keep me till I was undone, and 'till his Mind changed; for even wicked Men, I have read, soon grow weary of Wickedness ofoneSort, and loveVariety. Well then, poorPamelamust be turn'd off, and look'd upon as a vile abandon'd Creature, and every body would despise her; ay, andjustlytoo, Mrs.Jervis; for she that can't keep her Virtue, ought to live in Disgrace." Fine Instruction truly! That is, My Master lik'd me, he would have made a Harlot of me, but then if I should consent, he may be tired perhaps in a Month or two, or meet with Somebody he likes better, then poorPamelawill be turn'd off, and the World will call her a Fool.
I must now address you Sir, as Author and acknowledge that your Skill in Intrigue is most apparent, not content with permitting us to fill our Fancy with the naked Charms of the lovelyPamela, luxuriant in your Art, you contrive to give us her Picture in a simple rural Dress; the Squire fir'd at the View of those lovely Limbs is still kept warm by Variety, and, cloath'd in a Disguise, they are again to attack him in another Shape: She, who could charm so much ina loose Undress on the Floor, must doubtless keep that Ardour still alive, dress'd in the unaffected Embellishments of a neat Country Girl. And tho' theServant Maidmight fail to please, theFarmer's Daughtermust inevitably catch theCountry Squire; yet how artfully is thisMasqueradeintroduced! The poor Girl for not complying at once to his Request, is threaten'd to be turn'd away, and accordingly to go Home to her Father and Mother, in a Condition agreeable to theirs, dresses herself in the most alluring Habit that her Circumstances will afford: p. 63. "I trick'd myself up as well as I could in my Garb, and put on my round-ear'd Cap;but with a green Knot however, and my home-spun Gown and Petticoat, and plain-leather Shoes; but yet they are what they callSpanishLeather, and my ordinary Hose, ordinary I mean to what I have been lately used to; tho' I shall think good Yarn may do very well for every Day, when I come home. A plain Muslin Tucker I put on, and my black Silk Necklace, instead of theFrenchNecklace my Lady gave me; and put the Ear-rings out of my Ears; and when I was quite 'quipp'd, I took my Straw Hat in my Hand, with its two blue Strings, and look'd about me in the Glass, as proud as any thing——To say Truth, I never lik'd myself so well in my Life."
PAMELAis now become a beautiful young Rustic, each latent Grace, and every blooming Charm is called forth to wound, not in affected Finery, but in an artful Simplicity; nor is your Conduct less, Sir, in introducing her to the Squire: Beauties that might grow familiar to the Eye and pall upon the Passion by being often seen in one Habit, thus varied take a surer Aim to strike.——The Instruction here then is to theLadies, that by altering their Appearance they are more likely to catch their Lover's Affections than by being always the same; and that a neat cherry cheek'd Country Lass tripping along with a Straw Hat in her Hand mayallure, when perhaps a pale faced Court Lady might bedespised; and I dare say, that no young Gentleman who reads this, but wishes himself in Mrs.Jervis's Place toturnPamelaabout and about and examine all her Dress to her under Petticoat.
The next Thing is how to introduce her to the Squire, and in that Mrs.Jervisis as decently drawn in for a Procuress as can be; he sees her talking with Mrs.Jervis, and thinking her to be afresh Lady, sends for Mrs.Jervisto him, who notwithstanding she would do all she can to preserve the Maiden's Virtue, yet insists upon her going to him in her new Garb, tho' she must certainly know it could only tend toinflamehisDesire the more, and urge him to still greater Liberties:p.65, 66: "She stept to me, and told me, I must go in with her to my Master; but, said she, for Goodness sake, let him not find you out; for he don't know you. O fie, Mrs.Jervis, said I, how could you serve me so? Besides, it looks too free bothin me, andto him. I tell you, said she, youshallcome in; and pray don't reveal yourself till he finds you out. So I went in, foolish as I was; tho' I must have been seen by him another Time, if I had not then. And she would make me take my Straw-hat in my Hand. I dropt a low Curt'sy, but said never a Word. I dare say, he knew me as soon as he saw my Face; but was as cunning asLucifer. He came up to me, and took me by the Hand, and said, whose pretty Maiden are you?—I dare say you arePamela's Sister, you are so like her. So neat, so clean, so pretty! Why, Child, you far surpass your SisterPamela! I was all Confusion, and would have spoken, but he took me about the Neck; Why, said he, you are very pretty, Child; I would not be so free with your Sister, you may believe; but I must kiss you. O Sir, said I, I amPamela, indeed I amPamela,her ownself! He kissed me for all I could do; and said, Impossible! You are a lovelier Girl by half thanPamela; and sure I may be innocently free with you, tho'I would not do her so much Favour. This was a sad Bite upon me indeed, and what I could not expect; and Mrs.Jervislook'd like a Fool as much as I, for her Officiousness. At last I got away, and ran out of the Parlour,most sadly vex'd, as you may well think."
