Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady novel. A total of 426 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Clarissa.Volume 1.by Samuel Richardson.PREFACE The following History is given in a serie
Clarissa.Volume 1.by Samuel Richardson.PREFACE The following History is given in a series of letters, written Princ.i.p.ally in a double yet separate correspondence; Between two young ladies of virtue and honor, bearing an inviolable friends.h.i.+p for ea
- 201 I shall send this long letter by Collins, who changes his day to oblige me; and that he may try (now I know where you are) to get it into your own hands. If he cannot, he will leave it at Wilson's. As none of our letters by that convey- ance have mis
- 202 Forgive me this murmuring question, the effect of my impatience, my guilty impatience, I doubt: for, as I have escaped with my honour, and nothing but my worldly prospects, and my pride, my ambition, and my vanity, have suffered in this wretch of my hopef
- 203 You may pa.s.s this time in a journey to Lord M.'s; and I cannot doubt, if the ladies of your family are as favourable to me, as you have a.s.sured me they are, but that you will have interest enough to prevail with one of them to oblige me with thei
- 204 I am now here, and here have been this hour and half.--What an industrious spirit have I!--n.o.body can say that I eat the bread of idleness. I take true pains for all the pleasure I enjoy. I cannot but admire myself strangely; for certainly, with this ac
- 205 Exit Landlord.--Re-enter with two great-coats.Ay, Landlord, this will be best; for I can b.u.t.ton the cape over the lower part of my face. Don't I look devilishly down and concerned, Landlord?I never saw a gentleman with a better-natured look.--
- 206 When, Sir, shall you want to come in?I will take them from this very day; and, if convenient, will bring my wife in the afternoon.Perhaps, Sir, you would board, as well as lodge?That as you please. It will save me the trouble of bringing my cook, if we do
- 207 Stuff-damask, Sir.It looks mighty well, truly. I like it better than silk. It is warmer to be sure, and much fitter for lodgings in the country; especially for people in years. The bed is in a pretty state.It is neat and clean, Sir: that's all we pre
- 208 O there he is! said she, and threw her ap.r.o.n over her face--I cannot see him!--I cannot look upon him!--Begone, begone! touch me not!-- For I took her struggling hand, beseeching her to be pacified; and a.s.suring her, that I would make all up with her
- 209 The widow besought her speedy return. I joined in the same request; and she was ready enough to promise to oblige us.I excused myself to Mrs. Moore for the disguise I had appeared in at first, and for the story I had invented. I told her that I held mysel
- 210 [And now, Sir, a few lines in answer to your's of Monday last.][Mr. Harlowe was very well pleased with your readiness to come into his proposal. But as to what you both desire, that he will be present at the ceremony, he said, that his nephew watched
- 211 Out then I pulled my handkerchief, and putting it to my eyes, arose, and walked to the window--It makes me weaker than a woman, did I not love her, as never man loved his wife! [I have no doubt but I do, Jack.]There again I stopt; and resuming--Charming c
- 212 My revenge, my sworn revenge, is, nevertheless, (adore her as I will,) uppermost in my heart.--Miss Howe says that my love is a Herodian love.*By my soul, that girl's a witch! I am half sorry to say, that I find a pleasure in playing the tyrant over
- 213 Devil take her too! thought I,--I imagined that I had made myself a better interest in these women. But the whole s.e.x love plotting--and plotters too, Jack.Cl. A barn, an outhouse, a garret, will be a palace to me, if it will but afford me a refuge from
- 214 But whither, whither, my dearest love, would you go!--Think you not that I will follow you, were it to the world's end!--Whither would you go?Well do you ask me, whither I would go, who have been the occasion that I have not a friend left!--But G.o.d
- 215 They came out both of them wiping their eyes; and would have persuaded me to relinquish the lodgings, and to depart till her uncle's friend came.But I knew better. I did not care to trust the Devil, well as she and Miss Howe suppose me to be acquaint
