Samuel Richardson's Introduction to Pamela Part 2

IF to _Divert_ and _Entertain_, and at the same time to _Instruct_, and _Improve_ the Minds of the _YOUTH_ of _both s.e.xes_:

IF to inculcate _Religion_ and _Morality_ in so easy and agreeable a manner, as shall render them equally _delightful_ and _profitable_ [_del._ 5th] {to the _younger Cla.s.s_ of Readers, as well as worthy of the Attention of Persons of _maturer_ Years and Understandings}:

IF to set forth in the most exemplary Lights, the _Parental_, the _Filial_, and the _Social_ Duties, [_del._ 5th] {and that from _low_ to _high_ Life}:

IF to paint _VICE_ in its proper Colours, to make it _deservedly Odious_; and to set _VIRTUE_ in its own amiable Light, to make it truly _Lovely_:

IF to draw Characters _justly_, and to support them _equally_:

IF to raise a Distress from _natural_ Causes, and to excite Compa.s.sion from _proper_ Motives:

IF to teach the Man of _Fortune_ how to use it; the Man of _Pa.s.sion_ how to subdue it; and the Man of _Intrigue_, how, gracefully, and with Honour to himself, to _reclaim_:

IF to give _practical_ Examples, worthy to be followed in the most _critical_ and _affecting_ Cases, by the [_del._ 5th] {modest} _Virgin_, the [_del._ 5th] {chaste} _Bride_, and the [_del._ 5th] {obliging} _Wife_:

IF to effect all these good Ends, [_del._ 8th] {in so probable, so natural, so _lively_ a manner, as shall engage the Pa.s.sions of every sensible Reader, and strongly interest them in the edifying Story:

AND all} without raising a single _Idea_ throughout the Whole, that shall shock the exactest Purity, even in those tender Instances where the exactest Purity would be most apprehensive:

IF these [_del._ 5th] {, (embellished with a great Variety of entertaining Incidents)} be laudable or worthy Recommendations of any Work, the Editor of the following Letters, which have their Foundation in _Truth_ [_del._ 8th] {and _Nature_}, ventures to a.s.sert, that all these desirable Ends are obtained [8th, change 1.] {in these Sheets: And as he is therefore confident of the favourable Reception which he boldly bespeaks for this little Work; he thinks any _further Preface_ or _Apology_ for it, unnecessary: And the rather for two Reasons, 1st.

Because he can Appeal from _his own_ Pa.s.sions, (which have been uncommonly _moved_ in perusing these engaging Scenes) to the Pa.s.sions of _Every one_ who shall read them with the least Attention: And, in the next place, because an _Editor_ may reasonably be supposed to judge with an Impartiality which is rarely to be met with in an _Author_ towards his own Works.}

The Editor.

To the Editor of the Piece int.i.tled, PAMELA; or, _VIRTUE Rewarded_.

_Dear SIR,_

I have had inexpressible Pleasure in the Perusal of your PAMELA. It intirely answers the Character you give of it in your Preface; nor have you said one Word too much in Commendation of a Piece that has Advantages and Excellencies peculiar to itself. For, besides the beautiful Simplicity of the Style, and a happy Propriety and Clearness of Expression (the Letters being written under the immediate Impression of every Circ.u.mstance which occasioned them, and that to those who had a Right to know the fair Writer's most secret Thoughts) the several Pa.s.sions of the Mind must, of course, be more affectingly described, and Nature may be traced in her undisguised Inclinations with much more Propriety and Exactness, than can possibly be found in a Detail of Actions long past, which are never recollected with the same Affections, Hopes, and Dreads, with which they were felt when they occurred.

This little Book will infallibly be looked upon as the hitherto much-wanted Standard or Pattern for this Kind of Writing. For it abounds with lively Images and Pictures; with Incidents natural, surprising, and perfectly adapted to the Story; with Circ.u.mstances interesting to Persons in common Life, as well as to those in exalted Stations. The greatest Regard is every where paid in it to Decency, and to every Duty of Life: There is a constant Fitness of the Style to the Persons and Characters described; Pleasure and Instruction here always go hand in hand: Vice and Virtue are set in constant Opposition, and Religion every-where inculcated in its native Beauty and chearful Amiableness; not dressed up in stiff, melancholy, or gloomy Forms, on one hand, nor yet, on the other, debased below its due Dignity and n.o.ble Requisites, in Compliment to a too fashionable but depraved Taste. And this I will boldly say, that if its numerous Beauties are added to its excellent Tendency, it will be found worthy a Place, not only in all Families (especially such as have in them young Persons of either s.e.x) but in the Collections of the most curious and polite Readers. For, as it borrows none of its Excellencies from the romantic Flights of unnatural Fancy, its being founded in Truth and Nature, and built upon Experience, will be a lasting Recommendation to the Discerning and Judicious; while the agreeable Variety of Occurrences and Characters, in which it abounds, will not fail to engage the Attention of the gay and more sprightly Readers.