This occasioned an Emotion in him, which is admirably described, but in a Piece designed only to encourage Virtue, no ways necessary to be introduced:p.67. "He then took me in his Arms, and presently push'd me from him. Mrs.Jervis, said he, take the little Witch from me; I can neither bear, nor forbear her! (Strange Words these!)—But stay, you shan't go! Yet begone!—No, come back again. I thout he was mad, for my Share; for heknew not what he would have. But I was going however, and he stept after me, and took hold of my Arm, and brought me in again: I am sure he made my Arm black and blue; for the Marks are upon it still. Sir, Sir, said I, pray have Mercy; I will, I will come in! He sat down, andlook'd at me, and, as I thought afterwards, as sillily as such a poor Girl as I."
Nat.Lee's fiery Kisses,melting Raptures, and the most luxuriant Flowers of amorous Rhetoric cannot more fully express the Onset of a decliningstifled Passion kindled anew; the warm Struggle, the sudden Grasp, and the languishing Eye can hardly be painted in stronger Terms: And tho' I think it beautiful Colouring, yet I should be sorry my Son or Daughter should be delighted with it. What follows this, is what any one might expect, the Squire, fired with this View of hisPamela, grows more eager to accomplish his Designs; but least the Reader should mistake the Purport of the Author, he takes Care to inform them of it by the Mouth of Mrs.Jervis: p. 73, 74. "Upon my Word, says she,Pamela, I don't wonder he loves you; for, without Flattery, you are a charming Girl! and I never saw you look more lovely in my Life, than in that same new Dress of yours. And then it was such a Surprize upon us all!——I believe truly, you owe some of your Danger to the lovelyAppearanceyou made."
SquireB.supposed to be quite impatient, as I observed before, had now resolved to have a last Trial; and for that Purpose concealed himself in the Room wherePamelalay;p.71. "I went to Mrs.Jervis's Chamber; and, O my dear Father and Mother, my wicked Master had hid himself, base Gentleman as he is! In her Closet, where she has a few Books, and Chest of Drawers, and such-like. I littlesuspected it; tho' I used, till this sad Night, always to look into that Closet, another in the Room, and under the Bed, ever since the Summer House Trick, but never found any Thing; and so I did not do it then, being fully resolved to be angry with Mrs.Jervisfor what had happened in the Day, and so thought of nothing else. I sat myself down on one Side of the Bed, and she on the other, and we began to undress ourselves." A very fine Instruction this Passage must give us truly! Here he again is to feast his Eyes with her naked Charms, and wait but a little longer before he rushes out to seize them as his own:p.74. "Hush! said I, Mrs.Jervis, did you not hear something stir in the Closet? No, silly Girl! said she; your Fears are always awake.——But indeed, said I, I think I heard something rustle.——May-be, says she, the Cat may be got there: But I hear nothing. I was hush, but she said, Pr'ythee, my good Girl, make haste to-bed. See if the Door be fast. So I did, and was thinking to look in the Closet; but hearing no more Noise, thought it needless, and so went again and sat myself down on the Bed-side, and went on undressing myself. And Mrs.Jervis, being by this Time undress'd, stepp'd into Bed, and bid me hasten, for she was sleepy. I don't know what was the Matter; but my Heart sadly misgave me; butMr.Jonathan's Note was enough to make it do so, with what Mrs.Jervishad said.I pulled off my Stays and my Stockens; and all my Cloaths to an Under Petticoat; and then hearing a rustling in the Closet; I said, Heaven protect us! but before I say my Prayers, I must look into the Closet. And so was going to it slip-shod, when, O dreadful! out rush'd my Master, in a rich silk and silver Morning Gown. I scream'd, and ran to the Bed; and Mrs.Jervisscream'd too; and he said, I'll do you no Harm, if you forbear this Noise; but otherwise take what follows: Instantly he came to the Bed, (for I had crept into it, to Mrs.Jervis, with my Coat on, and my Shoes) and, taking me in his Arms, said, Mrs.Jervis, rise, and just step up Stairs, to keep the Maids from coming down at this Noise; I'll do no Harm to this Rebel."