- 216 The correction I had given the brother, he told me, must have aggravated matters.How valiant this made me look to the women!--The s.e.x love us mettled fellows at their hearts.Be that as it would, I should never love any of the family but my spouse; and w
- 217 The women seemed all to join in the same hope.Ah, Captain! Ah, Ladies! how happy should I be, if I could bring my dear spouse to be of the same mind!It would be a very happy conclusion of a very knotty affair, said the widow Bevis; and I see not why we ma
- 218 Enough, Sir, familiarly nodding his head, to show he took me. And away went the villain--into the parlour, to the women, I.In a quarter of an hour came old Grimes on horseback, waving to his saddle-bow, now on this side, now on that; his head, at others,
- 219 The FIRST I intended to keep open till I could give you some account of my proceedings with Mrs. Townsend. It was some days before I saw her: and this intervenient s.p.a.ce giving me time to reperuse what I had written, I thought it proper to lay that asi
- 220 May Heaven preserve you, my dearest creature, in honour and safety, is the prayer, the hourly prayer, of Your ever-faithful and affectionate, ANNA HOWE.THURSDAY MORN. 5.I have written all night. [Excuse indifferent writing; my crow-quills are worn to the
- 221 Miss Rawlins fluctuates, as she hears the lady's story, or as she hears mine. Somewhat of an infidel, I doubt, is this Miss Rawlins. I have not yet considered her foible. The next time I see her, I will take particular notice of all the moles and fre
- 222 How does she look?Better than could be expected from yesterday's fatigue, and last night's ill rest.These tender doves know not, till put to it, what they can bear; especially when engaged in love affairs; and their attention wholly engrossed. B
- 223 Cl. You may say all that you please to say before these gentlewomen.-- Mr. Lovelace may have secrets--I have none:--you seem to think me faulty: I should be glad that all the world knew my heart. Let my enemies sit in judgment upon my actions; fairly scan
- 224 Capt. Only one word more, Madam.--He tells me, that you promised to pardon him. He tells me-- He knew, interrupted she, that he deserved not pardon, or he had not extorted the promise from me. Nor had I given it to him, but to s.h.i.+eld myself from the v
- 225 Charming fellow!Cl. O what difficulties has one fatal step involved me in--but there is no necessity for such an appeal to any body. I am resolved on my measures.Capt. Absolutely resolved, Madam?Cl. I am.Capt. What shall I say to your uncle Harlowe, Madam
- 226 Lovel. My dearest life!--But I will not interrupt you.Cl. Thus treated, it becomes me to doubt--it concerns my honour to doubt, to fear, to apprehend--your intervention, Sir, is so seasonable, so kind, for this man--my uncle's expedient, the first of
- 227 Lovel. Only, my dearest life, resolve to attend the arrival and visit of Lady Betty; and permit her to arbitrate between us.Capt. There can be no harm in that, Madam. You can suffer no inconvenience from that. If Mr. Lovelace's offence be such, that a wo
- 228 I implored the return of that value which she had so generously acknowledged once to have had for me. I presumed, I said, to flatter myself that Lady Betty, in her own person, and in the name of all my family, would be able, on my promised reformation and
- 229 And now, Sir, what is the result of all?--It is this--that you will endeavour, if you have that influence over him which a man of your sense and experience ought to have, to prevail upon him, and that for his own sake, as well as for mine, to leave me fre
- 230 END OF VOL.5……
- 231 Clarissa.Volume 6.by Samuel Richardson.LETTER I MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.SAT. MIDNIGHT.No rest, says a text that I once heard preached upon, to the wicked--and I cannot close my eyes (yet only wanted to compound for half an hour in an elbow-chai
- 232 This self-acquittal, when spirits are lent me to dispel the darkness which at present too often over-clouds my mind, will, I hope, make me superior to all the calamities that can befal me.Her whole person was informed by her sentiments. She seemed to be t
- 233 But not to keep thee in suspense; I have, within this half-hour, obtained possession of the expected letter from Miss Howe--and by such an accident! But here, with the former, I dispatch this; thy messenger waiting.LETTER VI MR. LOVELACE [IN CONTINUATION.
