Clarissa Harlowe by Samuel Richardson (e reader manga .txt) π
Description
Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady is one of the longest novels in the English language. Written by Samuel Richardson over a period of several years and published in 1748, it is composed entirely of letters. Though this may seem daunting, the novel is highly regarded and is considered by many critics as one of the greatest works of English literature, appearing in several lists of the best British novels ever written.
The novel tells the story of young Clarissa, eighteen years of age at the start of the novel. She is generally regarded by her family, neighbors, and friends as the most virtuous and kind young woman they know. But she is drawn into correspondence with Richard Lovelace, a well-born, rich young man regarded as something of a rake, when she attempts to reconcile a dispute between Lovelace and her rash brother. Lovelace, imagining this indicates her love for him, carries out a series of strategems which result in him essentially abducting her from her family, from whom Clarissa then becomes estranged.
Much of the correspondence consists of the letters between Clarissa and her close friend Anna Howe, and between Lovelace and his friend Jack Belford, to whom he confesses all of his strategems and βinventionsβ in his assault on Clarissaβs honor.
The novel is thus a fascinating study of human nature. Much of Lovelaceβs actions and attitudes towards women are regrettably only too familiar to modern readers. And while Clarissa herself may be a little too good to be true, nevertheless she is shown as having some flaws which lead to a tragic outcome.
This Standard Ebooks edition is based on the 9-volume Chapman and Hall edition of 1902.
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- Author: Samuel Richardson
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Then, dear Madam, be pleased to let me hear it from your mouth: there is no need that I should see Mr. Solmes, when it will have double the weight from you. What, Madam, has the man dared to say of me?
My aunt was quite at a loss.
At last, Well, said she, I see how you are attached. I am sorry for it, Miss. For I do assure you, it will signify nothing. You must be Mrs. Solmes; and that in a very few days.
If consent of heart, and assent of voice, be necessary to a marriage, I am sure I never can, nor ever will, be married to Mr. Solmes. And what will any of my relations be answerable for, if they force my hand into his, and hold it there till the service be read; I perhaps insensible, and in fits, all the time!
What a romantic picture of a forced marriage have you drawn, Niece! Some people would say, you have given a fine description of your own obstinacy, child.
My brother and sister would: but you, Madam, distinguish, I am sure, between obstinacy and aversion.
Supposed aversion may owe its rise to real obstinacy, my dear.
I know my own heart, Madam. I wish you did.
Well, but see Mr. Solmes once more, Niece. It will oblige and make for you more than you imagine.
What should I see him for, Madam?β βIs the man fond of hearing me declare my aversion to him?β βIs he desirous of having me more and more incense my friends against myself?β βO my cunning, my ambitious brother!
Ah, my dear! with a look of pity, as if she understood the meaning of my exclamationβ βBut must that necessarily be the case?
It must, Madam, if they will take offence at me for declaring my steadfast detestation of Mr. Solmes, as a husband.
Mr. Solmes is to be pitied, said she. He adores you. He longs to see you once more. He loves you the better for your cruel usage of him yesterday. He is in raptures about you.
Ugly creature, thought I!β βHe in raptures!
What a cruel wretch must he be, said I, who can enjoy the distress to which he so largely contributes!β βBut I see, I see, Madam, that I am considered as an animal to be baited, to make sport for my brother and sister, and Mr. Solmes. They are all, all of them, wanton in their cruelty.β βI, Madam, see the man! the man so incapable of pity!β βIndeed I will not see him, if I can help itβ βindeed I will not.
What a construction does your lively wit put upon the admiration Mr. Solmes expresses of you!β βPassionate as you were yesterday, and contemptuously as you treated him, he dotes upon you for the very severity by which he suffers. He is not so ungenerous a man as you think him: nor has he an unfeeling heart.β βLet me prevail upon you, my dear, (as your father and mother expect it of you), to see him once more, and hear what he has to say to you.
How can I consent to see him again, when yesterdayβs interview was interpreted by you, Madam, as well as by every other, as an encouragement to him? when I myself declared, that if I saw him a second time by my own consent, it might be so taken? and when I am determined never to encourage him?
You might spare your reflections upon me, Miss. I have no thanks either from one side or the other.
And away she flung.
Dearest Madam! said I, following her to the doorβ β
But she would not hear me further; and her sudden breaking from me occasioned a hurry to some mean listener; as the slipping of a foot from the landing-place on the stairs discovered to me.
I had scarcely recovered myself from this attack, when up came Bettyβ βMiss, said she, your company is desired below-stairs in your own parlour.
By whom, Betty?
How can I tell, Miss?β βperhaps by your sister, perhaps by your brotherβ βI know they wonβt come upstairs to your apartment again.
Is Mr. Solmes gone, Betty?
I believe he is, Missβ βWould you have him sent for back? said the bold creature.
Down I went: and to whom should I be sent for, but to my brother and Mr. Solmes! the latter standing sneaking behind the door, so that I saw him not, till I was mockingly led by the hand into the room by my brother. And then I started as if I had beheld a ghost.
You are to sit down, Clary.
And what then, Brother?
Why then, you are to put off that scornful look, and hear what Mr. Solmes has to say to you.
Sent down for to be baited again, thought I!
Madam, said Mr. Solmes, as if in haste to speak, lest he should not have an opportunity given him, (and indeed he judged right), Mr. Lovelace is a declared marriage hater, and has a design upon your honour, if everβ β
Base accuser! said I, in a passion, snatching my hand from my brother, who was insolently motioning to give it to Mr. Solmes; he has not!β βhe dares not!β βBut you have, if endeavouring to force a free mind be to dishonour it!
O thou violent creature! said my brotherβ βbut not gone yetβ βfor I was rushing away.
What mean you, Sir, (struggling vehemently to get away), to detain me thus against my will?
You shall not go, Violence; clasping his unbrotherly arms about me.
Then let not Mr. Solmes stay.β βWhy hold you me thus? he shall not for your own sake, if I can help it, see how barbarously a brother can treat a sister who deserves not evil treatment.
And I struggled so vehemently to get from him, that he was forced to quit my hand; which he did with these wordsβ βBegone then, Fury!β βhow strong is will!β βthere is no holding her.
And up I flew to my chamber, and locked myself in, trembling and out of breath.
In less than a quarter of an hour, up came Betty. I let her in upon her tapping, and asking (half out of breath too) for admittance.
The Lord have mercy upon us! said she.β βWhat a confusion of a house is
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