The moral Reflections and Uses to be drawn from the several Parts of this admirable History, are so happily deduced from a Croud of different Events and Characters, in the Conclusion of the Work, that I shall say the less on that Head. But I think, the Hints you have given me, should also prefatorily be given to the Publick; _viz._ That it will appear from several Things mentioned in the Letters, that the Story must have happened within these Thirty Years past: That you have been obliged to vary some of the Names of Persons, Places, _&c._ and to disguise a few of the Circ.u.mstances, in order to avoid giving Offence to some Persons, who would not chuse to be pointed out too plainly in it; tho' they would be glad it may do the Good so laudably intended by the Publication. And as you have in Confidence submitted to my Opinion some of those Variations, I am much pleased that you have so managed the Matter, as to make no Alteration in the Facts; and, at the same time, have avoided the digressive Prolixity too frequently used on such Occasions.

Little Book, charming PAMELA! face the World, and never doubt of finding Friends and Admirers, not only in thine own Country, but far from Home; [_del._ 8th] {where thou mayst give an Example of Purity to the Writers of a neighbouring Nation; which now shall have an Opportunity to receive _English_ Bullion in Exchange for its own Dross, which has so long pa.s.sed current among us in Pieces abounding with all the Levities of its volatile Inhabitants.} The reigning Depravity of the Times has yet left Virtue many Votaries. Of their Protection you need not despair. May every head-strong Libertine whose Hands you reach, be reclaimed; and every tempted Virgin who reads you, imitate the Virtue, and meet the Reward of the high-meriting, tho' low-descended, PAMELA. I am, Sir,

_Your most Obedient, and Faithful Servant,_

J. B. D. F.

_To my worthy Friend, the Editor of PAMELA._

_SIR_,

I return the Ma.n.u.script of _Pamela_ by the Bearer, which I have read with a great deal of Pleasure. It is written with that Spirit of Truth and agreeable Simplicity, which, tho' much wanted, is seldom found in those Pieces which are calculated for the Entertainment and Instruction of the Publick. It carries Conviction in every Part of it; and the Incidents are so natural and interesting, that I have gone hand-in-hand, and sympathiz'd with the pretty Heroine in all her Sufferings, and been extremely anxious for her Safety, under the Apprehensions of the bad Consequences which I expected, every Page, would ensue from the laudable Resistance she made. I have interested myself in all her Schemes of Escape; been alternately pleas'd and angry with her in her Restraint; _pleas'd_ with the little Machinations and Contrivances she set on foot for her Release, and _angry_ for suffering her Fears to defeat them; always lamenting, with a most sensible Concern, the Miscarriages of her Hopes and Projects. In short, the whole is so affecting, that there is no reading it without uncommon Concern and Emotion. Thus far only as to the _Entertainment_ it gives.

As to _Instruction_ and _Morality_, the Piece is full of both. It shews Virtue in the strongest Light, and renders the Practice of it amiable and lovely. The beautiful Sufferer keeps it ever in her View, without the least Ostentation, or Pride; she has it so strongly implanted in her, that thro' the whole Course of her Sufferings, she does not so much as hesitate once, whether she shall sacrifice it to Liberty and Ambition, or not; but, as if there were no other way to free and save herself, carries on a determin'd Purpose to persevere in her Innocence, and wade with it throughout all Difficulties and Temptations, or perish under them. [_del._ 8th] {It is an astonishing Matter, and well worth our most serious Consideration, that a young beautiful Girl, in the low Scene of Life and Circ.u.mstance in which Fortune placed her, without the Advantage of a Friend capable to relieve and protect her, or any other Education than what occurr'd to her from her own Observation and little Reading, in the Course of her Attendance on her excellent Mistress and Benefactress, could, after having a Taste of Ease and Plenty in a higher Sphere of Life than what she was born and first brought up in, resolve to return to her primitive Poverty, rather than give up her Innocence.} I say, it is surprising, that a young Person, so circ.u.mstanced, could, in Contempt of proffer'd Grandeur on the one side, and in Defiance of Penury on the other, so happily and prudently conduct herself thro' such a Series of Perplexities and Troubles, and withstand the alluring Baits, and almost irresistible Offers of a fine Gentleman, so universally admired and esteemed, for the Agreeableness of his Person and good Qualities, among all his Acquaintance; defeat all his Measures with so much Address, and oblige him, at last, to give over his vain Pursuit, and sacrifice his Pride and Ambition to Virtue, and become the Protector of that Innocence which he so long and so indefatigably labour'd to supplant: And all this without ever having entertain'd the least previous Design or Thought for that Purpose: No Art used to inflame him, no Coquetry practised to tempt or intice him, and no Prudery or Affectation to tamper with his Pa.s.sions; but, on the contrary, artless and unpractised in the Wiles of the World, all her Endeavours, and even all her Wishes, tended only to render herself as un-amiable as she could in his Eyes: Tho' at the same time she is so far from having any Aversion to his Person, that she seems rather prepossess'd in his Favour, and admires his Excellencies, whilst she condemns his Pa.s.sion for her. A glorious Instance of Self-denial! Thus her very Repulses became Attractions: The more she resisted, the more she charm'd; and the very Means she used to guard her Virtue, the more endanger'd it, by inflaming his Pa.s.sions: Till, at last, by Perseverance, and a brave and resolute Defence, the Besieged not only obtain'd a glorious Victory over the Besieger, but took him Prisoner too.

