Clarissa Harlowe by Samuel Richardson (e reader manga .txt) ๐
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 โinventionsโ in his assault on Clarissaโs honor.
The novel is thus a fascinating study of human nature. Much of Lovelaceโs 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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D. My fortune already will be more considerable than my match, if I am to have Mr. Hickman.
M. Why so?โ โMr. Hickman has fortune enough to entitle him to yours.
D. If you think so, thatโs enough.
M. Not but I should think the worse of myself, if I desired anybodyโs death; but I think, as you say, Mr. Antony Harlowe is a healthy man, and bids fair for a long life.
Bless me, thought I, how shall I do to know whether this be an objection or a recommendation!
D. Will you forgive me, Madam?
M. What would the girl say? Looking as if she was half afraid to hear what.
D. Only, that if you marry a man of his time of life, you stand two chances instead of one, to be a nurse at your time of life.
M. Saucebox!
D. Dear Madam!โ โWhat I mean is only that these healthy old men sometimes fall into lingering disorders all at once. And I humbly conceive, that the infirmities of age are uneasily borne with, where the remembrance of the pleasanter season comes not in to relieve the healthier of the two.
M. A strange girl!โ โYet his healthy constitution an objection just now!โ โBut I have always told you, that you know either too much to be argued with, or too little for me to have patience with you.
D. I canโt but say, I should be glad of your commands, Madam, how to behave myself to Mr. Antony Harlowe next time he comes.
M. How to behave yourself!โ โWhy, if you retire with contempt of him, when he comes next, it will be but as you have been used to do of late.
D. Then he is to come again, Madam?
M. And suppose he be?
D. I canโt help it, if it be your pleasure, Madam. He desires a line in answer to his fine letter. If he come, it will be in pursuance of that line, I presume?
M. None of your arch and pert leers, girl!โ โYou know I wonโt bear them. I had a mind to hear what you would say to this matter. I have not written; but I shall presently.
D. It is mighty good of you, Madam, (I hope the man will think so), to answer his first application by letter.โ โPity he should write twice, if once will do.
M. That fetch wonโt let you into my intention as to what I shall write. It is too saucily put.
D. Perhaps I can guess at your intention, Madam, were it to become me so to do.
M. Perhaps I would not make Mr. Hickman of any man; using him the worse for respecting me.
D. Nor, perhaps, would I, Madam, if I liked his respects.
M. I understand you. But, perhaps, it is in your power to make me hearken, or not, to Mr. Harlowe.
D. Young men, who have probably a good deal of time before them need not be in haste for a wife. Mr. Hickman, poor man! must stay his time, or take his remedy.
M. He bears more from you than a man ought.
D. Then, I doubt, he gives a reason for the treatment he meets with.
M. Provoking creature!
D. I have but one request to make to you, Madam.
M. A dutiful one, I suppose. What is it, pray?
D. That if you marry, I may be permitted to live single.
M. Perverse creature, Iโm sure!
D. How can I expect, Madam, that you should refuse such terms? Ten thousand pounds!โ โAt the least ten thousand pounds!โ โA very handsome proposal!โ โSo many fine things too, to give you one by one!โ โDearest Madam, forgive me!โ โI hope it is not yet so far gone, that rallying this man will be thought want of duty to you.
M. Your rallying of him, and your reverence to me, it is plain, have one source.
D. I hope not, Madam. But ten thousand poundsโ โ
M. Is no unhandsome proposal.
D. Indeed I think so. I hope, Madam, you will not be behindhand with him in generosity.
M. He wonโt be ten thousand pounds the better for me, if he survive me.
D. No, Madam; he canโt expect that, as you have a daughter, and as he is a bachelor, and has not a child!โ โPoor old soul!
M. Old soul, Nancy!โ โAnd thus to call him for being a bachelor, not having a child!โ โDoes this become you?
D. Not old soul for that, Madamโ โbut half the sum; five thousand pounds; you canโt engage for less, Madam.
M. That sum has your approbation then? Looking as if sheโd be even with me.
D. As he leaves it to your generosity, Madam, to reward his kindness to you, it canโt be less.โ โDo, dear Madam, permit me, without incurring your displeasure, to call him poor old soul again.
M. Never was such a whimsical creature!โ โTurning away to hide her involuntary smile, for I believe I looked very archly; at least I intended to do so.โ โI hate that wicked sly look. You give yourself very free airsโ โdonโt you?
D. I snatched her hand, and kissed it.โ โMy dear Mamma, be not angry with your girl!โ โYou have told me, that you was very lively formerly.
M. Formerly! Good lack!โ โBut were I to encourage his proposals, you may be sure, that for Mr. Hickmanโs sake, as well as yours, I should make a wise agreement.
D. You have both lived to years of prudence, Madam.
M. Yes, I suppose I am an old soul too.
D. He also is for making a wise agreement, or hinting at one, at least.
M. Well, the short and the long I suppose is this: I have not your consent to marry.
D. Indeed, Madam, you have not my wishes to marry.
M. Let me tell you, that if prudence consists in wishing well to oneโs self, I
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