A Friendly Address to Mrs. Fry IN Newgate.?

“Sermons in stones.”—As You Like It.

“Out! out! damned spot!”—Macbeth.
1.

I like you, Mrs. Fry! I like your name!

It speaks the very warmth you feel in pressing

In daily act round Charity’s great flame —

I like the crisp Browne way you have of dressing¹,

Good Mrs. Fry! I like the placid² claim

You make to Christianity — professing⁴

Love, and good works— of course you buy of Barton,

Beside the young Fry’s bookseller, Friend Darton!
2.

I like, good Mrs. Fry, your brethren mute —

Those serious, solemn gentlemen that sport —

I should have said, that wear, the sober suit

Shap’d like a court dress — but for heaven’s court.

I like your sisters too — sweet Rachel’s fruit —

Protestant nuns⁶! I like their stiff support

Of virtue⁷ — and I like to see them clad

With such a difference — just like good from bad!
3.

I like the sober colors — not the wet;

Those gaudy⁸ manufactures of the rainbow —

Green, orange, crimson⁹, purple, violet —

In which the fair, the flirting¹⁰, and the vain, go —

The others are a chaste¹¹, severer set,

In which the good, the pious¹², and the plain, go —

They’re moral standards, to know Christians¹³ by —

In short, they are your colors, Mrs. Fry!
4.

As for the naughty tinges¹⁴ of the prism —

Crimson’s the cruel uniform of war —

Blue — hue¹⁶ of brimstone! minds no catechism;

And green is young and gay — not noted¹⁷ for

Goodness, or gravity, or quietism,

Till it is sadden’d down to tea-green, or

Olive — and purple’s giv’n to wine, I guess;

And yellow is a convict by its dress!
5.

They’re all the devil’s liveries, that men

And women wear in servitude to sin —

But how will they come off, poor motleys, when

Sin’s wages are paid down, and they stand in

The Evil presence? You and I know, then,

How all the party colors will begin

To part — the Pittite hues¹⁸ will sadden there,

Whereas the Foxite shades will all show fair!
6.

Witness their goodly labors¹⁹ one by one!

Russet makes garments for the needy²⁰ poor —

Dove-color preaches love to all — and dun

Calls every day at Charity’s street door —

Brown studies scripture²¹, and bids woman shun²²

All gaudy furnishing —olive doth pour

Oil into wounds: and drab and slate²³ supply

Scholar and book in Newgate, Mrs. Fry!
7.

Well! Heaven forbid that I should discommend

The gratis²⁴, charitable, jail-endeavor!

When all persuasions²⁵ in your praises blend —

The Methodist’s creed²⁶ and cry are, Fry forever!

No — I will be your friend — and, like a friend,

Point out your very worst defect — Nay²⁷, never

Start at that word! But I must ask you why

You keep your school in Newgate, Mrs. Fry?
8.

Top well I know the price our mother Eve

Paid for her schooling²⁸: but must all her daughters

Commit a petty larceny²⁹, and thieve —

Pay down a crime for “entrance” to your “quarters”?

Your classes may increase, but I must grieve

Over your pupils at their bread and waters!

Oh, tho’ it cost you rent —(and rooms run high)

Keep your school out of Newgate, Mrs. Fry!
9.

O save the vulgar soul before it’s spoil’d!

Set up your mounted sign without the gate —

And there inform the mind before ’tis soil’d!

’Tis sorry writing on a greasy³⁰ slate!

Nay, if you would not have your labors foil’d,

Take it inclining tow’rds a virtuous³¹ state,

Not prostrate³² and laid flat — else, woman meek³³!

The upright pencil will but hop³⁴ and shriek³⁵!
10.

Ah, who can tell how hard it is to drain

The evil spirit from the heart it preys³⁶ in —

To bring sobriety to life again,

Choked with the vile³⁸ Anacreontic raisin³⁹ —

To wash Black Betty when her black’s ingrain —

To stick a moral lacquer on Moll Brazen⁴⁰,

Of Suky Tawdry’s habits to deprive her;

To tame the wild-fowl-ways of Jenny Diver!
11.

Ah, who can tell how hard it is to teach

Miss Nancy Dawson on her bed of straw —

To make Long Sal sew up the endless breach⁴¹

She made in manners — to write heaven’s own law

On hearts of granite⁴². — Nay, how hard to preach,

In cells, that are not memory’s — to draw

The moral thread, thro’ the immoral⁴³ eye

Of blunt Whitechapel natures, Mrs. Fry!
12.