Here the lovely Nymph is undress'd in her Bed Chamber, without Reserve, and doing a Hundred little Actions, which every one's Fancy must help him to form who reads this Passage, and in the Midst of all this, the Squire is introduced: And however she and Mrs.Jervismay endeavour to keep down theUnder Petticoat, yet few Youths but would secretly wish to be in the Squire's Place, and naturally conclude they would not let the Nymph escape so easily.—Now theScene rises, the Colours begin to glow and rise to the Life:p.75. "I found his Hand in my Bosom, and when my Fright let me know it,I was ready to die; and I sigh'd, and screamed, and fainted away. And still he had his Arms about my Neck; and Mrs.Jerviswas about my Feet, and upon my Coat. And all in a cold clammy Sweat was I.Pamela! Pamela!said Mrs.Jervis, as she tells me since, O—h, and gave another Shriek, my poorPamelais dead for certain!—And so, to be sure I was for a Time;for I knew nothing more of the Matter, one Fit following another, till about three Hours after, as it prov'd to be, I found myself in Bed, and Mrs.Jervissitting up on one Side, with her Wrapper about her, andRachelon the other."Feeling of the Breasts, fainting, and dying away, may, in your Opinion, Sir, be Excitements toVirtue, but they are tooVirtuousa Description in my Mind for any young untainted Mind to peruse.
Miss after this is ill, and when she hadblubber'd, and cried three or four Days, the Squire to bring her to herself, and allure her Fancy, takes care to shew himself to her in all the Advantages of Dress and Finery;p.81. 'Yesterday he had a rich Suit of Cloaths brought home, which they call a Birth-day Suit.'Here is the Contraste toPamela's plain Neatness, he had found that her amiable Figure had caused fresh Emotions in him, and consequently he imagined his must have the same Effect on her.p.81. 'He had these Cloaths come home, and he try'd them on. And before he pull'd them off, he sent for me, when nobody else was in the Parlor with him:Pamela, said he, you are so neat and so nice in your own Dress, (Alack-a-day, I did'n't know I was!) that you must be a Judge of ours. How are these Cloaths made? Do they fit me? I am no Judge, said I, and please your Honour; but I think they look very fine. His Waistcoat stood an End with Gold Lace, and he look'd very grand.'
And at the same Time that he endeavours to charm her with his own Person, he as artfully allures her with the most fulsome Flattery:p.83. 'Well, said he, you are an ungrateful Baggage; but I am thinking it would be Pity, withthese soft Hands, and thatlovely Skin, (as he called it, and took hold of my Hand) that you should again return to hard Work, as you must, if you go to your Father's; and soI would advise her to take a House inLondon,and let Lodgings to us Members of Parliament, when we come to Town;and such apretty Daughteras you may pass for, will alwaysfill her House, and she'll get a great deal of Money.'
This Compliment was a little of the grossest for a fine Gentleman! But the Heightening is still behind: After some little tart Repartees and Sallies aiming at Wit, the Author seems to indulge his Genius with all the Rapture of lascivious Ingenuity:p.84, 85. 'I wish, said he, (I'am almost ashamed to write it,impudent Gentleman) I wish, I had thee asquick another Way, as thou art in thy Repartees.——And he laugh'd, and I snatch'd my Hands from him, and I tripp'd away as fast I could.Ah! thought I marry'd?I'm sure'tis Time you were married, or at this Rate no honest Maiden ought to live with you!' Here's Virtue encouraged with a Vengeance and the most obscene Idea express'd by a double Entendre, which falls little short of the coarsest Ribaldry; yetPamelais designed tomendtheTasteandMannersof the Times, andinstructandencourage Youth in Virtue; if that were the Case there was no absolute Necessity in my Opinion for the inserting of this Passage. How artfully is the Turn of the Entendre wrought up for theInstructionof bothSexes. The young Gentleman will find the Squir's Wish to be, that his belovedPamelawould quite thecold Airof areserved Modesty, immediately yield to his Wishes, and meet him in anamorous Conflict, with all theVivacitythat simple Nature unrestrain'd by Art could inspire. And little Miss, who just begins to sigh and wish for she knows not what, will be encouraged to wish for a Husband, and think adouble Entendrestrictly virtuous, even tho' it turns upon theCloset Commercebetween the Sexes: And should any one intrusted with her Education inform her that she is in the Wrong, or strive to check the rising Passion; may she not pertly answer.Why sure! There's no Harm in it, forPameladoes so; there are several such Things in thatgood Book,and myMotherrecommended me to the reading of it, nay, and theParsonsays it is thebest Book in the Worldexcept theBible.
