Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 53
there may be too much truth in them for all that−−and you know I began to be mad at Hampstead−−so you
said.−−Ah! villanous man! what have you not to answer for!
***
A little interval seems to be lent me. I had begun to look over what I have written. It is not fit for any one to
see, so far as I have been able to re−peruse it: but my head will not hold, I doubt, to go through it all. If
therefore I have not already mentioned my earnest desire, let me tell you it is this: that I be sent out of this
abominable house without delay, and locked up in some private mad−house about this town; for such, it
seems, there are; never more to be seen, or to be produced to any body, except in your own vindication, if you
should be charged with the murder of my person; a much lighter crime than that of honour, which the greatest
villain on earth has robbed me of. And deny me not this my last request, I beseech you; and one other, and
that is, never to let me see you more! This surely may be granted to
The miserably abused CLARISSA HARLOWE.
***
I will not bear thy heavy preachments, Belford, upon this affecting letter. So, not a word of that sort! The
paper, thou'lt see, is blistered with the tears even of the hardened transcriber; which has made her ink run here
and there.
Mrs. Sinclair is a true heroine, and, I think, shames us all. And she is a woman too! Thou'lt say, the beset
things corrupted become the worst. But this is certain, that whatever the sex set their hearts upon, they make
thorough work of it. And hence it is, that a mischief which would end in simple robbery among men rogues,
becomes murder, if a woman be in it.
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 mercy; nor could it be any thing else. For a rape, thou knowest, to us rakes,
is far from being an undesirable thing. Nothing but the law stands in our way, upon that account; and the
opinion of what a modest woman will suffer rather than become a viva voce accuser, lessens much an honest
fellow's apprehensions on that score. Then, if these somnivolencies [I hate the word opiates on this occasion,]
have turned her head, that is an effect they frequently have upon some constitutions; and in this case was
rather the fault of the dose than the design of the giver.
But is not wine itself an opiate in degree?−−How many women have been taken advantage of by wine, and
other still more intoxicating viands?−− Let me tell thee, Jack, that the experience of many of the passive sex,
and the consciences of many more of the active, appealed to, will testify that thy Lovelace is not the worst of
villains. Nor would I have thee put me upon clearing myself by comparisons.
If she escape a settled delirium when my plots unravel, I think it is all I ought to be concerned about. What
therefore I desire of thee, is, that, if two constructions may be made of my actions, thou wilt afford me the
most favourable. For this, not only friendship, but my own ingenuousness, which has furnished thee with the
knowledge of the facts against which thou art so ready to inveigh, require of thee.
***
Will. is just returned from an errand to Hampstead; and acquaints me, that Mrs. Townsend was yesterday at
Mrs. Moore's, accompanied by three or four rough fellows; a greater number (as supposed) at a distance. She
was strangely surprised at the news that my spouse and I are entirely reconciled; and that two fine ladies, my
relations, came to visit her, and went to town with her: where she is very happy with me. She was sure we