I am charmed with the beautiful Reflections she makes in the Course of her Distresses; her Soliloquies and little Reasonings with herself, are exceeding pretty and entertaining: She pours out all her Soul in them before her Parents without Disguise; so that one may judge of, nay, almost see, the inmost Recesses of her Mind. A pure clear Fountain of Truth and Innocence; a Magazine of Virtue and unblemish'd Thoughts!

I can't conceive why you should hesitate a Moment as to the Publication of this very natural and uncommon Piece. I could wish to see it out in its own native Simplicity, which will affect and please the Reader beyond all the Strokes of Oratory in the World; for those will but spoil it: and, should you permit such a murdering Hand to be laid upon it, to gloss and tinge it over with superfluous and needless Decorations, which, like too much Drapery in Sculpture and Statuary, will but enc.u.mber it; it may disguise the Facts, mar the Reflections, and unnaturalize the Incidents, so as to be lost in a Multiplicity of fine idle Words and Phrases, and reduce our Sterling Substance into an empty Shadow, or rather _frenchify_ our _English_ Solidity into Froth and Whip-syllabub. No; let us have _Pamela_ as _Pamela_ wrote it; in her own Words, without Amputation, or Addition. Produce her to us in her neat Country Apparel, such as she appear'd in, on her intended Departure to her Parents; for such best becomes her Innocence, and beautiful Simplicity. Such a Dress will best edify and entertain. The flowing Robes of Oratory may indeed amuse and amaze, but will never strike the Mind with solid Attention.

In short, Sir, a Piece of this Kind is much wanted in the World, which is but too much, as well as too early, debauched by pernicious _Novels_.

I know nothing Entertaining of that Kind that one might venture to recommend to the Perusal (much less the Imitation) of the Youth of either s.e.x: All that I have hitherto read, tends only to corrupt their Principles, mislead their Judgments, and initiate them into Gallantry, and loose Pleasures.

Publish then, this good, this edifying and instructive little Piece for their sakes. The Honour of _Pamela_'s s.e.x demands _Pamela_ at your Hands, to shew the World an Heroine, almost beyond Example, in an unusual Scene of Life, whom no Temptations, or Sufferings, could subdue.

It is a fine, and glorious Original, for the Fair to copy out and imitate. Our own s.e.x, too, require it of you, to free us, in some measure, from the Imputation of being incapable of the Impressions of Virtue and Honour; [_del._ 8th] {and to shew the Ladies, that we are not inflexible while they are so.}

In short, the Cause of Virtue calls for the Publication of such a Piece as this. Oblige then, Sir, the concurrent Voices of both s.e.xes, and give us _Pamela_ for the Benefit of Mankind: [_del._ 8th] {And as I believe its Excellencies cannot be long unknown to the World, and that there will not be a Family without it; so I make no Doubt but every Family that has it, will be much improv'd and better'd by it.} 'Twill form the tender Minds of _Youth_ for the Reception and Practice of Virtue and Honour; confirm and establish those of _maturer Years_ on good and steady Principles; reclaim the Vicious, and mend the Age in general; insomuch that as I doubt not _Pamela_ will become the bright Example and Imitation of all the fashionable young Ladies of _Great Britain_; so the truly generous Benefactor and Rewarder of her exemplary Virtue, will be no less admired and imitated among the _Beau Monde_ of our own s.e.x. I am

_Your affectionate Friend, &c._

INTRODUCTION

TO THIS

SECOND EDITION.

