Part 4

Yet notwithstanding all this, her _Virtue_ is only founded on _Shame_, 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 be _for_?--He may 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 of _one_ Sort, and love _Variety_. Well then, poor _Pamela_ must be turn'd off, and look'd upon as a vile abandon'd Creature, and every body would despise her; ay, and _justly_ too, 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 poor _Pamela_ will 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 lovely _Pamela_, 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 in a 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' the _Servant Maid_ might fail to please, the _Farmer's Daughter_ must inevitably catch the _Country Squire_; yet how artfully is this _Masquerade_ introduced! 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 call _Spanish_ Leather, 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 the _French_ Necklace 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."

_PAMELA_ is 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 the _Ladies_, 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 may _allure_, when perhaps a pale faced Court Lady might be _despised_; and I dare say, that no young Gentleman who reads this, but wishes himself in Mrs. _Jervis_'s Place to _turn_ Pamela _about 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. _Jervis_ is as decently drawn in for a Procuress as can be; he sees her talking with Mrs. _Jervis_, and thinking her to be a _fresh Lady_, sends for Mrs. _Jervis_ to 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 to _inflame_ his Desire 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 both _in me_, and _to him_. I tell you, said she, you _shall_ come 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 as _Lucifer_. He came up to me, and took me by the Hand, and said, whose pretty Maiden are you?--I dare say you are _Pamela_'s Sister, you are so like her. So neat, so clean, so pretty! Why, Child, you far surpass your Sister _Pamela_! 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 am _Pamela_, indeed I am _Pamela_, _her ownself_! He kissed me for all I could do; and said, Impossible! You are a lovelier Girl by half than _Pamela_; 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. _Jervis_ look'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 he _knew 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, and _look'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 declining stifled 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 his _Pamela_, 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 lovely _Appearance_ you made."

Squire _B._ 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 where _Pamela_ lay; _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 little suspected 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. _Jervis_ for 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; but Mr. _Jonathan_'s Note was enough to make it do so, with what Mrs. _Jervis_ had 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. _Jervis_ scream'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. _Jervis_ may endeavour to keep down the _Under 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 the Scene 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. _Jervis_ was 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 poor _Pamela_ is 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. _Jervis_ sitting up on one Side, with her Wrapper about her, and _Rachel_ on the other." _Feeling of the Breasts, fainting, and dying away_, may, in your Opinion, Sir, be Excitements to _Virtue_, but they are too VIRTUOUS a Description in my Mind for any young untainted Mind to peruse.

Miss after this is ill, and when she had _blubber'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 to _Pamela_'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, with _these soft Hands_, and that _lovely 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 so _I would advise her to take a House in_ London, _and let Lodgings to us Members of Parliament_, when we come to Town; and such a _pretty Daughter_ as you may pass for, will always _fill 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 as QUICK 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; yet _Pamela_ is designed to _mend_ the _Taste_ and _Manners_ of the Times, and _instruct_ and _encourage 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 the INSTRUCTION of both _Sexes_. The young Gentleman will find the Squir's Wish to be, that his beloved _Pamela_ would quite the _cold Air_ of a reserved Modesty, immediately yield to his Wishes, and meet him in an _amorous Conflict_, with all the _Vivacity_ that 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 a _double Entendre_ strictly virtuous, even tho' it turns upon the _Closet Commerce_ between 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, for_ Pamela _does so; there are several such Things in that_ good Book, _and my_ Mother _recommended me to the reading of it, nay, and the_ Parson _says it is the_ best Book in the World _except the_ Bible.

Miss _Pamela_ tho' 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 Squire _Martin_ he keeps a Seraglio of his own, and has had _three 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. Alack a day! What a World we live in! It is grown more Wonder that Men are _resisted_ than that Women _comply_.' Indeed Mr. _Pamela_ is very discerning of her Age!

Mrs. _Jervis_ notwithstanding her motherly Goodness, seems still to be Procuress in Ordinary, though indeed she doth not prove so pac'd an One as Mrs. _Jewkes_ doth 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 the _five Guineas_ the Squire gave her upon closing her yearly Accounts seem to have soften'd her a little more to his Interest, for in _p._ 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' _Pamela_ confesses _she 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, cannot _but love you_. Yes, look up to me, my sweet-fac'd Girl! 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 Parson _Williams_ is 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 fair _Pamela_'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 his _Lincolnshire_ Coachman to bring his travelling Chariot from thence, not caring to trust his Body Coachman, who, with the rest of the Servants, so greatly lov'd and honour'd the fair Damsel; and having given him Instructions accordingly, and prohibited his other Servants, on Pretence of resenting _Pamela_'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 his _Lincolnshire_ Estate. 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, the _Chaste_ Discourse at the Inn, her Interview with Mrs. _Jewkes_, &c. we now transpose the Scene from _Bedfordshire_ to the Mansion House in _Lincolnshire_, where the poor Turtle is now coop'd up; and certainly it must be allowed, that the Author has contrived to heighten his _Amorous Tale_ by 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. _Jewkes_ enters into the Business with all the Assurance of an experienc'd Bawd. It was contrived that Miss should bait at an Inn upon the Road, kept by her Sister, and there Mrs. _Jewkes_ receives her fair Charge: p. 136. 'The naughty Woman came up to me with an Air of Confidence, and _kiss'd me_: See, Sister, said she, here's a _charming 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 be _staring in my Face_, in the Chariot, and _squeezing 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 mean _Lovers of their own Sex_, _Pamela_ seems 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.

_Pamela_ begins 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 no _Spanish Lady_ whatever could be closer confined by the most watchful _Duenna_; 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. Now _Argus_, 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 the _harmless Dove_ hatching Piety and Affection, he enters into his Patron's Affairs with so much affected Business, as makes him rather a _Medlar_ than a _Friend_. A fine Complement to the Clergy by the Way!

Mrs. _Jewkes_ takes all Opportunities of insinuating her Master's _good Qualities_, but especially his Manhood, and _Pamela_ seems 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._'