MissPamelatho' very angry with her Master, yet in some Measure seems to be very fond of excusing him: 'He's very wicked indeed, says she, but then there are others as bad, 'tis Time he was married truely; for he grows so rampant he'll overrun the Parish else, but if he does there are others that will keep him in Countenance; there's SquireMartinhe keeps a Seraglio of his own, and has hadthree Lyings in, it seems, in his House, within these three Months; and several more of my Master's Companions who are as bad as he. Alacka day! What a World we live in! It is grown more Wonder that Men areresistedthan that Womencomply.' Indeed Mr.Pamelais very discerning of her Age!
Mrs.Jervisnotwithstanding her motherly Goodness, seems still to be Procuress in Ordinary, though indeed she doth not prove so pac'd an One as Mrs.Jewkesdoth afterwards; but wou'd any sober Matron after what Attempts have been made before, ever so far comply with the loose Inclinations of her Master as to introduce him into a Closet to overhear a private Conversation and her Charge? But thefive Guineasthe Squire gave her upon closing her yearly Accounts seem to have soften'd her a little more to his Interest, for inp.95. she conveys him into the Green Room, where was a Sash Door and a Curtain conveniently that he might both hear and see, tho'Pamelaconfessesshe had reason to remember the last Closet Work.
Her harmless Tattle o'er her Things whilst she was seperating them from those she intended to leave behind her, but added fresh Fuel to the Squire's Flame; and here he first takes Heart to make an Open Declaration of his Love.p.102, 103. 'He took me up, in a kinder manner, than ever I had known; and he said, Shut the Door,Pamela, and come to me in my Closet:I want to have a little serious Talk with you. How can I, Sir, said I, how can I? and wrung my Hands! O pray, Sir, let me go out of your Presence, I beseech you. By the God that made me, said he, I'll do you no harm, Shut the Parlour-door, and come to me in my Library. He then went into his Closet, which is his Library, and full of rich Pictures besides; a noble Apartment, tho' called a Closet, and next the private Garden, into which it has a Door that opens. I shut the Parlour-door, as he bid me; but stood at it irresolute. Place some Confidence in me surely, said he, you may, when I have spoken thus solemnly. So I crept towards him with trembling Feet, and my Heart throbing through my Handkerchief. Come in, said he, when I bid you. I did so. Pray, Sir, said I, pity and spare me. I will said he, as I hope to be sav'd. He sat down upon a rich Settee; and took hold of my Hand, and said, Don't doubt me,Pamela. From this Moment I will no more consider you as my Servant; and I desire you'll not use me with Ingratitude for the Kindness I am going to express towards you. This a little embolden'd me; and he said, holding both my Hands in his, You have too much Wit and good Sense not to discover, that I, inspite of my Heart, and all the Pride of it, cannotbut love you. Yes, look up to me, my sweet-fac'dGirl! I must say I love you; and have put on a Behaviour to you, that was much against my Heart, in hopes to frighten you to my Purposes. You see I own it ingenously.'
By this Means he perswades the Maid to stay a Fortnight longer, and then ParsonWilliamsis first introduced: Thinks he if I can debauch this Girl 'tis but marrying her to my Chaplain afterwards, giving him a good Living and all's right; and this he brings in with an Offer of Fifty Guineas. However all will not do and she is to go away when she pleases; upon which melancholy occasion Miss must grow poetical and entertain us with a Ditty.
The Squire's Intrigues, the Author has laid the Scene of himself; which take in his own Words:p.114, 115. 'Here it is necessary to observe, that the fairPamela's Trials were not yet over; but the worst of all were yet to come, at a Time when she thought them at an End, and that she was returning to her Father: For when her Master found that her Virtue was not to be subdu'd, and he had in vain tried to conquer his Passion for her,being a Gentleman of Intrigue, he had order'd hisLincolnshireCoachman to bring his travelling Chariot from thence, not caring to trust his Body Coachman, who, with the rest of the Servants, sogreatly lov'd and honour'd the fair Damsel; and having given him Instructions accordingly, and prohibited his other Servants, on Pretence of resentingPamela's Behaviour, from accompanying her any Part of the Way, he drove her Five Miles on the Way to her Father's; and then turning off, cross'd the Country, and carried her onward towards hisLincolnshireEstate. It is also to be observ'd, that the Messenger of her Letters to her Father, who so often pretended Business that Way, was an Implement in his Master's Hands, and employ'd by him for that Purpose; and who always gave her Letters first to him, and his Master used to open and read them, and then send them on.'