In vain you teach them baby-work within:

’Tis but a clumsy botchery of crime;

’Tis but a tedious darning of old sin —

Come out yourself, and stitch up souls in time —

It is too late for scouring⁴⁴ to begin

When virtue’s ravell’d out, when all the prime

Is worn away, and nothing sound remains⁴⁵;

You’ll fret⁴⁶ the fabric⁴⁷ out before the stains!
13.

I like your chocolate, good Mistress Fry!

I like your cookery in every way;

I like your shrove-tide service and supply;

I like to hear your sweet Pandeans play;

I like the pity in your full-brimm’d eye;

I like your carriage, and your silken gray,

Your dove-like habits, and your silent preaching;

But I don’t like your Newgatory teaching.
14.

Come out of Newgate, Mrs. Fry! Repair

Abroad, and find your pupils in the streets.

O, come abroad into the wholesome⁴⁹ air,

And take your moral place, before Sin seats

Her wicked self in the Professor’s chair.

Suppose some morals raw! the true receipt’s

To dress them in the pan, but do not try

To cook them in the fire, good Mrs. Fry!
15.

Put on your decent bonnet⁵⁰, and come out!

Good lack! the ancients did not set up schools

In jail — but at the Porch! hinting, no doubt,

That Vice⁴⁸ should have a lesson in the rules

Before ’twas whipt by law. — O come about,

Good Mrs. Fry! and set up forms and stools

All down the Old Bailey, and thro’ Newgate Street,

But not in Mr. Wontner’s proper seat!
16.

Teach Lady Barrymore, if, teaching, you

That peerless Peeress can absolve⁵¹ from dolor;

Teach her it is not virtue to pursue

Ruin of blue, or any other color;

Teach her it is not Virtue’s crown to rue¹⁵,

Month after month, the unpaid⁵² drunken dollar;

Teach her that “flooring Charleys” is a game

Unworthy one that bears a Christian³ name.
17.

O come and teach our children — that ar’n’t ours—

That heaven’s straight pathway is a narrow way,

Not Broad St. Giles’s, where fierce Sin devours⁵³

Children, like Time — or rather they both prey³⁷

On youth together — meanwhile Newgate low’rs

Ev’n like a black cloud at the close of day,

To shut them out from any more blue sky:

Think of these hopeless wretches⁵⁴, Mrs. Fry!
18.

You are not nice — go into their retreats,

And make them Quakers, if you will. —’Twere best

They wore straight collars, and their shirts sans pleats;

That they had hats with brims — that they were drest

In garbs⁵⁵ without lappels— than shame the streets

With so much raggedness⁵⁶. — You may invest

Much cash this way — but it will cost its price,

To give a good, round, real cheque to Vice!
19.

In brief — Oh teach the child its moral rote⁵,

Not in the way from which ’twill not depart —

But out— out — out! Oh, bid it walk remote!

And if the skies are clos’d against the smart,

Ev’n let him wear the single-breasted coat,

For that ensureth singleness of heart. —

Do what you will, his every want supply,

Keep him — but out of Newgate, Mrs. Fry!

1 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

2 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 professing   

声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉

参考例句：

• But( which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 只要有善行。这才与自称是敬神的女人相宜。
• Professing Christianity, he had little compassion in his make-up. 他号称信奉基督教，却没有什么慈悲心肠。

5 rote   

n.死记硬背，生搬硬套

参考例句：

• Learning by rote is discouraged in this school.这所学校不鼓励死记硬背的学习方式。
• He recited the poem by rote.他强记背诵了这首诗。

6 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

7 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

8 gaudy   

adj.华而不实的；俗丽的

参考例句：

• She was tricked out in gaudy dress.她穿得华丽而俗气。
• The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him.浮华的蝴蝶却相信花是应该向它道谢的。

9 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

10 flirting   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Don't take her too seriously; she's only flirting with you. 别把她太当真，她只不过是在和你调情罢了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• 'she's always flirting with that new fellow Tseng!" “她还同新来厂里那个姓曾的吊膀子！ 来自子夜部分

11 chaste   

adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的

参考例句：

• Comparatively speaking,I like chaste poetry better.相比较而言，我更喜欢朴实无华的诗。
• Tess was a chaste young girl.苔丝是一个善良的少女。

12 pious   

adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
• Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。

