Of which you are desired to read no more than you like.
The meeting between Joseph and Pamela was not without tears of joy on both sides; and their embraces were full of tenderness and affection. They were, however, regarded with much more pleasure by the nephew than by the aunt, to whose flame they were fuel only; and this was increased by the addition of dress, which was indeed not wanted to set off the lively colours in which Nature had drawn1 health, strength, comeliness2, and youth. In the afternoon Joseph, at their request, entertained them with an account of his adventures: nor could Lady Booby conceal3 her dissatisfaction at those parts in which Fanny was concerned, especially when Mr Booby launched forth4 into such rapturous praises of her beauty. She said, applying to her niece, that she wondered her nephew, who had pretended to marry for love, should think such a subject proper to amuse his wife with; adding, that, for her part, she should be jealous of a husband who spoke5 so warmly in praise of another woman. Pamela answered, indeed, she thought she had cause; but it was an instance of Mr Booby’s aptness to see more beauty in women than they were mistresses of. At which words both the women fixed6 their eyes on two looking-glasses; and Lady Booby replied, that men were, in the general, very ill judges of beauty; and then, whilst both contemplated7 only their own faces, they paid a cross compliment to each other’s charms. When the hour of rest approached, which the lady of the house deferred8 as long as decently she could, she informed Joseph (whom for the future we shall call Mr Joseph, he having as good a title to that appellation9 as many others — I mean that incontested one of good clothes) that she had ordered a bed to be provided for him. He declined this favour to his utmost; for his heart had long been with his Fanny; but she insisted on his accepting it, alledging that the parish had no proper accommodation for such a person as he was now to esteem10 himself. The squire11 and his lady both joining with her, Mr Joseph was at last forced to give over his design of visiting Fanny that evening; who, on her side, as impatiently expected him till midnight, when, in complacence to Mr Adams’s family, who had sat up two hours out of respect to her, she retired12 to bed, but not to sleep; the thoughts of her love kept her waking, and his not returning according to his promise filled her with uneasiness; of which, however, she could not assign any other cause than merely that of being absent from him.
Mr Joseph rose early in the morning, and visited her in whom his soul delighted. She no sooner heard his voice in the parson’s parlour than she leapt from her bed, and, dressing13 herself in a few minutes, went down to him. They passed two hours with inexpressible happiness together; and then, having appointed Monday, by Mr Adams’s permission, for their marriage, Mr Joseph returned, according to his promise, to breakfast at the Lady Booby’s, with whose behaviour, since the evening, we shall now acquaint the reader.
She was no sooner retired to her chamber14 than she asked Slipslop “What she thought of this wonderful creature her nephew had married?” — “Madam?” said Slipslop, not yet sufficiently15 understanding what answer she was to make. “I ask you,” answered the lady, “what you think of the dowdy16, my niece, I think I am to call her?” Slipslop, wanting no further hint, began to pull her to pieces, and so miserably17 defaced her, that it would have been impossible for any one to have known the person. The lady gave her all the assistance she could, and ended with saying, “I think, Slipslop, you have done her justice; but yet, bad as she is, she is an angel compared to this Fanny.” Slipslop then fell on Fanny, whom she hacked18 and hewed19 in the like barbarous manner, concluding with an observation that there was always something in those low-life creatures which must eternally extinguish them from their betters. “Really,” said the lady, “I think there is one exception to your rule; I am certain you may guess who I mean.” — “Not I, upon my word, madam,” said Slipslop. “I mean a young fellow; sure you are the dullest wretch,” said the lady. “O la! I am indeed. Yes, truly, madam, he is an accession,” answered Slipslop. “Ay, is he not, Slipslop?” returned the lady. “Is he not so genteel that a prince might, without a blush, acknowledge him for his son? His behaviour is such that would not shame the best education. He borrows from his station a condescension20 in everything to his superiors, yet unattended by that mean servility which is called good behaviour in such persons. Everything he doth hath no mark of the base motive21 of fear, but visibly shows some respect and gratitude22, and carries with it the persuasion23 of love. And then for his virtues24: such piety25 to his parents, such tender affection to his sister, such integrity in his friendship, such bravery, such goodness, that, if he had been born a gentleman, his wife would have possessed26 the most invaluable27 blessing28.” — “To be sure, ma’am,” says Slipslop. “But as he is,” answered the lady, “if he had a thousand more good qualities, it must render a woman of fashion contemptible29 even to be suspected of thinking of him; yes, I should despise myself for such a thought.” — “To be sure, ma’am,” said Slipslop. “And why to be sure?” replied the lady; “thou art always one’s echo. Is he not more worthy30 of affection than a dirty country clown, though born of a family as old as the flood? or an idle worthless rake, or little puisny beau of quality? And yet these we must condemn31 ourselves to, in order to avoid the censure32 of the world; to shun33 the contempt of others, we must ally ourselves to those we despise; we must prefer birth, title, and fortune, to real merit. It is a tyranny of custom, a tyranny we must comply with; for we people of fashion are the slaves of custom.” — “Marry come up!” said Slipslop, who now knew well which party to take. “If I was a woman of your ladyship’s fortune and quality, I would be a slave to nobody.” — “Me,” said the lady; “I am speaking if a young woman of fashion, who had seen nothing of the world, should happen to like such a fellow. — Me, indeed! I hope thou dost not imagine — " — “No, ma’am, to be sure,” cries Slipslop. “No! what no?” cried the lady. “Thou art always ready to answer before thou hast heard one. So far I must allow he is a charming fellow. Me, indeed! No, Slipslop, all thoughts of men are over with me. I have lost a husband who — but if I should reflect I should run mad. My future ease must depend upon forgetfulness. Slipslop, let me hear some of thy nonsense, to turn my thoughts another way. What dost thou think of Mr Andrews?” — “Why, I think,” says Slipslop, “he is the handsomest, most properest man I ever saw; and if I was a lady of the greatest degree it would be well