- 234 Fellow. Yes, Madam: but I am sorry you are so bad.Widow. Do you live with Miss Howe?Fellow. No, Madam: I am one of her tenants' sons. Her lady-mother must not know as how I came of this errand. But the letter, I suppose, will tell you all.Widow. How shal
- 235 After the discoveries I had made of the villanous machinations of the most abandoned of men, particularized in my long letter of Wednesday*last, you will believe, my dearest friend, that my surprise upon perusing your's of Thursday evening from Hampstead
- 236 Thus much, indeed, as to these two ladies, I will grant thee, that the active spirit of the one, and the meek disposition of the other, may make their friends.h.i.+p more durable than it would otherwise be; for this is certain, that in every friends.h.i.+
- 237 Love, that deserves the name, never was under the dominion of prudence, or of any reasoning power. She cannot bear to be thought a woman, I warrant! And if, in the last attempt, I find her not one, what will she be the worse for the trial?--No one is to b
- 238 Every one would be married a dozen times at least. Both men and women would be careful of their characters and polite in their behaviour, as well as delicate in their persons, and elegant in their dress, [a great matte each of these, let me tell thee, to
- 239 Hadst thou seen how they paraded it--Cousin, and Cousin, and Nephew, at every word; Lady Betty bridling and looking haughtily-condescending.-- Charlotte galanting her fan, and swimming over the floor without touching it.How I long to see my niece-elect! c
- 240 Stedman, her solicitor, may attend her for orders in relation to her chancery affair, at Hampstead. Not one hour they can be favoured with, will they lose from the company and conversation of so dear, so charming a new relation.Hard then if she had not ob
- 241 I raised her; but down she sunk, as if quite disjointed--her limbs failing her--yet not in a fit neither. I never heard of or saw such a dear unaccountable; almost lifeless, and speechless too for a few moments; what must her apprehensions be at that mome
- 242 [The whole of this black transaction is given by the injured lady to Miss Howe, in her subsequent letters, dated Thursday, July 6. See Letters LXVII. LXVIII. LXIX.]LETTER XIII MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.WATFORD, WEDN. JAN. 14.O thou savage-heart
- 243 LETTER XV MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.I have just now had a specimen of what the resentment of this dear creature will be when quite recovered: an affecting one!--For entering her apartment after Dorcas; and endeavouring to soothe and pacify her di
- 244 PAPER II (Scratch'd through, and thrown under the table.) --And can you, my dear, honoured Papa, resolve for ever to reprobate your poor child?--But I am sure you would not, if you knew what she has suffered since her unhappy--And will n.o.body plead for
- 245 Fool! to that body to return, Where it condemn'd and destin'd is to mourn![I could a tale unfold---- Would harrow up thy soul----]O my Miss Howe! if thou hast friends.h.i.+p, help me, And speak the words of peace to my divided soul, That wars within me,
- 246 I know thou wilt blame me for having had recourse to art. But do not physicians prescribe opiates in acute cases, where the violence of the disorder would be apt to throw the patient into a fever or delirium? I aver, that my motive for this expedient was
- 247 Here I made an hesitating effort to speak, laying down my pen: but she proceeded!--Hear me out, guilty wretch!--abandoned man!--Man, did I say?--Yet what name else can I? since the mortal worryings of the fiercest beast would have been more natural, and i
- 248 MONDAY MORN. FIVE O'CLOCK (JUNE 19.) I must write on. Nothing else can divert me: and I think thou canst not have been a dog to me.I would fain have closed my eyes: but sleep flies me. Well says Horace, as translated by Cowley: The halcyon sleep will nev
- 249 The consent of such a woman must make her ever new, ever charming. But astonis.h.i.+ng! Can the want of a church-ceremony make such a difference!She owes me her consent; for hitherto I have had nothing to boast of.All of my side, has been deep remorse, an
- 250 Tell me, then, is there any reality in the treaty thou has pretended to be on foot between my uncle and Capt. Tomlinson, and thyself?--Say, and hesitate not, is there any truth in that story?--But, remember, if there be not, and thou avowest that there is
