Free Clarissa Harlowe: Or, the History of a Young Lady, Volume 8 by Samuel Richardson Page A

hath sharpened his tongue like a serpent. Adders' poison is under his
lips.
    Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent man, who hath purposed to overthrow my goings.
    He hath hid a snare for me. He hath spread a net by the way-side. He hath set gins for me in the way wherein I walked.
    Keep me from the snares which he hath laid for me, and the gins of this
worker of iniquity.
    The enemy hath persecuted my soul. He hath smitten my life down to the ground. He hath made me dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
    Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is
desolate.
    Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble.
    For my days are consumed like smoke: and my bones are burnt as the
hearth.
    My heart is smitten and withered like grass: so that I forget to eat my
bread.
    By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin.
    I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I am like an owl of the desart.
    I watch; and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top.
    I have eaten ashes like bread; and mingled my drink with weeping:
    Because of thine indignation, and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up,
and cast me down.
    My days are like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like grass.
    Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his devices,
lest he exalt himself.
    Why now, Mrs. Lovick, said I, when I had read this meditation, as she called it, I think I am very severely treated by the lady, if she mean me in all this. For how is it that I am the enemy of her soul, when I love her both soul and body?
    She says, that I am a violent man, and a wicked man.--That I have been so, I own: but I repent, and only wish to have it in my power to repair the injuries I have done her.
    The gin, the snare, the net, mean matrimony, I suppose--But is it a crime in me to wish to marry her? Would any other woman think it so? and choose to become a pelican in the wilderness, or a lonely sparrow on the house-top, rather than have a mate that would chirp about her all day and all night?
    She says, she has eaten ashes like bread--A sad mistake to be sure!--And mingled her drink with weeping--Sweet maudlin soul! should I say of any body confessing this, but Miss Harlowe.
    She concludes with praying, that the desires of the wicked (meaning poor me, I doubt) may not be granted; that my devices may not be furthered, lest I exalt myself. I should undoubtedly exalt myself, and with reason, could I have the honour and the blessing of such a wife. And if my desires have so honourable an end, I know not why I should be called wicked, and why I should not be allowed to hope, that my honest devices may be furthered, that I MAY exalt myself.
    But here, Mrs. Lovick, let me ask, as something is undoubtedly meant by the lonely sparrow on the house-top, is not the dear creature at this very instant (tell me truly) concealed in Mrs. Smith's cockloft?--What say you, Mrs. Lovick? What say you, Mrs. Smith, to this?
    They assured me to the contrary; and that shew as actually abroad, and
they knew not where.
    Thou seest, Jack, that I would fain have diverted the chagrin given me not only by the women's talk, but by this collection of Scripture-texts drawn up in array against me. Several other whimsical and light things I said [all I had for it!] with the same view. But the widow would not let me come off so. She stuck to me; and gave me, as I told thee, a good deal of uneasiness, by her sensible and serious expostulations. Mrs. Smith put in now-and-then; and the two Jack-pudding fellows, John and Joseph, not being present, I had no provocation to turn the conversation into a farce; and, at last, they both joined warmly to endeavour to prevail upon me to give up all thoughts of seeing the lady. But I could not hear of that. On the contrary, I besought Mrs. Smith to let me have one of her rooms but till I could see her; and were it but for one, two, or three days, I would pay a