for some folks. Your ladyship may talk of custom, if you please: but I am confidous there is no more comparison between young Mr Andrews and most of the young gentlemen who come to your ladyship’s house in London; a parcel of whipper-snapper sparks: I would sooner marry our old parson Adams. Never tell me what people say, whilst I am happy in the arms of him I love. Some folks rail against other folks because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.” — “And so,” answered the lady, “if you was a woman of condition, you would really marry Mr Andrews?” — “Yes, I assure your ladyship,” replied Slipslop, “if he would have me.” — “Fool, idiot!” cries the lady; “if he would have a woman of fashion! is that a question?” — “No, truly, madam,” said Slipslop, “I believe it would be none if Fanny was out of the way; and I am confidous, if I was in your ladyship’s place, and liked Mr Joseph Andrews, she should not stay in the parish a moment. I am sure lawyer Scout34 would send her packing if your ladyship would but say the word.” This last speech of Slipslop raised a tempest in the mind of her mistress. She feared Scout had betrayed her, or rather that she had betrayed herself. After some silence, and a double change of her complexion35, first to pale and then to red, she thus spoke: “I am astonished at the liberty you give your tongue. Would you insinuate36 that I employed Scout against this wench on account of the fellow?” — “La, ma’am,” said Slipslop, frighted out of her wits, “I assassinate37 such a thing!” — “I think you dare not,” answered the lady; “I believe my conduct may defy malice38 itself to assert so cursed a slander39. If I had ever discovered any wantonness, any lightness in my behaviour; if I had followed the example of some whom thou hast, I believe, seen, in allowing myself indecent liberties, even with a husband; but the dear man who is gone” (here she began to sob), “was he alive again” (then she produced tears), “could not upbraid40 me with any one act of tenderness or passion. No, Slipslop, all the time I cohabited with him he never obtained even a kiss from me without my expressing reluctance41 in the granting it. I am sure he himself never suspected how much I loved him. Since his death, thou knowest, though it is almost six weeks (it wants but a day) ago, I have not admitted one visitor till this fool my nephew arrived. I have confined myself quite to one party of friends. And can such a conduct as this fear to be arraigned42? To be accused, not only of a passion which I have always despised, but of fixing it on such an object, a creature so much beneath my notice!” — “Upon my word, ma’am,” says Slipslop, “I do not understand your ladyship; nor know I anything of the matter.” — “I believe indeed thou dost not understand me. Those are delicacies43 which exist only in superior minds; thy coarse ideas cannot comprehend them. Thou art a low creature, of the Andrews breed, a reptile44 of a lower order, a weed that grows in the common garden of the creation.” — “I assure your ladyship,” says Slipslop, whose passions were almost of as high an order as her lady’s, “I have no more to do with Common Garden than other folks. Really, your ladyship talks of servants as if they were not born of the Christian45 specious46. Servants have flesh and blood as well as quality; and Mr Andrews himself is a proof that they have as good, if not better. And for my own part, I can’t perceive my dears9 are coarser than other people’s; and I am sure, if Mr Andrews was a dear of mine, I should not be ashamed of him in company with gentlemen; for whoever hath seen him in his new clothes must confess he looks as much like a gentleman as anybody. Coarse, quotha! I can’t bear to hear the poor young fellow run down neither; for I will say this, I never heard him say an ill word of anybody in his life. I am sure his coarseness doth not lie in his heart, for he is the best-natured man in the world; and as for his skin, it is no coarser than other people’s, I am sure. His bosom47, when a boy, was as white as driven snow; and, where it is not covered with hairs, is so still. Ifakins! if I was Mrs Andrews, with a hundred a year, I should not envy the best she who wears a head. A woman that could not be happy with such a man ought never to be so; for if he can’t make a woman happy, I never yet beheld48 the man who could. I say again, I wish I was a great lady for his sake. I believe, when I had made a gentleman of him, he’d behave so that nobody should deprecate what I had done; and I fancy few would venture to tell him he was no gentleman to his face, nor to mine neither.” At which words, taking up the candles, she asked her mistress, who had been some time in her bed, if she had any farther commands? who mildly answered, she had none; and, telling her she was a comical creature, bid her good-night.
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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13
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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dowdy
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| adj.不整洁的；过旧的 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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hacked
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| 生气 | |
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hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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31
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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33
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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37
assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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38
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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40
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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41
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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42
arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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43
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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44
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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45
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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46
specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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47
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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48
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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