- 251 'Twill be a mercy, said she, the highest act of mercy you can do, to kill me outright upon this spot--this happy spot, as I will, in my last moments, call it!--Then, baring, with a still more frantic violence, part of her enchanting neck--Here, here, sai
- 252 Now, Jack, what terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet corruptress? Seest thou not how she hates me? Seest thou not that she is resolved never to forgive me? Seest thou not, however, that she must disgrace herself in the eye of the world, if
- 253 Tired with a succession of fatiguing days and sleepless nights, and with contemplating the precarious situation I stand in with my beloved, I fell into a profound reverie; which brought on sleep; and that produced a dream; a fortunate dream; which, as I i
- 254 All the family used, he says, to meet to celebrate it with him; but as they are at present in too unhappy a situation for that, he will give out, that, not being able to bear the day at home, he has resolved to be absent for two or three days.He will set
- 255 As I entered the dining-room, I congratulated her and myself upon her sudden recovery. And would have taken her hand, with an air of respectful tenderness; but she was resolved to begin where she left off.She turned from me, drawing in her hand, with a re
- 256 I have been so happy as to receive, this moment, a third letter from the dear correspondent Miss Howe. A little severe devil!--It would have broken the heart of my beloved, had it fallen into her hands. I will enclose a copy of it. Read it here.TUESDAY, J
- 257 And imaginest thou, fairest, thought I, that this will go down with a Lovelace? Thou oughtest to have known that free-livers, like ministers of state, never part with a power put into their hands, without an equivalent of twice the value.I pleaded, that i
- 258 Ask me no questions that may ensnare me. I am too sincere for the company I am in.Let me ask you, Madam, What meant you, when you said, 'that, were it not a sin, you would die before you gave me that a.s.surance?'She was indignantly silent.You thought,
- 259 Don't you, Sir, put questions to me that you know I will answer truly, though my answer were ever so much to enrage you.My heart, Madam, my soul is all your's at present. But you must give me hope, that your promise, in your own construction, binds you,
- 260 I am to be admitted to her presence immediately, at my repeated request. Surely the acquisition in view will help me to make up all with her. She is just gone up to the dining-room.Nothing will do, Jack!--I can procure no favour from her, though she has o
- 261 If I should want Dorcas, I can send for her.Dorcas could not but say, She should be very proud-- Well, well, that may be at my return, if your lady permit.--Shall I, my dear, call up Mrs. Sinclair, and give her orders, to the same effect, in your hearing?
- 262 Ay, cursed creature, cried Sally, who made the first advances?I have betrayed one trust already!--O let me not betray another!--My lady is a good lady!--O let not her suffer!-- Tell all you know. Tell the whole truth, Dorcas, cried Polly Horton.-- His hon
- 263 Unawares to myself, I had moved onward to my angel--'And dost thou, dost thou, still disclaiming, still advancing--dost thou, dost thou, still insidiously move towards me?'--[And her hand was extended] 'I dare--I dare--not rashly neither--my heart from
- 264 MR. LOVELACE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE [SUPERSCRIBED TO MRS. LOVELACE.]M. HALL, SUNDAY NIGHT, JUNE 25.MY DEAREST LOVE, I cannot find words to express how much I am mortified at the return of my messenger without a line from you.Thursday is so near, that I
- 265 Only that thou hast such jesuitical qualifyings, or I should think thee at last touched with remorse, and brought within view of being ashamed of thy cursed inventions by the ill success of thy last: which I heartily congratulate thee upon.O the divine la
- 266 However, fail not, as from me, to charge our mother and her nymphs to redouble their vigilance both as to her person and letters. All's upon a crisis now. But she must not be treated ill neither.Thursday over, I shall know what to resolve upon.If necessa
- 267 Thou hast heard from M'Donald and Mowbray the news. Bad or good, I know not which thou'lt deem it. I only wish I could have given thee joy upon the same account, before the unhappy lady was seduced from Hampstead; for then of what an ungrateful villany