Not to mention the little Occurrences upon the Road, theChasteDiscourse at the Inn, her Interview with Mrs.Jewkes, &c. we now transpose the Scene fromBedfordshireto the Mansion House inLincolnshire, where the poor Turtle is now coop'd up; and certainly it must be allowed, that the Author has contrived to heighten hisAmorous Taleby just Degrees, so as at once to court the Expectation, and raise the glowing Passions 'till it is almost impossible but they must burst forth in a Blaze.
Mrs.Jewkesenters into the Business with all the Assurance of an experienc'd Bawd. It wascontrived that Miss should bait at an Inn upon the Road, kept by her Sister, and there Mrs.Jewkesreceives her fair Charge: p. 136. 'The naughty Woman came up to me with an Air of Confidence, andkiss'd me: See, Sister, said she, here's acharming Creature! Would she not tempt the best Lord in the Land to run away with her? O frightful! thought I; here's an Avowal of the Matter at once: I am now gone, that's certain. And so was quite silent and confounded; and seeing no Help for it, (for she would not part with me out of her Sight) I was forc'd to set out with her in the Chariot.'
Her behaviour there was a Piece with the first Onset;p.137. 'Every now and then she would bestaring in my Face, in the Chariot, andsqueezing my Hand, and saying, Why you are very pretty, my silent Dear! And once she offer'd to kiss me. But I said, I don't like this Sort of Carriage, Mrs.Jewkes;it is not like two Persons of one Sex. She fell a laughing very confidently, and said, That's prettily said,I vow! Then thou hadst rather be kiss'd by the other Sex? "Isackins, I commend thee for that"!' There are at present, I am sorry to say it, too many who assume the Characters of Women of Mrs.Jewkes's Cast, I meanLovers of their own Sex,Pamelaseems to be acquainted with this, and indeed shews so much Virtue,that she has no Objection to the Male Sex as too many of her own have.
Pamelabegins now to shew her Skill in Intrigue. It is a trite Observation, that Confinement and Restraint will drive a Woman to the most desperate Applications for a Remedy. She is lock'd up, and noSpanish Ladywhatever could be closer confined by the most watchfulDuenna; but Miss comforts herself that she shall be too hard for them all:p.157. 'Well, thought I, I hope still,Argus, to be too hard for thee. NowArgus, the Poets say, had an Hundred Eyes, and was made to watch with them all, as she does.' The Parson here is brought upon the Tapis, and instead of theharmless Dovehatching Piety and Affection, he enters into his Patron's Affairs with so much affected Business, as makes him rather aMedlarthan aFriend. A fine Complement to the Clergy by the Way!
Mrs.Jewkestakes all Opportunities of insinuating her Master'sgood Qualities, but especially his Manhood, andPamelaseems as desirous of hearing of them:p.163. 'Well, well, Lambkin, (which the Foolish often calls me) if I was in his Place, he should not have his Property in you long questionable. Why, what would you do, said I, if you were he?——Not stand shill-I, shall-I, as he does; but put you and himself both out of your Pain.'
After a long Series of Intrigue carried on between her and the Parson, to no Purpose, but to swellthe Grain of Mustard SeedtoTwo Volumes, a Swiss is introduced as an Assistant Guard, and Miss then begins to dream:p.221. 'I dream'd they were both coming to my Bed-side, with the worst Designs; and I jump'd out of Bed in my Sleep, and frighted Mrs.Jewkes; 'till, waking with the Terror, I told her my Dream: And the wicked Creature only laughed, and said,All I fear'dwas but aDream, as well as that; and when it wasover, and I was well awake, I should laugh at it as such!' These Words tho' spoke by Mrs.Jewkesin the Character of an abandon'd Profligate, yet can be of no Service to Youth, who may take the latter Part only, and be apt to conclude, that allVirtueis but aDream; and certainly they were much better omitted than put in.
