“Though Charlotte, by her abandoned conduct, has thrown herself from my protection, I still hold myself bound to support her till relieved from her present condition, and also to provide for the child. I do not intend to see her again, but I will place a sum of money in your hands, which will amply supply her with every convenience; but should she require more, let her have it, and I will see it repaid. I wish I could prevail on the poor deluded7 girl to return to her friends: she was an only child, and I make no doubt but that they would joyfully8 receive her; it would shock me greatly to see her henceforth leading a life of infamy9, as I should always accuse myself of being the primary cause of all her errors. If she should chuse to remain under your protection, be kind to her, Belcour, I conjure10 you. Let not satiety11 prompt you to treat her in such a manner, as may drive her to actions which necessity might urge her to, while her better reason disapproved12 them: she shall never want a friend while I live, but I never more desire to behold13 her; her presence would be always painful to me, and a glance from her eye would call the blush of conscious guilt14 into my cheek.
“I will write a letter to her, which you may deliver when I am gone, as I shall go to St. Eustatia the day after my union with Julia, who will accompany me.”
Belcour promised to fulfil the request of his friend, though nothing was farther from his intentions, than the least design of delivering the letter, or making Charlotte acquainted with the provision Montraville had made for her; he was bent15 on the complete ruin of the unhappy girl, and supposed, by reducing her to an entire dependance on him, to bring her by degrees to consent to gratify his ungenerous passion.
The evening before the day appointed for the nuptials16 of Montraville and Julia, the former refired early to his apartment; and ruminating17 on the past scenes of his life, suffered the keenest remorse18 in the remembrance of Charlotte's seduction. “Poor girl,” said he, “I will at least write and bid her adieu; I will too endeavour to awaken19 that love of virtue20 in her bosom which her unfortunate attachment21 to me has extinguished.” He took up the pen and began to write, but words were denied him. How could he address the woman whom he had seduced22, and whom, though he thought unworthy his tenderness, he was about to bid adieu for ever? How should he tell her that he was going to abjure23 her, to enter into the most indissoluble ties with another, and that he could not even own the infant which she bore as his child? Several letters were begun and destroyed: at length he completed the following:
TO CHARLOTTE.
“Though I have taken up my pen to address you, my poor injured girl, I feel I am inadequate24 to the task; yet, however painful the endeavour, I could not resolve upon leaving you for ever without one kind line to bid you adieu, to tell you how my heart bleeds at the remembrance of what you was, before you saw the hated Montraville. Even now imagination paints the scene, when, torn by contending passions, when, struggling between love and duty, you fainted in my arms, and I lifted you into the chaise: I see the agony of your mind, when, recovering, you found yourself on the road to Portsmouth: but how, my gentle girl, how could you, when so justly impressed with the value of virtue, how could you, when loving as I thought you loved me, yield to the solicitations of Belcour?
“Oh Charlotte, conscience tells me it was I, villain25 that I am, who first taught you the allurements26 of guilty pleasure; it was I who dragged you from the calm repose27 which innocence28 and virtue ever enjoy; and can I, dare I tell you, it was not love prompted to the horrid29 deed? No, thou dear, fallen angel, believe your repentant30 Montraville, when he tells you the man who truly loves will never betray the object of his affection. Adieu, Charlotte: could you still find charms in a life of unoffend-ing innocence, return to your parents; you shall never want the means of support both for yourself and child. Oh! gracious heaven! may that child be entirely31 free from the vices32 of its father and the weakness of its mother.
“To-morrow—but no, I cannot tell you what to-morrow will produce; Belcour will inform you: he also has cash for you, which I beg you will ask for whenever you may want it. Once more adieu: believe me could I hear you was returned to your friends, and enjoying that tranquillity33 of which I have robbed you, I should be as completely happy as even you, in your fondest hours, could wish me, but till then a gloom will obscure the brightest prospects34 of MONTRAVILLE.”
After he had sealed this letter he threw himself on the bed, and enjoyed a few hours repose. Early in the morning Belcour tapped at his door: he arose hastily, and prepared to meet his Julia at the altar.
“This is the letter to Charlotte,” said he, giving it to Belcour: “take it to her when we are gone to Eustatia; and I conjure you, my dear friend, not to use any sophistical arguments to prevent her return to virtue; but should she incline that way, encourage her in the thought, and assist her to put her design in execution.”
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1
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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7
deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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satiety
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| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
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12
disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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16
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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17
ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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19
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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abjure
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| v.发誓放弃 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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29
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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32
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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33
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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