- 268 'The wench, glad of this reprieve, went up stairs; and while Sally was laying out the law, and prating away in her usual dictorial manner, whipt on another gown, and sliding down the stairs, escaped to her relations.And this flight, which was certainly m
- 269 Mabell deserves a pitch suit and a bonfire, rather than the l.u.s.tring; and as her clothes are returned, le the lady's be put to her others, to be sent to her when it can be told whither--but not till I give the word neither; for we must get the dear fu
- 270 Nor will I seek to distress your worthy mind. If I cannot suffer alone, I will make as few parties as I can in my sufferings. And, indeed, I took up my pen with this resolution when I wrote the letter which has fallen into your hands. It was only to know,
- 271 You have been misinformed as to your family's being at your uncle Harlowe's. They did not intend to be there. Nor was the day kept at all. Indeed, they have not stirred out, but to church (and that but three times) ever since the day you went away.--Unh
- 272 Nor have I been in town these six months: nor at Hampstead for years.Neither shall I have any temptation to go to town, except to pay my congratulatory compliments to Mrs. Lovelace. On which occasion I should go with the greatest pleasure; and should hope
- 273 LETTER LXII MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MRS. NORTON SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 2.How kindly, my beloved Mrs. Norton, do you soothe the anguish of a bleeding heart! Surely you are mine own mother; and, by some unaccountable mistake, I must have been laid to a fami
- 274 She put it close to me, Whether I had not corresponded with you from the time of your going away? I could safely tell her, (as I did,) that I had not: but I said, that I was well informed, that you took extremely to heart your father's imprecation; and t
- 275 Your peace is destroyed!--I wonder not at it: since now you must reproach yourself for a credulity so ill-placed.Your intellect is touched!--I am sure my heart bleeds for you! But, excuse me, my dear, I doubt your intellect was touched before you left Ham
- 276 But indeed I know nothing of any messenger from you.Believing myself secure at Hampstead, I staid longer there than I would have done, in hopes of the letter promised me in your short one of the 9th, brought me by my own messenger, in which you undertake
- 277 Your CLARISSA HARLOWE.LETTER LXVIII MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE [IN CONTINUATION.]I was very ill, and obliged to lay down my pen. I thought I should have fainted. But am better now--so will proceed.The pretended ladies, the more we talked, the fonder they seeme
- 278 It was Ladys.h.i.+p at every word; and as she seemed proud of her t.i.tle, and of her dress too, I might have guessed that she was not used to either.What say you, cousin Lovelace? Lady Sarah, though a melancholy woman, is very inquisitive about all your
- 279 Lord, Lord, Nephew, Lord, Lord, Cousin, both women in a breath, what ado you make about nothing! You persuade your lady to be afraid of alighting.--See you not that she is just fainting?Indeed, Madam, said the vile seducer, my dearest love must not be mov
- 280 His servant was gone twice as long as he needed: and, just before his return, came one of the pretended Lady Betty's with a letter for Mr.Lovelace.He sent it up to me. I read it: and then it was that I thought myself a lost creature; it being to put off
- 281 SAt.u.r.dAY, JULY 8.LETTER LXXI MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE SUNDAY, JULY 9.May Heaven signalize its vengeance, in the face of all the world, upon the most abandoned and profligate of men!--And in its own time, I doubt not but it will.--And we must
- 282 I long for the particulars of your story. You must have too much time upon your hands for a mind so active as your's, if tolerable health and spirits be afforded you.The villany of the worst of men, and the virtue of the most excellent of women, I expect
- 283 Clarissa.Volume 7.by Samuel Richardson.LETTER I MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE WED. NIGHT, JULY 12.I write, my dearest creature, I cannot but write, to express my concern on your dejection. Let me beseech you, my charming excellence, let me beseech y