Well at Length the Squire arrives in his Fine Chariot, and now theTrenchesare open'd again, and the amorous War is pursued with more Vigour than ever;p.247, 248. 'When he had supp'd, he stood up, and said, O how happy for you it is, that you can at Will, thus make your speaking Eyes overflow in this manner,without losing any of their Brilliancy! You have been told, I suppose, that you aremostbeautiful in your Tears!—Did you ever, said he toher, (who all this while was standing in one Corner of the Parlour) see amore charming Creature than this? Is it to be wonder'd at, that I demean myself thus to take Notice of her!—See, said he, and took the Glass with one Hand, and turn'd me round with the other,What a Shape! what a Neck! what a Hand! and what a Bloom in that lovely Face!——But who can describe the Tricks and Artifices, that lie lurking in her little, plotting, guileful Heart! 'Tis no Wonder the poor Parson was infatuated with her——I blame him less than I do her; for who could expect such Artifice in so young a Sorceress! Come hither, Hussy, said he; you and I have a dreadful Reckoning to make. Why don't you come, when I bid you?—Fie upon it! Mrs.Pamela, said she, what! Not stir, when his Honour commands you to come to him!——Who knows but his Goodness will forgive you? He came to me, (for I had no Power to stir) and put his Arms about my Neck, and would kiss me; and said, Well, Mrs.Jewkes, if it were not for the Thought of this cursed Parson, I believe in my Heart, so great is my Weakness, that I couldyetforgive this intriguing little Slut, and take her to my Bosom. O, said the Sycophant, you arevery good, Sir, very forgiving, indeed!—But come, added the profligate Wretch, I hope you will be so good, as to take her to your Bosom; and that, by to-morrow Morning, you'll bring her to a better Sense of her Duty!
Then follows a Proposal at large to induce her to commence a kept Mistress: The Particulars of which, the Author hath fully set forth, in order toinstructthe young Gentlemen of Fortune how to proceed in such a Case, and that young Girls of small Fortunes may see what tempting Things they have to trust to. 'Tis true he makes her refuse it, but with an Insinuation that the Offers are very advantageous.
Next follows the grandCoup d'Eclat: A Scene so finely work'd up, that the warmest Imagination could scarcely form one more prevalent in the Cause of Vice. 'Tis true, the Sentences are artfully wrapt up, but whether the Ideas divested of their Tinsel Trappings and Coverings are too gross toentertain, much less capable ofinstructingthe Youth of either Sex: Take the Author's own Words, and let the impartial World determine, at least, let every Father or Mother of a Family read them, and seriously say, whether they ought for the Sake of this and the foregoing Quotations, to receivePamelainto the Closets of their Children, or condemn itto the Flames, with the most lustful Pieces that ever appeared in Print? The Squire after forming a Pretence of going into the Country further for a Day or two, by the Assistance of Mrs.Jewkes, (who contrives to makeNanher fellow Guard, drunk) is convey'd into the Room in the Disguise of the Maid, she patiently sits, and sees the lovely Creature undress herself,&c.but take her ownmodest Relationas follows:p.270, 271, 272, 273, 274. 'So I looked into the Closets, and kneeled down, as I used to do, to say my Prayers, and thiswith my under Cloaths, all undrest; and passed by the poor sleeping Wench, as I thought, in my Return. But, Oh! little did I think, it was my wicked, wicked Master in a Gown and Petticoat of hers, and her Apron over his Face and Shoulders. Mrs.Jewkesby this Time, was got to-bed, on the further Side, as she used to be; and, to make room for the Maid, when she should awake, I got into Bed, and lay close to her. And I said, Where are the Keys? tho', said I, I am not so much afraid to-Night. Here, said the wicked Woman, put your Arm under mine, and you shall find them about my Wrist, as they used to be. So I did, and the abominable Designerheld my Hand with her Right Hand, as my Right Arm was under her Left. In less than a quarter of an Hour, I said, There's poorNanawake; I hear her stir. Letus go to sleep, said she, and not mind her; She'll come to bed, when she's quite awake. Poor Soul! said I, I'll warrant she'll have the Head-ach finely to-morrow for it! Be silent said she, and go to sleep; you keep me awake; and I never found you in so talkative a Humour in my Life. Don't chide me, said I; I will say but one Thing more: Do you thinkNancould hear me talk of my Master's Offers? No, no, said she; she was dead asleep. I'm glad of that, said I; because I would not expose my Master to his common Servants, and I knewyouwere no Stranger to hisfineArticles. Said she, I think they were fine Articles, and you were bewitch'd you did not close in with them: But let us go to sleep. So I was silent; and the pretendedNan(O wicked base villainous Designer! What a Plot, what an unexpected Plot, was this!) seem'd to be awaking; and Mrs.Jewkes, abhorred Creature! said, Come,Nan!—What, are you awake at last? Prithee come to-bed; for Mrs.Pamelais in a talking Fit, and wont go to sleep one while. At that the pretended She came to the Bed-side; and sitting down in a Chair, where the Curtain hid her, began to undress. Said I, poor Mrs.Ann, I warrant your Head aches most sadly! How do you do?—She answered not one Word. Said the superlatively wicked Woman, You know I have order'dher not to answer you. And this Plot, to be sure, was laid when she gave her these Orders, the Night before. I heard her, as I thought,breathe all quick and short: Indeed, said I, Mrs.Jewkes, the poor Maid is not well. What ails you, Mrs.Ann? And still no Answer was made. But, I tremble to relate it! the pretended She came into Bed; butquiver'd like an Aspen-leaf; and I, poor Fool that I was! pitied her much.