13 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

14 tinges   

n.细微的色彩，一丝痕迹( tinge的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Tinges of green apple, citric fruits and a slight mineral touch. 萦绕着青苹果，柠檬和矿物质的芳香。 来自互联网
• Tinges the landscape with a golden hue. 它们给这片风景染上一片金色。 来自互联网

15 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

16 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。

17 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

18 hues   

色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点

参考例句：

• When the sun rose a hundred prismatic hues were reflected from it. 太阳一出，更把它映得千变万化、异彩缤纷。
• Where maple trees grow, the leaves are often several brilliant hues of red. 在枫树生长的地方，枫叶常常呈现出数种光彩夺目的红色。

19 labors   

v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
• Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句

20 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

21 scripture   

n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段

参考例句：

• The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
• They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。

22 shun   

vt.避开，回避，避免

参考例句：

• Materialists face truth,whereas idealists shun it.唯物主义者面向真理，唯心主义者则逃避真理。
• This extremist organization has shunned conventional politics.这个极端主义组织有意避开了传统政治。

23 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

24 gratis   

adj.免费的

参考例句：

• David gives the first consultation gratis.戴维免费提供初次咨询。
• The service was gratis to graduates.这项服务对毕业生是免费的。

25 persuasions   

n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰

参考例句：

• To obtain more advertisting it needed readers of all political persuasions. 为获得更多的广告，它需要迎合各种政治见解的读者。 来自辞典例句
• She lingered, and resisted my persuasions to departure a tiresome while. 她踌躇不去，我好说歹说地劝她走，她就是不听。 来自辞典例句

26 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

27 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

28 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。

29 larceny   

n.盗窃（罪）

参考例句：

• The man was put in jail for grand larceny.人因重大盗窃案而被监禁。
• It was an essential of the common law crime of larceny.它是构成普通法中的盗窃罪的必要条件。

30 greasy   

adj. 多脂的，油脂的

参考例句：

• He bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean his greasy oven.昨天他买了强力清洁剂来清洗油污的炉子。
• You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时，你会厌恶油腻的气味。

31 virtuous   

adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的

参考例句：

• She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性，人人都尊敬她。
• My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。

32 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

33 meek   

adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的

参考例句：

• He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
• The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。

34 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

35 shriek   

v./n.尖叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
• People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

36 preys   

v.掠食( prey的第三人称单数 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• His misfortune preys upon his mind. 他的不幸使她心中苦恼。 来自辞典例句
• The owl preys on mice. 猫头鹰捕食老鼠。 来自辞典例句

37 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

38 vile   

adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的

参考例句：

• Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢？
• Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。

39 raisin   

n.葡萄干

参考例句：

• They baked us raisin bread.他们给我们烤葡萄干面包。
• You can also make raisin scones.你也可以做葡萄干烤饼。

40 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

41 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

42 granite   

adj.花岗岩，花岗石

参考例句：

• They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
• The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。

43 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

44 scouring   

擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤

参考例句：

• The police are scouring the countryside for the escaped prisoners. 警察正在搜索整个乡村以捉拿逃犯。
• This is called the scouring train in wool processing. 这被称为羊毛加工中的洗涤系列。

45 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

46 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

47 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

48 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

49 wholesome   

adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的

参考例句：

• In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。
• It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。

50 bonnet   

n.无边女帽；童帽

参考例句：

• The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
• She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

51 absolve   

v.赦免，解除（责任等）

参考例句：

• I absolve you,on the ground of invincible ignorance.鉴于你不可救药的无知，我原谅你。
• They agree to absolve you from your obligation.他们同意免除你的责任。

52 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。

53 devours   

吞没( devour的第三人称单数 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. 若有人想要害他们，就有火从他们口中出来，烧灭仇敌。
• It eats away parts of his skin; death's firstborn devours his limbs. 他本身的肢体要被吞吃，死亡的长子要吞吃他的肢体。

54 wretches   

n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋

参考例句：

• The little wretches were all bedraggledfrom some roguery. 小淘气们由于恶作剧而弄得脏乎乎的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The best courage for us poor wretches is to fly from danger. 对我们这些可怜虫说来，最好的出路还是躲避危险。 来自辞典例句

55 garbs   

vt.装扮（garb的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Shrubs and vines were putting on fresh garbs of green. 灌木和葛藤披上了绿色的新装。 来自互联网

56 raggedness   

破烂，粗糙

参考例句：