- 284 cried one----A lady of so much generosity and good sense! Another--How charmingly she writes! the two maiden monkeys, looking at her find handwriting: her perfections my crimes. What can you expect will be the end of these things! cried Lady Sarah--d----d
- 285 What wretches, Belford, what spiteful wretches, are poor mortals!--So rejoiced to sting one another! to see each other stung!Lord M. [Reading.] 'For while I was endeavouring to save a drowning wretch, I have been, not accidentally, but premeditatedly, an
- 286 This set him in a violent pa.s.sion. He would send for Pritchard instantly. Let Pritchard be called. He would alter his will; and all he could leave from me, he would.Do, do, my Lord, said I: I always valued my own pleasure above your estate. But I'll le
- 287 Lady Betty. My niece Charlotte has called upon you so justly, and has put the question to you so properly, that I cannot but wish you would speak to it directly, and without evasion.All in a breath then bespoke my seriousness, and my justice: and in this
- 288 Then was the personal character of the lady, as well as her more extraordinary talents and endowments again expatiated upon: and Miss Patty, who had once seen her, launched out more than all the rest in her praise. These were followed by such inquiries as
- 289 LETTER X MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE SUNDAY NIGHT, JULY 16.MY DEAREST FRIEND, Why should you permit a mind, so much devoted to your service, to labour under such an impatience as you must know it would labour under, for want of an answer to a lett
- 290 DEAR MISS HOWE, Your letter has infinitely disturbed us all.This wretched man has been half distracted ever since Sat.u.r.day night.We knew not what ailed him, till your letter was brought.Vile wretch, as he is, he is however innocent of this new evil.Ind
- 291 Your most obedient humble servants, M.SARAH SADLEIR.ELIZ. LAWRANCE.DEAR MISS HOWE, After what is written above, by names and characters of unquestionable honour, I might have been excused signing a name almost as hateful to myself, as I KNOW it is to you.
- 292 In High-Holborn, Madam.I know not where High-Holborn is: but any where, except to the woman's.----But am I to go with men only?Looking about her, and seeing the three pa.s.sages, to wit, that leading to Henrietta-street, that to King-street, and the fore
- 293 They told me, that they had but one bed, besides that they lay in themselves, (which they would fain have had her accept of,) and besides that their maid lay in, in a garret, which they called a hole of a garret: and that that one bed was the prisoner's
- 294 We are surprised at your indifference, Miss Harlowe! Will you not write to any of your friends?No.Why, you don't think of tarrying here always?I shall not live always.Do you think you are to stay here as long as you live?That's as it shall please G.o.d,
- 295 Not a prison, Madam.Why these iron-barred windows, then? Why these double locks and bolts all on the outside, none on the in?And down she dropt into her chair, and they could not get another word from her. She threw her handkerchief over her face, as one
- 296 And yet you care not, as I see, to leave the house.--And so, you won't go down, Miss Harlowe?I won't, except I am forced to it.Well, well, let it alone. I sha'n't ask Miss Horton to dine in this room, I a.s.sure you. I will send up a plate.And away th
- 297 Under what shocking disadvantages, and with this addition to them, that I am thy friend and intimate, am I to make a visit to this unhappy lady to-morrow morning! In thy name, too!--Enough to be refused, that I am of a s.e.x, to which, for thy sake, she h
- 298 Only, Sir, take this ring. I have a sister, who will be glad to have it, at the price it shall be valued at, for the former owner's sake!--Out of the money she gives, let this man be paid! handsomely paid: and I have a few valuables more at my lodging, (
- 299 I besought her to think of quitting that wretched hole.Whither could she go, she asked, to be safe and uninterrupted for the short remainder of her life; and to avoid being again visited by the creatures who had insulted her before?I gave her the solemnes
- 300 LETTER XIX MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.TUESDAY MORN. JULY 18, SIX O'CLOCK.Having sat up so late to finish and seal in readiness my letter to the above period, I am disturbed before I wished to have risen, by the arrival of thy second fellow, man