——But well might the barbarous Deceiver tremble at his vile Dissimulation, and base Designs. What Words shall I find, my dear Mother, (for my Father should not see this shocking Part) to describe the rest, and my Confusion, when the guilty Wretch took myleft Arm, and laid it under his Neck, as the vile Procuress held myRight; and thenhe clasp'd me round my Waist! Said I, Is the Wench mad! Why, how now Confidence? thinking still it had beenNan. But he kissed me with frightful Vehemence; and then his Voice broke upon me like a Clap of Thunder. Now,Pamela, said he, is the dreadful Time of Reckoning come, that I have threaten'd.——I scream'd out in such a Manner, as never any Body heard the like. But there was no body to help me: And both my Hands were secured, as I said. Sure never poor Soul was in such Agonies as I. Wicked Man! said I; wicked, abominable Woman! O God! myGod! thisTime, thisoneTime! deliver me from this Distress! or strike me dead this Moment. And then I scream'd again and again. Says he, One Word with you,Pamela; one Word hear me but; and hitherto you see I offer nothing to you. Is thisnothing, said I, to be in Bed here? To hold my Hands between you? I will hear, if you will instantly leave the Bed, and take this villainous Woman from me. Said she, (O Disgrace of Womankind!) What you do, Sir, do; don't stand dilly-dallying. She cannot exclaim worse than she has done. And she'll be quieter when she knows the worst. Silence! Said he to her; I must say one Word to you,Pamela; it is this: You see, now you are in my Power!——You cannot get from me, nor help yourself: Yet have I not offer'd any Thing amiss to you. But if you resolve not to comply with my Proposals, I will not lose this Opportunity: If you do I will yet leave you. O Sir, said I, leave me, leave me but, and I will do any Thing I ought to do. Swear then to me, said he, that you will accept my Proposals!—And then (for this was all detestable Grimace)he put his Hand in my Bosom. With Struggling, Fright, Terror,I fainted away quite, and did not come to myself soon; so that they both, from the cold Sweats that I was in, thought me dying—And I remember no more, than that, when, with great Difficulty,they brought me to myself, she was sitting on one side of the Bed, with her Cloaths on; and and he on the other with his, and in his Gown and Slippers. Your poorPamelacannotanswer for the Liberties taken with her in her deplorable State of Death. And when I saw them there, I sat up in my Bed, without any Regard to what Appearance I made, and nothing about my Neck; and he soothing me, with an Aspect of Pity and Concern, I put my Hand to his Mouth, and said, O tell me, yet tell me not, what I have suffered in this Distress! And I talked quite wild, and knew not what; for to be sure, I was on the Point of Distraction. He most solemnly, and with a bitter Imprecation, vow'd, that he had notoffer'dtheleast Indecency; that he was frighten'd at the terrible manner I was taken with the Fit: That he would desist from his Attempt; and begg'd but to see me easy and quiet, and he would leave me directly, and go to his own Bed. O then, said I, take from me this most wicked Woman, this vile Mrs.Jewkes, as an Earnest that I may believe you! And will you, Sir, said the wicked Wretch, for aFit or two, give up such anOpportunity as this?—I thought you had known the Sex better.—She is now, you see, quite well again! This I heard; more she might say; butI fainted away once more, at these Words, and at his clasping his Arms aboutme again. And when I came a little to myself, I saw him sit there, and the Maid Nan, holding a Smelling-bottle to my Nose, and no Mrs.Jewkes.'
Is this an affecting Incident entirely divested of all loose Images? Will any one in his Senses take upon him to say so? Can any Youth bear the Image ofseeing her kneel naked, though at her Prayers, without Emotion: A lewd Scene suits but ill with Religion; and what an inconsistent Mixture of both is this? Her going to Bed, and theproper Posturein which she is laid, may bemodest, but I defy the most innocent Virgin to read it in Company without being constrain'd to stifle aConscious Blush; or in her Closet without causing a Palpitation which must amount to little less than aburning Desire;how then can any thing be said to encourageVirtue,that must infallibly rouse each latentvicious Inclinationin the Heart? Breathing quick and short;——spreading the Arms, while they are both in Bed together;——clasping round the Waist;—putting his Hand in her Bosom,—struggling—fainting quite away——'till she owns herself thatshe cannot answer for the Liberties taken with her in that deplorable State of Death. These are Images which I think no Youth can read without Emotion, and yet I'm afraid are such as they will chuse to converse with rather than any in the Book. For here the blooming Nymph, the longdesired Object of the eager Lover's Passion, lies naked, defenceless and exposed in Bed, he rushes on her with all the glowing Ardour of an ungoverned Passion, and tho' the Author has with much ado just saved her fromRavishment, yet 'tis with the greatest Difficulty, and that too with a plain Confirmation, thatall Liberties were taken but the last: And even that Mrs.Jewkesis made to upbraid him for, as one that ought to know the Sex better. However, had it ended here, we had been deprived of another Volume; so that at all Events she must be saved a little longer, and the poor Squire withdraws shaking his Ears like a Dog that has burnt his Tail.