_The kind Reception which this Piece has met with from the Publick, [_del._ 4th] {(a large Impression having been carried off in less than Three Months)} deserves not only Acknowlegdment, but that some Notice should be taken of the Objections that have hitherto come to hand against a few Pa.s.sages in it, [_del._ 5th] {that so the Work may be rendered as unexceptionable as possible, and, of consequence, the fitter to answer the general Design of it; which is to promote Virtue, and cultivate the Minds of the Youth of both s.e.xes.}_

[5th, change 2.] {_But Difficulties having arisen from the different Opinions of Gentlemen, some of whom applauded the very Things that others found Fault with, it was thought proper to submit the Whole to the Judgment of a Gentleman of the most distinguish'd Taste and Abilities; the Result of which will be seen in the subsequent Pages._}

[_del._ 5th] {_We begin with the following Letter, at the Desire of several Gentlemen, to whom, on a very particular Occasion, it was communicated, and who wish'd to see it prefixed to the New Edition. It was directed,_}

_To the Editor of PAMELA._

_Dear Sir,_

You have agreeably deceiv'd me into a Surprize, which it will be as hard to express, as the Beauties of PAMELA. Though I open'd this powerful little Piece with more Expectation than from common Designs, of like Promise, because it came from _your_ Hands, for my _Daughters_, yet, who could have dreamt, he should find, under the modest Disguise of a _Novel_, all the _Soul_ of Religion, Good-breeding, Discretion, Good-nature, Wit, Fancy, Fine Thought, and Morality?---I have done nothing but read it to others, and hear others again read it, to me, ever since it came into my Hands; and I find I am likely to do nothing else, for I know not how long yet to come: because, if I lay the Book down, it comes after me.----When it has dwelt all Day long upon the Ear, It takes Possession, all Night, of the Fancy.----It has Witchcraft in every Page of it: but it is the Witchcraft of Pa.s.sion and Meaning. Who is there that will not despise the false, empty _Pomp_ of the Poets, when he observes in this little, unpretending, mild Triumph of _Nature_, the whole Force of Invention and Genius, creating new Powers of Emotion, and transplanting _Ideas_ of _Pleasure_ into that unweeded low Garden the _Heart_, from the dry and sharp _Summit_ of _Reason_?

Yet, I confess, there is _One_, in the World, of whom I think with still greater Respect, than of PAMELA: and That is, of the [_del._ 5th]

{wonderful} AUTHOR of PAMELA.----Pray, Who is he, Dear Sir? and where, and how, has he been able to hide, hitherto, such an encircling and all-mastering Spirit? He possesses every Quality that ART could have charm'd by: yet, has lent it to, and conceal'd it in, NATURE.----The Comprehensiveness of his Imagination must be truly prodigious!----It has stretch'd out this diminutive mere _Grain_ of _Mustard-seed_, (a poor Girl's little, innocent, Story) into a Resemblance of That _Heaven_, which the Best of Good Books has compar'd it to.----All the Pa.s.sions are His, in their most close and abstracted Recesses: and by selecting the most delicate, and yet, at the same time, most powerful, of their Springs, thereby to act, wind, and manage, the Heart, He _moves_ us, every where, with the Force of a TRAGEDY.

What is there, throughout the _Whole_, that I do not sincerely admire!---I admire, in it, the strong distinguish'd Variety, and picturesque glowing Likeness to _Life_, of the Characters. I know, hear, see, and live among 'em All: and, if I cou'd paint, cou'd return you their _Faces_. I admire, in it, the n.o.ble Simplicity, Force, Aptness, and Truth, of so many modest, conomical, moral, prudential, religious, satirical, and cautionary, _Lessons_; which are introduc'd with such seasonable Dexterity, and with so polish'd and exquisite a Delicacy, of Expression and Sentiment, that I am only apprehensive, for the _Interests_ of _Virtue_, lest some of the _finest_, and _most touching_, of those elegant Strokes of Good-breeding, Generosity, and Reflection, shou'd be lost, under the too gross Discernment of an unfeeling Majority of Readers; for whose Coa.r.s.eness, however, they were kindly design'd, as the most useful and charitable Correctives.

One of the best-judg'd Peculiars, of the Plan, is, that These Instructions being convey'd, as in a Kind of Dramatical Representation, by those beautiful _Scenes_, Her own Letters and Journals, who acts the most moving and suffering _Part_, we feel the Force in a threefold Effect,----from the Motive, the Act, and the Consequence.