Pamela Censured

by Anonymous

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.'