He had tried Force long enough; in order therefore to spin out the Narration, he must take another Method, and try what artful Insinuations and Perswasions would do:p.280. 'After walking about, he lead me into a little Alcove—He began to be very teizing, and made me sit on his Knee, and was so often kissing me, that I said, Sir, I don't like to be here at all, I assure you. Indeed you make me afraid!—And what made me the more so, was that he once said to Mrs.Jewkes, and did not think I heard him.—Said he, I will tryoncemore; but I have begun wrong. For I see Terror does but add to her Frost; but she is a charming Girl, and may bethaw'dbyKindness; and I should havemeltedher byLove, instead offreezingher byFear.'
This leads us on to Soothings and Blandishments, till he forms a Trap wherein he is caught himself, and forms an Introduction for fresh Characters; but even amidst all he can't forbear now and then breaking partly tending to the Obscene; for he supposes that had notPamelabeen with him, she might have been Wife to some Plough Boy. And upon her answering that had it been so, she should have been content, he replies (V. II.p.18.) intimating that the whole Manor must be at the Lord's Command. Inp.20. poorPamelais to bepress'd to Death;p.21. he stoops to enquire where shegarters, and wants toexamine her Knees. Which by the Way shews the Squire to be a little ignorant, or certainly by seeing herundresstwice he might have known.
After a great Deal of Chitchat and Courtship, we are last arrived at the fixing of the last Holy Rite:—But to shew our Author's Inclination for a Joke (for he must doubtless be a very Merry Man) he makes Honest SirSimon Darnfordpraise her Fingers, and laughing tells her they were madeto touch any Key: The fluttering Heart before Marriage is prettily described, LadyDavers's Passion tho' a little too violent, and carried to the very highest Extravagance of Nature, affords us Matterof Diversion, as does her running a Race withCollbrandof Laughter.——Pamelaherself inp.167, tells us, she shan'tsleep a Wink the first Night, but concludes with this comfortable Reflection,that she supposes all young Maidens are the same; and therefore very prudently resolves to undergo it. But in order to encourage her the Squire desires Good Mrs.Jewkes(who is now her chief Favourite) to entertain her with somepleasantStories,suitable to the Occasion. And his desiring to spoil thepretty Waist of his Pamela,p.216, so far from making half the Women inEnglandhurt themselves by Strait-lacing, that I am of Opinion, most of them assisted by that and some other foregoing Passages, wou'd rather endeavour toenlargethemselves in that Part, than decrease it. Nor do Mr.Longmanor Mrs.Jervisseem to be of a contrary Opinion to the Squire, but both facetiously drink a Bumper to theHans in Kelder.
Thus, Sir, thro' a Series of Intrigue interwoven with Amorous Incidents have we traced the LovelyPamelafrom theServant Maidto theMistressof theMansion House, and as I think I have marked out several Passages, that tend only toinflamewithout any View at all toInstruction, that the Images they present are so far from being innocent, they could not be stronger invented, or more naturally expressed, toexcite Lasciviousnessin the Minds of the Youth of bothSexes. Ishall conclude at present, hoping that in your next Edition you will either amend them or entirely strike them out; not that I have pointed all that I think exceptionable, as it would be too long for a Thing of this Kind, and am of Opinion that there are Faults enough of different Sorts, which may possibly be the Subject of a Second Epistle: In the mean time, let me address myself in the most earnest Manner to those of maturer Years, who may chance to be your Readears, that they would weigh whatVirtueis, and how much these amorous Expressions may tend to corrupt their Children, before they suffer them to peruse it, nor be led away by the slight Viel of a few Religious Sentiments, which are thinly spread over them, to permit the Youth under their Care to discover the naked Charms of aninflaming Passion, which is too much exposed in almost every Page of thismuch-admir'dPamela. I am, SIR,